Dorian stared at the photo on his phone. Him and Priya, laughing. The texter's words still burned: She likes you. Let's see how much.
He opened Lisa's thread. Her message from days ago sat there, unanswered.
Hey. I know things are weird. But my art show is next week. You should come. No pressure. Just... it would mean something. If you were there.
His thumb hovered. Typed. Deleted. Typed again.
Dorian: I'll be there. Wouldn't miss it.
He added before he could talk himself out of it: I'm sorry things got weird. I'm glad we're still friends.
Lisa's reply came faster than he expected.
Lisa: Thanks. That means a lot.
He stared at the screen. Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Nothing else.
He closed the thread.
---
7 days left.
The system interface glowed in his peripheral vision. He pulled it up fully.
5B: CONFLICT – Two attractive females argue about him. 3+ minutes. 2+ witnesses. INCOMPLETE.
5C: DECEPTION – Two simultaneous romantic relationships for 7 consecutive days. INCOMPLETE.
5D: REJECTION – Publicly reject someone with genuine feelings. 5+ witnesses. INCOMPLETE.
5E: EXPOSURE – Target discovers evidence of another target. Public scene. 3+ witnesses. INCOMPLETE.
Seven days. Four quests. And 5C needs seven days to complete. That means I have to start tonight.
He ran through the options.
Jenna? No. She knows about Sarah. The quest requires the other person not to know. Besides, she's Sarah's friend. Too close.
A stranger? Too much time. Can't build something from nothing in one night.
Priya.
The thought settled like a stone.
The texter wants me to make her fall for me anyway. Two birds. One stone. Marcus's... whatever she is to him. My roommate.
He pulled up her contact. Typed.
Dorian: Hey. You free? Wanted to talk more about that lecture. The finger thing.
Three dots appeared. Fast.
Priya: BONE STRUCTURE GUY! I was hoping you'd text. Where are you?
Dorian: On campus. You?
Priya: Library. Boring. Save me.
Dorian: Meet me outside. We'll walk.
---
The night air was cold. Dorian stood outside the library, watching students filter out in groups. Laughter. Loud voices. The performance of being young.
A figure shuffled past—Kyle, hood up, eyes on the ground. He didn't look up. Didn't acknowledge Dorian. Just walked. A shadow moving through shadows.
Dorian almost said something. Didn't.
Priya emerged bundled in a jacket, a thermos in her hand, her energy immediate.
"Bone structure guy! I thought you forgot about me." She bumped his arm with the thermos. "I brought hot chocolate. It's not coffee, but it's warm."
Dorian smiled. "I don't forget."
She grinned. "Good. Where are we going?"
"Anywhere. Just walking."
They started moving. The campus was different at night. The paths less crowded. The buildings darker. Everything felt smaller. More intimate.
Get her talking. Relax her.
"So what did you think of the lecture? Besides the finger thing."
Priya launched. "He was deep, but not in a way that made sense. Like, he kept saying 'bad faith' and 'freedom' but he never said WHAT you're supposed to do with it. Just that you're trapped. Shippo, I'm trapped in my psych homework every night. I don't need a philosopher to tell me that."
Dorian laughed. Real laughter.
She beamed. "See? You get it."
They walked. She talked. He listened. Nodded. Asked questions.
She's open. She trusts me. She likes being heard.
They passed the fountain. The couple from earlier was gone. The water kept moving.
Dorian steered them toward the science building. Quieter. Fewer people. Darker corners.
"Where are we going?" Priya asked.
"Just exploring. Ever been behind the science building? There's a courtyard. No one goes there."
She looked at him. A beat longer than necessary.
"Lead the way."
---
The courtyard was empty. A few benches. Overgrown bushes. The back of the building loomed, windows dark. Streetlights from the main path barely reached here.
Dorian stopped. Priya stood beside him, close enough that her shoulder almost touched his.
This is it. Don't overthink. Just move.
"So," she said, looking up at the building. "This is where you bring all the girls?"
"Just the ones who laugh at old-man philosophers."
She snorted. "I'm special, then."
Compliment her. Make her feel seen.
"You are."
She looked at him. The joking faded from her face. Her breath caught, just slightly.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
He stepped closer. Just enough that she had to tilt her head up to hold his gaze.
Close the distance. Physical escalation.
He reached for her. His hand found her waist. Not aggressive. Just... there.
She didn't move away.
She's not pulling back. Good.
"You're doing that thing," she said. Her voice was quieter now.
"What thing?"
"The thing where you're here. Present. Most people aren't."
Now.
He pulled her closer. His other hand slid down. Found the curve of her backside. Firm. Warm. He let his hand rest there.
She stiffened. Just for a second. Her hand came up, covered his.
He expected her to push him away.
Instead, her fingers curled around his.
She was into it.
Quest progress: 1%. Only six days, twenty-three hours, fifty-nine minutes to go.
Her eyes widened. She looked at his mouth. Didn't move.
He leaned in.
She met him halfway.
The kiss was slow at first. Testing. Then her thermos clattered to the ground. Her arms went around his neck. The kiss deepened. Her mouth opened under his. She pulled him closer, pressed against him like she'd been waiting for this.
It's working. Keep going.
He backed her against the wall. The brick was cold. She was warm. Her hands tangled in his hair, her breath hot against his mouth.
She made a sound. Low. Hungry.
Dorian's chest tightened. Guilt? Triumph? Both?
He pushed it down. Kissed her harder.
Her fingers found the hem of his shirt. Slipped underneath. Her skin was warm.
This is happening fast. Good. It needs to happen fast.
She pulled back, breathless. Her eyes were dark, her lips swollen. She looked at him. Looked at the wall behind her. Looked back at him.
"That was..." She laughed, breathless. "Shippo. I didn't expect that. I didn't expect anything. I just wanted hot chocolate."
Dorian didn't move.
Her hand was still on his chest. She wasn't pulling away.
"What's next?" Her voice was steady. Curious. Not afraid.
Her lips were still parted. The cold air fogged between them.
Dorian opened his mouth.
The courtyard was silent. The night was still.
Her eyes held his.
[END OF CHAPTER 17]