By lunchtime, the entire campus knew two things:
A new girl had scratched Adrian Cole's car and lived to tell the tale.
Lucas Hale was personally offended by her existence.
Lucas pushed open the cafeteria doors like a man entering a battlefield.
"I'm telling you," he muttered, scanning the room, "if she's here, I'm leaving."
Adrian walked in behind him, calm as ever. "You won't."
"I will."
"You won't."
Lucas paused.
"…You're right. I won't."
They grabbed a table near the windows. Sunlight spilled across the floor, students filled every seat, and the air buzzed with noise.
Lucas leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.
"She thinks she's funny."
Adrian picked up his drink. "She is."
Lucas sat up so fast his chair squeaked.
"You're on her side again."
"I'm on the side of reality."
Lucas pointed at him. "You're supposed to support me emotionally."
"You're being dramatic."
"I am not dramatic."
Adrian didn't even look at him.
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
"I'm serious. She embarrassed me in front of half the campus."
"You embarrassed yourself."
Lucas pressed a hand to his chest. "You wound me."
Before Adrian could reply, a tray dropped onto the table.
Daniel Park slid into the seat beside them.
"You're still talking about her?"
Lucas looked betrayed. "You knew and didn't warn me?"
Daniel shrugged. "I didn't think it would affect you this deeply."
"It's not deep," Lucas snapped. "It's personal."
Daniel smirked. "Sounds deep."
Lucas opened his mouth to argue—
Then froze.
Adrian noticed immediately.
"What?"
Lucas didn't answer.
He just stared past Adrian's shoulder.
Adrian turned slightly.
And there she was.
Riley Rivers.
Sitting two tables behind them like she had every right to be there.
Which, technically… she did.
She was eating calmly, scrolling through her phone, completely unbothered by the attention she was getting.
Lucas turned back slowly.
"She followed us."
Daniel blinked. "This is a cafeteria."
"She knew we'd be here."
Adrian sighed. "Lucas."
"She's stalking us."
"She's eating lunch."
Lucas leaned forward, lowering his voice.
"This is psychological warfare."
Adrian rubbed his temple.
Before he could respond—
A chair scraped loudly against the floor.
Lucas froze.
Adrian didn't need to turn.
He already knew.
Riley walked straight to their table and dropped her tray onto the empty seat beside Daniel.
"Mind if I sit?" she asked casually.
Lucas stared at her.
"You're already sitting."
"Great. Saves time."
Daniel let out a quiet laugh.
"You're brave," he told her.
Riley shrugged. "Or bored."
Lucas leaned forward.
"Why are you here?"
Riley picked up her drink.
"To eat."
"Somewhere else."
"No."
Lucas pointed at another table.
"There's space over there."
"I like this one."
Lucas looked at Adrian.
"Say something."
Adrian met Riley's gaze.
"You're new here."
"Transferred this semester."
"From where?"
She took a sip of her drink.
"Different places."
Lucas frowned. "That's not an answer."
"It's enough of one."
Lucas leaned back, crossing his arms.
"I don't trust you."
"Good."
Daniel choked on his drink.
Adrian's lips twitched slightly.
Lucas looked offended.
"You're supposed to defend yourself."
"Why?"
"Because I accused you."
"That's your problem."
Lucas blinked.
"…I don't like her."
Riley smirked.
"I noticed."
There was a brief pause.
Then Riley leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand as she studied Lucas.
"You're competitive, aren't you?"
Lucas straightened immediately.
"Yes."
Daniel groaned. "Oh no."
Adrian sighed.
Riley's eyes gleamed with mischief.
"Good."
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
"Good for what?"
She tapped the table lightly.
"A challenge."
Lucas didn't even hesitate.
"I accept."
Adrian closed his eyes briefly.
"You don't even know what it is."
Lucas waved him off. "Doesn't matter."
Riley smiled.
"Drinking contest."
Daniel nearly dropped his tray.
"In the cafeteria?"
Riley shrugged. "Why not?"
Lucas grinned slowly.
"Oh, you made a mistake."
Riley raised a brow.
"Did I?"
Lucas grabbed two cans of soda from the table nearby.
"I don't lose."
Daniel leaned toward Adrian.
"He loses."
Adrian nodded. "Often."
Lucas ignored them.
He placed one can in front of Riley, keeping the other for himself.
"Winner decides what the loser does."
Riley considered that for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Fine."
Lucas smirked.
"And when I win?"
"You won't."
He pointed at her. "Confidence is dangerous."
She leaned back.
"So is overconfidence."
Daniel whispered, "This is going to be embarrassing."
Adrian didn't disagree.
Students nearby began to notice.
Whispers spread.
Phones came out.
Lucas cracked his can open dramatically.
"Ready?"
Riley opened hers calmly.
"Ready."
Lucas glanced at Adrian.
"Watch closely."
Adrian crossed his arms.
"I am."
Lucas looked back at Riley.
"Three… two… one!"
They both started drinking.
Lucas went fast—too fast.
Like he was trying to prove something.
Riley?
Steady.
Controlled.
Unbothered.
Halfway through, Lucas glanced at her.
She hadn't even flinched.
That made him drink faster.
Big mistake.
A few seconds later—
Riley placed her empty can on the table.
Gently.
Like she had all the time in the world.
Lucas was still drinking.
The moment stretched.
Then—
He slammed his can down.
Empty.
He looked up.
Riley was already watching him.
Done.
Waiting.
Silent.
The table went quiet.
Then Daniel burst out laughing.
"You lost."
Lucas blinked.
"No."
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
Lucas looked at his can.
Then at hers.
Then back at her.
"…That's not possible."
Riley leaned back in her chair.
"Apologize."
Lucas stared at her like she had personally betrayed him.
"I don't think I can recover from this."
"Apologize."
He groaned loudly, dragging a hand down his face.
"This is humiliation."
"Apologize."
Lucas looked at Adrian desperately.
"Help me."
"No."
Lucas sighed like the world had ended.
Then he looked at Riley.
"I'm sorry for calling you… Human Disaster."
Riley smiled.
"Accepted."
Daniel laughed harder.
Lucas slumped back in his chair.
"I need new friends."
Adrian took a sip of his drink.
"No, you don't."
Lucas pointed weakly at Riley.
"She's a problem."
Riley tilted her head.
"You challenged me."
"You provoked me."
"You're easy to provoke."
Lucas opened his mouth—
Closed it.
Then groaned.
"She's right. I hate that she's right."
Riley chuckled softly.
Then her gaze shifted.
To Adrian.
"You didn't join."
Adrian met her eyes.
"I wasn't invited."
"You are now."
Lucas sat up slightly.
"Oh no."
Riley leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.
"Next time, I challenge you."
Lucas looked between them.
"This is a bad idea."
Adrian didn't look away from her.
"And if I win?"
Riley smiled slowly.
"Then I'll tell you a secret."
Lucas leaned in immediately.
"What secret?"
Riley stood up, picking up her tray.
"You'll find out."
She turned and started walking away.
But halfway across the cafeteria—
She paused.
And looked back.
Her eyes met Adrian's again.
For just a second.
Something unreadable passed between them.
Then she smiled faintly.
"See you around… boys."
She walked away.
Lucas watched her go.
Then leaned toward Adrian.
"She's dangerous."
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
His gaze lingered a moment longer.
Then he exhaled softly.
"Yes."
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
"And you like her."
Adrian finally looked at him.
"No."
Lucas smirked.
"That wasn't convincing."
Adrian didn't respond.
But deep down—
Something had shifted.
And whether he liked it or not—
Riley Rivers was no longer just a problem.
She was becoming… something else.
Something he couldn't ignore.