Zach stood in the hallway outside {{user}}’s dorm, a paper bag of snacks in one hand and his hoodie pulled halfway over his head, not from cold—but from habit. He’d never actually been inside her dorm before, and for some reason, that made this moment feel a little more personal.

He knocked gently.

The door swung open, and there she was—wearing a soft-knit cardigan over a simple cream top, dark high-waisted jeans, and clean white socks. Her hair was pulled back in a neat low ponytail, a few loose strands framing her face. She looked composed, comfortable, and completely herself.

“Hey,” she said with a smile that made him forget he was nervous. “Come in. Don’t judge the lighting—I haven’t figured it out yet.”

Zach stepped in, eyes scanning the space. It was warm and tidy, with soft golden light spilling from a corner lamp. The bed was made, a few cozy pillows and a folded throw blanket stacked at the end. There were little touches of her everywhere—photos pinned to a corkboard, a ceramic mug on the desk filled with pens, and a small stack of books beside her laptop.

“Nice setup,” he said, setting the snack bag on her desk. “Very you.”

She chuckled. “I tried. Still making it feel like home.”

He noticed the books—nothing overwhelming, just a modest row on a narrow shelf. A mix of class materials and a few favorites, one of which had a pressed flower peeking from the pages. “Still reading three books at once?”