Pairings Poppy x MC
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After I successfully secured my TA position with Miss Kingsley, I decided to text Zoe the news. The halls were relatively quiet, with everyone rushing to their classes. A victorious smile spread across my face—that is, until someone shoved me so hard that my phone clattered to the ground.
"Hey!" I snapped, already knowing who it was: the university's self-proclaimed queen bee and Regina George wannabe—Poppy.
"Hey yourself," chimed in Chloe, Poppy's ever-loyal sidekick. "You should really watch where you're going in crowded hallways."
I glanced around at the nearly empty corridor and let out a sarcastic laugh. "Plenty of room for you to walk around me."
Poppy chuckled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "We don't go around people. People go around us."
Her tone was different this time—not cruel, but curious.
I sighed, picking up my phone and walking away as quickly as I could, eager to escape the drama. But before I reached my dorm, the familiar sound of heels clicking violently against the cement stopped me in my tracks. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Rolling my eyes, I took a moment to compose myself. The last thing I wanted was to appear weak in front of Poppy.
"You talk a big game, Hughes," she called out, her tone sharper than usual. "But I've yet to see you back it up."
Something about her voice felt... different.
I turned to find Chloe was nowhere in sight, which immediately set me on edge. What was Poppy up to now? But before I could analyze her motives, she took a step closer, and my breath hitched.
What the hell is wrong with me?
"What's your deal, Poppy? Are you stalking me or something? First on campus, now here? Don't you ever get tired of this? Maybe give your insults a rest for once. In fact, don't bother me again—your games are getting old."
She stared at me, momentarily stunned, before her icy mask slid back into place.
"I know you're obsessed with me," she retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "It's understandable, really. But don't act like you're not. These little 'bump-ins' can't possibly be coincidences, hmm?"
Her eyes darkened, but not with the usual malice. Instead, there was something else—a spark of... desire? A pink flush crept onto her cheeks, betraying her composed exterior.
"AAAA! Why can't you just shut up?" she snapped, her voice louder now, clearly trying to intimidate me.
"Make me," I shot back, laughing. Her angry expression faltered, softening for a moment, and I found myself wondering how many layers Poppy had—and why I suddenly wanted to uncover them all.
"Why are you like this, huh?" I pressed. "I haven't done anything to you. Even before I came here, I was already your target."
"I—" she stammered, but I wasn't about to let her off the hook.
"Nuh-uh, Min-Sinclair. Shut your mouth for once and listen. I don't know what you want or what you gain from being cruel to me, but why me? What's your problem?"
She stepped back as though my words had physically struck her but quickly crossed her arms, her glare as sharp as ever.
"Have you heard your ridiculous accent? Better yet, do you even look in the mirror before leaving your dorm? You're so démodé and so... annoying!"
Time seemed to freeze as my gaze dropped to her perfect, glossy lips. What the hell are you doing, Bea?
Her perfume filled my senses, a rich, bittersweet chocolate scent. I stepped closer, closing my eyes and inhaling deeply. Seriously, Bea, get a grip.
"Um, what the hell?!" Poppy's melodic—yet infuriating—voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
I glanced around, realizing we were completely alone. It hit me that I must have skipped class. Poppy was staring at me like she could see straight into my soul. And without thinking, I did the unthinkable.
I kissed her.
Okay, wow. I just did that.
Poppy made a muffled sound of surprise but quickly gave in, parting her lips to deepen the kiss. My hands found their way to her waist as I pinned her against the wall, holding her close.
Suddenly, she pulled back, her eyes wide with shock.
"What did you just do, newbie?!" she demanded, though the desire lingering in her gaze betrayed her.
"I'm going to make your life a living hell," she hissed, her breath ragged. And just like that, she spun on her heel and stormed off.
I leaned against the wall where I'd just had her pinned, a grin spreading across my face.
This semester was going to be very interesting.