Thwarted

Callie grinned, her playful spirit returning. ‘Well, I’m ready for whatever comes my way.’ Then she added jokingly, ‘With you as the principal, I have the best protection.’ On an impulse, she leaned in and pecked Elias on the cheek before rushing upstairs to her dorm. Elias stood there, slightly stunned by her bold gesture. He touched the spot where she had kissed him, chuckled to himself, before jogging away. In her dormitory, Callie lay in bed, a sense of elation coursing through her veins. Being reunited with Elias felt like a dream come true, and the prospect of seeing him daily for the next six months filled her heart with joy. Eventually, the fatigue of travel finally caught up with her, and she drifted off into a peaceful slumber. Angelia returned from lunch, her mind preoccupied with mischief. She had deliberately given Callie wrong directions earlier, expecting her to wander around the campus, lost and frustrated. However, when she entered the dorm, she was surprised to find C