Chapter 1 — First Day, Worst Day

"If you’re late on your first day, just turn around and go home."

That was the exact text my best friend sent me while I was running through the college gate with one shoe half untied and coffee almost spilling from my hand.

“Great start, Elena,” I muttered under my breath.

The campus of Willow University looked nothing like the pictures online. It was bigger. Louder. Filled with students laughing, couples walking around, seniors acting like they owned the place, and freshmen like me trying not to look terrified.

And unfortunately, I was already embarrassing myself.

I checked my schedule while walking quickly through the crowded hallway.

Room 214... Room 214... where the hell is—

THUD.

I slammed into someone hard enough for my iced coffee to spill all over a black hoodie.

Oh no.

“Oh my God—I’m so sorry—”

The guy slowly looked down at his ruined hoodie before lifting his eyes toward me.

And wow.

He was unfairly attractive.

Messy dark hair. Sharp jawline. Cold brown eyes that looked completely annoyed already.

The hallway suddenly went quiet.

Wait.

Why was everyone staring?

“Do freshmen usually throw coffee on people as a way of introduction?” he asked calmly.

A few students around us laughed.

My cheeks burned in embarrassment.

“I said sorry,” I snapped.

He tilted his head slightly, studying me like I was entertainment.

“Cute attitude,” he said. “You won’t survive here with that mouth.”

Excuse me?

Before I could reply, another girl rushed toward him holding tissues.

“Ryan, are you okay?”

Ryan.

Of course his name was attractive too.

He ignored the girl completely, his eyes still on me.

“Watch where you’re going next time, freshman.”

Freshman.

The way he said it irritated me instantly.

“You were standing in the middle of the hallway like a statue,” I shot back.

The people around us gasped softly like I had just committed a crime.

The girl beside him looked horrified.

But Ryan?

He smirked.

Actually smirked.

And somehow that annoyed me even more.

“You’re interesting,” he said quietly.

“I’d rather be expelled.”

His smirk widened.

Without another word, he walked away while everyone moved aside for him like he was some celebrity.

I stood there confused, embarrassed, and strangely angry.

“What was that?” my friend Mia whispered beside me after appearing out of nowhere.

“You know him?”

She looked at me like I had lost my mind.

“That’s Ryan Matthews.”

I blinked.

“Okay... and?”

“He’s literally the most popular senior in this college.”

I rolled my eyes immediately.

“Good for him.”

“No, Elena, you don’t understand. Girls are obsessed with him. Half the campus is obsessed with him.”

I looked toward the hallway where he disappeared.

Arrogant. Annoying. Overconfident.

Yeah. I already hated him.

And somehow...

I had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time Ryan Matthews ruined my peace.

Little did I know, that arrogant senior was about to change my entire college life.

Chapter 2 — Detention With the Devil

By lunchtime, I already wanted to disappear.

Not because the classes were hard.

Not because I got lost three different times.

But because somehow… everyone knew me as the girl who spilled coffee on Ryan Matthews.

Fantastic.

“People are literally staring at you,” Mia whispered while opening her soda can.

“I noticed,” I muttered.

Every time I walked past someone, I heard whispers.

“That’s her.”

“She argued with him.”

“She’s dead.”

Okay, dramatic much?

I stabbed my cafeteria fries aggressively.

“I still don’t understand why everyone acts like he’s royalty.”

Mia nearly choked.

“Because he basically is here.”

I rolled my eyes.

“He’s just a guy.”

“No,” she said seriously. “He’s Ryan Matthews.”

That explained absolutely nothing.

Before I could ask more, the cafeteria suddenly became quieter.

Again.

I looked up.

And there he was.

Ryan walked in with a few friends beside him, hands inside his hoodie pocket like he owned the entire building.

Girls immediately straightened in their seats.

Some actually waved at him.

One girl dropped her fork.

Seriously?

I looked away instantly.

I refused to become one of those idiots.

Unfortunately, the universe hated me.

Because a shadow suddenly stopped beside our table.

“You spill drinks on everyone or am I special?”

I looked up slowly.

Ryan.

Of course.

Mia looked seconds away from fainting.

I forced a fake smile.

“Do you ever stop talking?”

His friend beside him let out a laugh.

Ryan pulled the chair across from me and sat down without permission.

“You’ve got anger issues, freshman.”

“You’ve got ego issues.”

His eyes flashed with amusement.

Why did he look entertained every time I insulted him?

“You know,” he said lazily, “most people are scared to talk to me like that.”

“Maybe that’s your problem.”

Mia kicked my leg under the table.

Hard.

I ignored her.

Ryan leaned back in the chair, staring at me openly now.

It should’ve been uncomfortable.

Instead… it was annoying how aware I suddenly became of him.

His messy hair.

The small scar near his eyebrow.

The way his rings tapped lightly against the table.

“You keep staring,” he said.

I almost inhaled my own fry.

“I was not staring.”

A slow smirk appeared on his face.

Oh, I hated that smirk.

“Sure.”

Before I could defend myself, a professor suddenly appeared near our table.

“Mr. Matthews.”

Ryan sighed softly.

“What did I do this time?”

“This is the third complaint this week. Detention. Today after class.”

A few students nearby looked shocked.

Ryan looked completely unbothered.

Then the professor’s eyes landed on me.

“And Miss Carter.”

I blinked.

“…Me?”

“You were arguing loudly in the cafeteria. Detention.”

Excuse me?!

“That’s not fair!”

“4 PM,” the professor said before walking away.

I stared after him in disbelief.

Then slowly turned toward Ryan.

“This is your fault.”

He looked far too pleased.

“Looks like we’re spending time together after all.”

“I’d rather eat glass.”

His grin widened.

“See you at detention, freshman.”