Ava Morgan had always been the quiet type—bookish, reserved, and painfully shy around new people. So, transferring to Westbridge University in the middle of her sophomore year felt like being thrown into the deep end without knowing how to swim. She told herself it was a fresh start, a chance to reinvent herself, but that didn't make the nerves disappear.
Dragging her suitcase through the bustling campus, Ava couldn't help but feel like an outsider. Groups of students lounged on the green, laughing and talking like they'd known each other forever. She envied their ease. Taking a deep breath, she made her way to the dormitory, Room 206.
Her roommate, Lila Carter, was the complete opposite of Ava. She was confident, beautiful, and radiated a kind of effortless cool that Ava had only seen in movies. When Ava walked in, Lila Carter was sprawled on her bed, scrolling through her phone.
"You must be the new girl," Lila Carter said, glancing up with a smirk. "Ava, right?"
Ava nodded. "Yeah. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise. Hope you're ready for the Westbridge experience."
Ava wasn't sure what that meant, but she smiled politely and started unpacking. She barely had time to settle in before Lila Carter announced, "There's a party tonight. You should come."
Ava hesitated. Parties weren't really her thing. But before she could decline, Lila Carter added, "It's at Nicholas's house."
Ava frowned. "Nicholas?"
Lila Carter gave her a knowing look. "Nicholas Wolfe. The hottest guy on campus."
Ava had heard the name before. Even before arriving, Westbridge's unofficial king had a reputation that preceded him. Tall, confident, and devastatingly attractive, Nicholas was the guy every girl wanted and every guy envied. He was also known for one thing—never being serious about anyone.
"I don't think—" Ava started, but Lila Carter cut her off.
"No thinking. You're coming. Trust me, you don't want to miss this."
That night, dressed in a simple but flattering outfit, Ava found herself at Nicholas Wolfe's infamous party. The house was packed, music pulsing through the walls. She stuck close to Lila Carter, trying not to look overwhelmed.
And then she saw him.
Nicholas stood near the bar, laughing with his friends. He was even more attractive in person—chiseled jawline, messy dark hair, and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see straight through you. Girls surrounded him, hanging onto his every word, but the moment his gaze landed on Ava, something shifted.
He smirked, tilting his head slightly as if assessing her. Then, just like that, he pushed off the counter and walked straight toward her.
"Hey," he said smoothly. "Haven't seen you before."
Ava swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. "I just transferred."
He leaned in slightly, his presence overwhelming. "Welcome to Westbridge. I'm Nicholas."
She already knew that. Everyone did. But something in his tone, in the way his eyes lingered on her, made her stomach flip.
"Nice to meet you," she managed.
Nicholas grinned. "Oh, trust me, Ava. This is just the beginning."
To be continued