By the next morning, Westbridge University had fully decided something:
Riley Rivers was not normal.
And somehow—
that made her even more interesting.
Maya Chen leaned across the cafeteria table, practically vibrating with excitement as she shoved her phone in Riley's face.
"You're trending."
Riley didn't even look up from her food.
"I refuse to believe that."
"I'm serious," Maya insisted. "Look."
Riley sighed and finally glanced at the screen.
Her expression slowly went blank.
Then confused.
Then deeply unimpressed.
"Tomboy Girl Attacks Campus Prince Again!"
Below the headline were blurry pictures—one of her grabbing Lucas by the collar, another of Lucas looking like he had just seen his ancestors.
The comments were worse.
"She's scary."
"She's kinda hot."
"Lucas finally met his match."
"Who is she???"
Riley dropped the phone back on the table.
"I hate this school."
Maya grinned.
"No, you don't. You love it."
"I've been here two days."
"And you've already started a war."
Riley smirked slightly.
"They started it."
"Sure," Maya said. "Keep telling yourself that."
Before Riley could respond—
The noise in the cafeteria shifted.
It wasn't sudden.
But it was noticeable.
Whispers spread.
Heads turned.
Maya's grin widened.
"Oh, speak of the devils."
Riley didn't need to look.
She already knew.
Footsteps approached.
Confident.
Familiar.
Lucas Hale dropped into the chair across from her like he had been invited.
"I demand a rematch."
Riley raised an eyebrow slowly.
"You woke up thinking about me?"
Lucas choked.
"That's not what I meant."
"Sure."
Maya covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Adrian took the seat beside Lucas, calm as always.
"Good morning."
Riley nodded once.
"Morning."
Lucas pointed at her.
"Don't act normal."
"I am normal."
"You grabbed me by the collar yesterday."
"You deserved it."
"That's not the point."
Adrian leaned back slightly.
"That is exactly the point."
Lucas turned to him in disbelief.
"Why are you always against me?"
"I'm not against you," Adrian said calmly. "I'm against your decisions."
Maya let out a small laugh.
"I like him."
Lucas looked betrayed.
"You just met him."
"I have good taste."
Riley smirked faintly.
Lucas leaned forward again, focusing on Riley.
"This isn't over."
Riley tilted her head.
"You already lost."
"I don't lose twice."
She let out a soft, amused breath.
"Confidence is dangerous."
"And so are you," Lucas shot back.
"Good."
Lucas paused.
"…Why do you keep saying that?"
Riley shrugged.
"Because it's true."
There was a brief silence.
Then Lucas suddenly smiled.
A dangerous kind of smile.
"Tonight."
Riley narrowed her eyes slightly.
"What about tonight?"
"There's a party."
Maya immediately perked up.
"Oh, I love parties."
Daniel appeared behind them like he had been summoned by the word alone.
"And I hate them."
Lucas ignored him.
He pointed at Riley again.
"You're coming."
Riley leaned back in her chair.
"Why?"
"Rematch."
Maya leaned closer to Riley.
"This sounds interesting."
Daniel sighed.
"This sounds like a bad decision."
Lucas smirked.
"Scared?"
Riley laughed.
Actually laughed.
"You wish."
Lucas leaned forward.
"Then prove it."
Riley studied him for a moment.
Then her lips curved slightly.
"Fine."
Maya clapped softly.
"This is going to be fun."
Daniel shook his head.
"This is going to be chaos."
Lucas grinned, satisfied.
"But this time," Riley added.
Lucas paused.
"What?"
Her gaze sharpened just slightly.
"If I win…"
Lucas crossed his arms.
"You won't."
"…you do whatever I say for one day."
Silence fell over the table.
Maya blinked.
"Oh."
Daniel looked at Lucas.
"Don't."
Lucas didn't hesitate.
"Deal."
Adrian turned his head slowly.
"You didn't even think about it."
"I don't need to."
"You do."
Lucas smirked.
"I'm not losing again."
Riley held his gaze.
There was something unreadable in her eyes.
Something deeper than teasing.
"We'll see."
Lucas leaned back, satisfied.
"Tonight. Nine o'clock."
Riley nodded once.
"I'll be there."
Maya leaned toward her.
"I'm coming too."
Daniel sighed again.
"Of course you are."
Lucas stood up.
"Prepare yourself."
Riley smirked.
"You should take your own advice."
Lucas pointed at her one last time.
"This time, I win."
Riley didn't respond.
She just watched him.
Watched the confidence.
The stubbornness.
The familiarity.
Then he turned and walked away with Adrian and Daniel.
For a moment—
her expression softened.
Just slightly.
Maya noticed immediately.
"…You know them, don't you?"
Riley didn't answer right away.
Her fingers tapped lightly against the table.
Then she picked up her drink.
"Something like that."
Maya narrowed her eyes.
"That's not a real answer."
Riley took a sip.
"It's enough."
Across the cafeteria—
Lucas nudged Adrian.
"She's planning something."
Adrian glanced back briefly.
Riley was laughing at something Maya said.
Unbothered.
Calm.
Like she hadn't just agreed to another challenge.
"She's always planning something," Adrian said.
Lucas crossed his arms.
"I don't trust her."
Adrian didn't respond.
Lucas glanced at him.
"…You do."
Adrian looked at him.
"No."
Lucas smirked.
"That didn't sound convincing."
Adrian looked away.
But his mind didn't.
Because no matter how hard he tried—
his thoughts kept drifting back to her.
The way she spoke.
The way she looked at them.
Like she knew something they didn't.
Like she had history with them.
And he couldn't explain why—
but it bothered him.
Back at the table—
Riley stood up, grabbing her bag.
"Where are you going?" Maya asked.
"Out."
"Cryptic."
Riley smirked faintly.
As she walked away, the noise of the cafeteria faded behind her.
Her steps slowed slightly once she reached the exit.
And for the first time since morning—
her smile disappeared.
Her expression grew quieter.
More serious.
"Tonight…" she murmured under her breath.
Her grip tightened slightly on her bag.
"Everything changes."
Because this wasn't just about a party.
Or a rematch.
Or even Lucas.
Tonight was the beginning of something she had been waiting years for.
Something bigger than all of them.
And whether Adrian and Lucas were ready or not—
Their lives were about to change in ways they could never take back.