Writers 
Chapter Five
Amara spent the rest of the day trying not to think about Adrian
It didn't work
Not even a little
Every time she tried to concentrate on something else, his words from the previous day somehow found their way back into her thoughts
Someone from my past
She had replayed those words so many times that they were starting to sound like a song stuck in her head
She sat in the cafeteria with Tessa, staring down at her lunch
She hadn't taken a single bite
Tessa noticed
“You're doing it again.
Amara looked up
“Doing what?
“Thinking.
“That's generally considered a good thing.
“Not when you've been staring at the same piece of food for ten minutes.
Amara glanced down
Tessa was right
She had been pushing the same piece of food around her plate
“I was distracted.
“By Adrian?
Amara immediately looked at her
“Why does everything have to be about Adrian with you?
“Because everything seems to be about Adrian with you.
“It is not.
Tessa leaned back in her chair, smiling
“Okay.
Amara narrowed her eyes
“Don't do that.
“Do what?
“That little ‘okay’ thing.
“What little ‘okay’ thing?
“The one where you pretend you believe me.
Tessa laughed
“You're impossible.
“So I've been told.
Amara finally picked up her fork
Before she could eat, someone walked past their table
She didn't need to look up to know who it was
Adrian
She glanced sideways
He was walking toward the cafeteria doors, his hands in his pockets and his expression completely unreadable
Then something fell from his jacket
It landed near Amara's chair
He didn't notice
“Hey!
Adrian stopped
He turned around
Amara bent down and picked up the object
It was small and black
She held it up
“You dropped this.
Adrian walked back
The moment he saw what she was holding, something changed in his expression
It was quick
Almost too quick to notice
But Amara noticed
His eyes widened slightly
His shoulders stiffened
Then, just as quickly, his usual calm expression returned
“Thanks.
He reached for it
Amara handed it over
Their fingers touched for the briefest moment
Adrian immediately pulled his hand away
Amara raised an eyebrow
Okay… that was weird
“What is it?
“Nothing.
She looked at the object
“It's clearly something.
“It's just an old key.
“A key?
“Yes.
“A key to what?
Adrian gave her a completely serious look
“A door.
Amara stared at him
Tessa covered her mouth, trying not to laugh
Amara slowly nodded
“Wow.
Adrian waited
“Mystery solved.
For the first time, a small smile appeared on his face
“Exactly.
He slipped the key into his pocket
Then he walked away
Amara watched him leave
Tessa immediately leaned across the table
“What was that?
“I don't know.
“You were flirting.
Amara nearly choked
“I was asking questions!
“That's what people say when they're flirting.
“I do not flirt with arrogant people.
Tessa smiled
“You called him Angry Shirt yesterday.
“Exactly. That's an insult.
“Sure.
Amara rolled her eyes
But she couldn't stop thinking about the key
There had been something about Adrian's reaction
He hadn't looked annoyed
He had looked worried
Why would an old key make him look like that
She looked toward the cafeteria doors
Adrian was already gone
That evening, the university was quieter than usual
Most students had returned to their dorms, while a few remained around the library or student center
Amara walked slowly toward her dorm
She had her headphones around her neck, but no music was playing
She was thinking
Again
I really need to stop thinking so much
She reached the university gate
Then she stopped
A black car was parked nearby
Something about it looked familiar
Amara frowned
Probably nothing
She continued walking
Then the driver's door opened
A man stepped out
Amara's steps slowed
She recognized him
The stranger from the hallway
The same man she'd seen with Adrian
Her stomach tightened
Why is he here
She quickly stepped behind a nearby tree
The man looked around before walking toward the library
Amara watched him carefully
A few seconds later, another figure appeared
Adrian
He was walking from the opposite direction
The two men stopped several feet apart
Neither spoke for several seconds
Amara couldn't hear what they were saying
But she could see Adrian's face
He looked different
Not arrogant
Not annoyed
Not even angry
Worried
The stranger reached inside his coat
Amara held her breath
He pulled out a photograph
He handed it to Adrian
Adrian stared at it
His expression became completely still
Amara leaned forward slightly
What is that
She couldn't see the front of the photograph
But when Adrian turned it over, she noticed something written on the back
A name
One name
Her name
AMARA
Her breath caught
My name
She stared at it
For a moment, she couldn't move
That's impossible
Adrian suddenly looked in her direction
Amara ducked behind the tree
Her heart pounded
She pressed herself against the trunk and held her breath
Footsteps
Then silence
She waited several seconds before slowly looking around the tree
The two men were gone
The black car was still there
Amara stepped out from behind the tree
She looked toward the library
Nothing
She looked toward the gate
Nothing
Where did they go
She took a few cautious steps forward
Then stopped
She didn't know what frightened her more—the fact that Adrian had a photograph connected to her, or the fact that he seemed to know something she didn't
She hugged her notebook against her chest
Maybe it's a coincidence
She shook her head
No
There were too many coincidences
The stranger
The key
The secret conversations
The photograph
And now her name
Amara looked toward the dark library windows
For the first time, she wondered whether Adrian had been trying to protect her from something
or keep her from discovering something
She took a slow breath
Maybe Adrian's secret had nothing to do with me
She looked back at the empty road where the black car had been
Maybe it had everything to do with me
And somehow, she knew one thing for certain
She wasn't going to stop asking questions
Not now. .......…..............?.................?.......?......................?.......................?.....”””.”””.”””....”.”.”...”.”””””.””......”........”.....”.........””.”””””.”.”””.””...””””.”.........eNe:
She looked back at the empty road where the black car had been.
Maybe it had everything to do with me.
And somehow, she knew one thing for certain.
She wasn't going to stop asking questions.
Not now.