The tension on campus was palpable. Rumors spread like wildfire, slithering through the halls of Lakeshore University, igniting curiosity, jealousy, and quiet resentment. Natasha could feel the stares burning into her as she walked through the bustling corridors. It was as if every shadow carried a secret, and every whisper held a dagger.
The weight of it all pressed against her shoulders, but she refused to bend.
She had barely settled into her seat when she heard the unmistakable sound of heels clicking against the floor. Tiffany Sterling had arrived. The blonde queen bee carried herself like royalty, her designer outfit perfectly tailored to her curves, her manicured fingers gripping her diamond-studded phone.
"Oh, look who it is," Tiffany purred, her voice dripping with venom as she stopped beside Natasha's desk. "The charity case."
A few of her followers giggled, but Natasha kept her gaze fixed on her open book, refusing to engage. She had no time for mind games.
"Ignoring me now? How rude," Tiffany continued, flipping her golden curls over her shoulder. "You must think you're special just because Jayden defended you. But let me tell you something, sweetheart—guys like him? They get bored easily."
Natasha clenched her jaw but remained silent.
"I bet he won't even remember your name by next week," Tiffany smirked before turning on her heel and strutting away, satisfied with herself.
Natasha exhaled slowly. It wasn't the first time she had been belittled, and it wouldn't be the last. But there was something particularly dangerous about Tiffany's brand of cruelty.
As the lecture began, Natasha forced herself to focus, but her mind kept drifting. She wasn't naive—she knew that people like Tiffany didn't just throw insults and walk away. There was more to come. The question was, how bad would it be?
---
Later that evening, the campus café was crowded with students unwinding after a long day. Natasha sat in a corner, stirring her coffee absentmindedly, when she noticed Jayden walking in. His presence was impossible to ignore. Even in casual wear, he exuded a kind of effortless power that made people step aside as he passed.
She hadn't expected him to notice her, but he did. Their eyes met, and to her surprise, he walked over.
"Mind if I sit?" he asked, sliding into the chair opposite hers before she could answer.
She hesitated, then nodded. "You don't have to do this, you know."
Jayden raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"
"Pretend to care."
He smirked slightly. "Who says I'm pretending?"
Natasha scoffed. "Guys like you don't mix with girls like me. It's just… not how things work here."
Jayden leaned back, studying her. "Maybe I don't care about how things 'work' here."
Before Natasha could respond, Adrian strolled over, dropping into the chair beside Jayden with a cocky grin. "Wow. This is interesting. Didn't think I'd live to see the day Jayden Hunter willingly engaged in small talk."
Jayden shot him a look, but Adrian just laughed. "Relax, man. I think it's cute. Tiffany, though? Not so much."
Natasha sighed. "I really don't need more drama."
Adrian grinned. "Oh, sweetheart, drama isn't something you choose. It chooses you. And from what I can see? You're about to be the center of it all."
As Natasha sat there, sipping her coffee, she couldn't shake the feeling that Adrian was right. And as the evening darkened, she had no idea just how deep she was about to be pulled into the chaos of Lakeshore University.