Rose's POV:
A day bled into another, and I buried myself in coursework, determined to catch up before another so-called "genius" professor decided to assign me a personal tutor—specifically, one with an ego the size of this entire campus.
And, in case my bad luck hadn't been made crystal clear, let me spell it out: Dracken was in every single one of my classes.
Even the electives. Even the ones we were supposed to choose ourselves. If that wasn't the universe actively plotting against me, I didn't know what was.
Half my classes were spent enduring the public display of affection between him and his perfect Barbie doll of a girlfriend.
The other half? Watching him answer every single question thrown at the class with effortless ease, like he wasn't even trying.
Like he wasn't busy with his girlfriend half the damn time. How did he even hear what the professors were saying?
And that, my friends, is why I needed to catch up. Not just to survive—but to beat him.
To be the one answering the questions before he could, to be the one smirking while he sat there, for once, without the right words.
And just like that, my first week at college finally dragged to an end. Two blissful days of no alarms, no tests, and—most importantly—no Dracken.
The thought alone had me giddy. Sweet, sweet freedom was just a few hours away, and I could not wait to get back home and sleep like the dead.
Grinning, I exited my last class of the day, chatting briefly with some classmates before making my way toward the cafeteria.
I needed a drink. Something strong, preferably, but I'd settle for a Coke.
As I walked, a voice called out, "Rose!"
I turned to see Leo exiting his lecture hall, falling into step beside me. I hadn't realized some of our class timings overlapped.
Although Leonardo was in a different major, we still shared a few compulsory subjects—English Literature, Arts, Psychology 101 (which I still don't understand why it's mandatory—do they think our generation needs professional-grade hypnosis skills or something?), among others. But strangely, he wasn't in any of my actual classes.
Except sometimes… he was.
On more than one occasion, he'd strolled into my lecture hall, spinning some nonsense about his football schedule clashing with his original class timing. The professors always bought it, but I knew better.
Not that I minded. He made class far more bearable, especially when Dracken was being his usual self.
And, for some reason, his presence really seemed to get under Dracken's skin. If for no other reason than to irritate him, I thoroughly enjoyed having Leo around.
Leo approached with an easy smile, though there was something behind it—something almost hesitant.
"Hey, Rose. Where are you off to in such a hurry?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck. Classic cute guy move.
"Just grabbing something to drink before meeting Aria for lunch," I replied, watching as he shifted his weight like he was working up to something.
Then again, people don't just walk up to you and immediately blurt out what's on their mind. Imagine some stranger stepping up and saying, 'Hey, I'd like to have a one-night stand with you.'
Yeah, conversation starters exist for a reason.
Not that I wanted a one-night stand with Leo.
Not that I wouldn't…
Oh god. Wrong train of thought. Abort. Abort.