Chapter 2: The Unexpected Invitation

The days following Nathan's brief but electrifying encounter with Samantha felt like they stretched into eternity. Every time she entered the campus quad, she half-expected to see him again—his dark sunglasses perched coolly on his face, that faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. But he never appeared.

It wasn’t that Samantha was actively looking for him, no. She just... couldn’t stop thinking about the conversation. About him. The way he had looked at her as though he actually cared about her words, like he saw her for more than just a student passing through the quad with a stack of flyers.

But he hadn’t shown up to the Film Society meeting the next Thursday. And maybe that was for the best. Samantha wasn’t sure she could handle the pressure of a guy like him sitting across the room while she tried to organize a screening of The Godfather. The pressure alone might make her forget how to breathe.

She had almost managed to convince herself that Nathan Drake had been nothing more than an accidental blip in her life—a brief, surreal moment that would fade away with time. But then she got the text.

New Message:

“Hey, I’m Nathan Drake. I didn’t make it to your film society thing last Thursday, but I’m still interested. Are you guys meeting this week? I’d like to stop by.”

Samantha stared at the screen, her thumb hovering over the keyboard. Was this real? Had he actually sent her a message, asking to come to the next meeting? Or was this some prank, some cruel joke that her friends were pulling at her expense?

It had to be real. He’d signed his name. He was serious.

She typed back quickly, almost in a panic.

Reply:
“Hey Nathan, we’re meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Film Society room. If you still want to come, I’ll save you a seat!”

She hit send and almost immediately regretted it. What if he didn’t show up again? What if it was just a fluke? Samantha felt a rush of self-doubt flood her veins. It was easier when Nathan was just a legend. Easier to convince herself that someone like him would never take an interest in someone like her. But now, the reality was knocking at her door.

The days passed by in a blur of exams, group projects, and endless study sessions. But nothing seemed to matter as much as Thursday night.

Samantha arrived early to the Film Society room, hoping to have a quiet moment to herself before the meeting started. But as the clock ticked closer to 6 p.m., a part of her couldn't help but glance at the door every few seconds.

At exactly 6:03 p.m., the door creaked open. Samantha’s heart skipped a beat as she saw Nathan step inside, looking effortlessly cool in a leather jacket, dark jeans, and boots. His presence immediately commanded the room, as it always did, and all eyes turned to him.

Nathan’s gaze swept over the room before locking onto Samantha’s. He gave her a small, almost imperceptible nod, and she felt the breath catch in her throat. He walked to the front of the room and took a seat, a few chairs down from her. She felt the weight of his gaze even though he wasn’t directly looking at her.

The meeting began, but Samantha couldn’t focus. Every few seconds, she caught herself stealing glances at him. His relaxed demeanor, the way he seemed so at ease in a room full of strangers—he had an aura that made everyone around him feel... insignificant, and she hated how much she felt that.

After the screening of Inception wrapped up, the lights flickered back on, and the usual chatter began. Samantha gathered her things, trying to leave before the flood of students filled the room.

But before she could make it to the door, a voice stopped her.

“Hey, Samantha.”

She turned to see Nathan standing behind her, holding his helmet in one hand, his other hand tucked in his jacket pocket. The same smirk from the other day was on his lips.

“Yeah?” she managed to get out, trying not to sound as nervous as she felt.

“I gotta say, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy that movie,” Nathan said, his tone casual but with a hint of genuine interest. “I didn’t think I’d be into Inception, but it was pretty damn good.”

“Right? It’s a classic,” Samantha replied, the tension easing slightly. “It’s one of those films that make you think long after it ends.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, I’m still trying to figure out what was real and what was a dream.”

Samantha smiled. “That’s the point.”

For a moment, there was an awkward silence. Nathan shifted on his feet, looking like he was about to say something, but then he hesitated.

“I was thinking... maybe after this, we could grab a coffee? I mean, if you’re not busy.” He added, almost as an afterthought, “I’m not great at small talk, but I figured it couldn’t hurt.”

Samantha stared at him, her mind racing. Coffee? With Nathan Drake?

She took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “Yeah, that sounds great.”

And just like that, everything changed.