Writers 
Chapter Six
Amara barely slept that night.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the same thing.
The photograph.
The stranger.
Adrian's expression.
And most of all, the name written across the back.
AMARA.
She turned over in bed and pulled the blanket closer.
Why would Adrian have a photograph with my name on it?
She stared at the ceiling.
Maybe it's not me.
She paused.
Maybe there are other people named Amara.
She thought about that for a moment.
Okay. That's a terrible explanation.
She sighed and sat up.
Her room was quiet.
Outside, the university grounds were almost completely dark.
She glanced at the clock.
2:17 a.m.
“Great,” she whispered.
She lay back down.
Tomorrow, I'm going to ask him.
A few seconds passed.
No, I'm not.
Another few seconds.
Yes, I am.
Amara groaned.
“This is ridiculous.”
Eventually, she fell asleep.
---
The next morning, Amara arrived on campus earlier than usual.
Not because she had suddenly become responsible.
Definitely not.
She was looking for Adrian.
This is completely normal.
She spotted him near the library.
He was standing alone beside the wall, looking at his phone.
Amara slowed down.
He looked tired.
More tired than usual.
His hair was slightly messy, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes.
She walked toward him.
“Morning, Angry Shirt.”
Adrian looked up.
For a second, surprise crossed his face.
“Do you still call me that?”
“Of course.”
“You're persistent.”
“It's one of my many talents.”
A tiny smile appeared on his face.
Amara noticed it.
There. I knew he could smile.
Then his expression returned to normal.
She studied him.
“You look terrible.”
His eyebrow lifted.
“Good morning to you too.”
“I meant tired.”
“That's better?”
“Not really.”
He shook his head.
Amara folded her arms.
“So…”
“So?”
“You were at the library last night.”
His expression changed.
Only slightly.
But she caught it.
There it is.
“I go to the library sometimes.”
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“You didn't say anything about last night.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Neither did you.”
Amara's confidence slipped for half a second.
He knows I was there.
“You saw me?”
“I saw someone hiding behind a tree.”
Amara gave him an innocent smile.
“Trees are excellent hiding places.”
“Apparently.”
She tried not to smile.
He almost did too.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Just two students teasing each other before class.
Then Amara remembered the photograph.
Her smile disappeared.
“Adrian.”
His expression became serious.
“What?”
“Why was that man with you?”
Adrian didn't answer.
“The man from the library.”
Silence.
“Who is he?”
“Someone I know.”
“That doesn't answer the question.”
“It wasn't supposed to.”
Amara frowned.
“You're really good at avoiding questions.”
“And you're really good at asking them.”
“I have another one.”
“I figured.”
She took a breath.
“Does that photograph have something to do with me?”
Adrian froze.
Completely.
His eyes searched hers.
“Where did you hear about the photograph?”
Amara smiled slightly.
“So it does exist.”
He looked away.
“Amara…”
“What?”
“Please.”
That one word stopped her.
There was no arrogance in his voice.
No sarcasm.
He genuinely sounded worried.
“Please what?”
“Let it go.”
She stared at him.
“I can't.”
“You can.”
“Not when my name is involved.”
Adrian looked at her for a long moment.
Then he lowered his voice.
“You don't know what you're getting involved in.”
“Then tell me.”
“I can't.”
“Can't or won't?”
He didn't answer.
Someone called his name from across the courtyard.
Adrian turned.
A student was walking toward them.
When Adrian looked back, his expression had changed again.
Guarded.
Closed off.
“I have to go.”
“Adrian—”
He walked away.
Amara watched him disappear into the crowd.
She sighed.
Of course.
She turned toward the library.
Now I have even more questions.
Then she noticed something on the ground.
A small folded piece of paper.
She picked it up.
Her first instinct was to open it.
Her second instinct was to throw it away.
Her curiosity won.
She unfolded it.
Four words were written inside.
ASK ABOUT THE NIGHT.
Amara stared at the message.
Her smile disappeared.
What night?
She looked around.
Students were walking across campus.
Someone was laughing near the cafeteria.
A group of students hurried toward class.
Everything looked completely normal.
But Amara couldn't shake the feeling that the note wasn't there by accident.
She folded it carefully and slipped it into her notebook.
Then she looked in the direction Adrian had gone.
Okay.
She took a breath.
Whatever happened that night…
Her fingers tightened around the notebook.
I'm going to find out.