If there was one thing Westbridge University loved more than gossip—
it was new chaos.
And by mid-morning, chaos had a name.
Riley Rivers.
Lucas didn't like that.
Not one bit.
"She didn't apologize."
Adrian didn't look up from his phone. "You've said that five times."
Lucas stopped walking abruptly in the middle of the pathway.
"And I'll say it again. She. Did. Not. Apologize."
Students passing by gave them curious looks, but Lucas ignored them.
Adrian sighed, slipping his phone into his pocket.
"It was a minor scratch."
Lucas turned to him slowly.
"Adrian."
"Yes?"
"That car costs more than my future."
"You don't have a future."
Lucas gasped. "Wow. That was uncalled for."
Adrian continued walking.
Lucas followed immediately.
"I'm serious," Lucas insisted. "That girl is a menace. A threat to society."
Adrian raised a brow. "You're overreacting."
"No, I'm reacting correctly. There's a difference."
They reached the parking lot again.
Lucas stopped beside the car and pointed dramatically at the scratch like it was evidence in a crime scene.
"Look at it."
Adrian glanced at it briefly.
"I've seen it."
"It's staring at me."
"That's not how scratches work."
Lucas crouched down slightly, squinting.
"She has no respect. No remorse. No—"
"—sense of direction?" a voice cut in.
Lucas froze.
He didn't need to turn around.
He already knew.
Slowly—very slowly—he stood up and turned.
Riley Rivers stood a few feet away, helmet in hand, looking completely relaxed.
Like she hadn't caused a scene earlier.
Like she didn't have a care in the world.
Lucas pointed at her immediately.
"You!"
Riley raised a brow. "Me."
Adrian watched quietly.
Lucas gestured wildly toward the car.
"You scratched it!"
Riley glanced at the car.
"Oh. That."
Lucas stared at her in disbelief.
"That's your reaction?!"
She shrugged lightly.
"I already told you. It was in my way."
Lucas blinked.
Adrian pinched the bridge of his nose.
"My car was parked."
Riley tilted her head.
"And my bike was moving."
Lucas turned to Adrian.
"Do you hear this logic?"
Adrian exhaled slowly.
"Just be more careful next time."
Lucas whipped around so fast he nearly lost his balance.
"Excuse me?!"
Riley's lips twitched slightly, like she was holding back a smile.
"See?" she said. "Your friend is reasonable."
Lucas clutched his chest dramatically.
"Reasonable? He's betraying me!"
"He's being mature."
Lucas looked offended. "I'm mature!"
Riley gave him a once-over.
"No."
Adrian almost smiled.
Lucas noticed immediately.
"Oh no."
Adrian frowned. "What?"
"You're enjoying this."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Riley crossed her arms, watching them with clear amusement.
"Are you two always like this?"
Lucas turned back to her.
"Like what?"
"Loud. Dramatic. Confusing."
Lucas pointed at her again.
"You're the confusing one!"
She took a step closer.
Lucas instinctively took a step back.
"You talk too much," she said calmly.
Lucas froze.
Adrian nodded slightly. "She's right."
Lucas turned slowly.
"I don't feel supported in this friendship."
Riley let out a short laugh.
And just like before—
It caught Adrian off guard.
It wasn't loud or obnoxious.
It was… real.
Unfiltered.
For a brief second, his attention lingered on her longer than it should have.
Lucas noticed.
Of course he did.
Lucas leaned toward him slightly.
"You're staring again."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm observing."
"That's worse."
Riley narrowed her eyes at them.
"Are you whispering about me?"
Lucas straightened immediately.
"No."
"Yes," Adrian said at the same time.
Lucas whipped his head toward him.
"You're supposed to be on my side!"
"I'm on the side of truth."
"That's not helpful!"
Riley smirked.
"You're funny."
Lucas blinked.
"…Was that a compliment?"
"Take it however you want."
Lucas folded his arms.
"I don't trust you."
"Good."
That answer threw him off.
"You're supposed to say something like 'why not?'"
"I don't care why not."
Lucas stared at her for a second.
Then shook his head.
"This is exhausting."
Adrian finally stepped forward, placing himself slightly between them.
"Let's just end this here."
Lucas pointed behind him.
"No. She still hasn't apologized."
Riley raised a brow.
"And I'm not going to."
Lucas looked like he might actually combust.
Adrian sighed.
"Lucas."
"No. This is about principle."
"You don't have principles."
"I do!"
Riley leaned closer, voice dropping just enough to sound almost teasing.
"What are they?"
Lucas opened his mouth.
Then paused.
Then frowned.
"…That's not the point."
Riley laughed again.
And this time—
Adrian didn't look away.
Something about her felt familiar.
Not just her face.
Not just her voice.
But the way she stood.
The way she spoke.
The way she looked at them like she already knew them.
Like she belonged here.
Lucas suddenly pointed at her again.
"You know what? This is war."
Riley tilted her head.
"War?"
"Yes. You embarrassed me. You insulted me. You scratched his car."
She nodded slowly.
"Okay."
Lucas blinked.
"…Okay?"
"Go ahead."
He frowned. "Go ahead what?"
"Start your war."
Lucas looked confused.
"That's not how this works."
She shrugged.
"Then explain it better."
Lucas opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Then looked at Adrian.
"I don't know what I'm doing anymore."
Adrian sighed softly.
"Clearly."
Riley smirked.
"This is fun."
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
"You think this is funny?"
"Yes."
Lucas stepped closer again.
"This isn't over."
Riley met his gaze without hesitation.
"I hope not."
For a moment, the air shifted.
The teasing.
The tension.
Something unspoken passed between them.
Then—
Riley stepped back.
"I'll see you around."
She turned to leave.
But just before she walked away completely—
She glanced at Adrian.
Just for a second.
And in that second—
Her expression changed.
Softer.
Quieter.
Then it was gone.
She walked off like nothing had happened.
Lucas watched her go.
Then turned slowly to Adrian.
"She's dangerous."
Adrian didn't respond immediately.
His eyes were still on her retreating figure.
"Yes," he said finally.
Lucas crossed his arms.
"And I don't like her."
Adrian hummed faintly.
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
"…You do."
Adrian looked at him.
"No."
Lucas smirked slightly.
"That didn't sound convincing."
Adrian didn't answer.
Because for the first time in a long time—
Something felt… different.
And he couldn't explain why.
Meanwhile, across the parking lot—
Riley stopped again.
She didn't turn this time.
She just smiled to herself.
"Still the same," she murmured.
Then her grip tightened slightly around her helmet.
"But not for long."
Because this wasn't just a random reunion.
This wasn't coincidence.
This was something she had waited years for.
And now that she was finally back—
She wasn't going to let them forget her again.
No matter what it took.