~Nicole~

I woke up in a house I didn't want to be in, in my bed, with a whole attitude I didn't bother hiding.

This was supposed to be a fresh start. New school. Dorm room. Peace.

Instead?

Back in the spider web.

Thanks to her.

I sat up, hair wild, mouth dry, and cursed under my breath.

"God, I should've fought harder."

But you don't argue with H.P.

Not if you like your spine intact.

She was already downstairs, dressed like she was headed to a boardroom or a funeral...hard to tell with her.

"Five minutes," she said without looking up.

"I had a dorm room, you know," I muttered, grabbing a piece of toast.

"You wanted to be here.. So deal with it," she corrected, sipping coffee like her words weren't a punch in the throat.

"No. I wanted to be in the Royal Academy. Not back in the same house I stayed while attending Weakers Academy."

"You're lucky you were accepted."

I scoffed. "You mean I had a chance to not sneak out of a car like some spy on the run."

Her gaze lifted, cool. Unbothered.

"You know the rules."

"Yeah. Rule one: never let anyone see us breathe the same air."

She didn't flinch.

Of course she didn't.

H.P. never blinked unless it was on purpose.

The car ride was dead silent.

Tense in that way only we knew how to master.

I leaned against the window, watching other cars pull into the student lot like actual parents dropping off their actual kids like normal human beings.

But not us.

Nope.

H.P. pulled to a stop two blocks away from the main entrance.

"Here's fine," she said.

I blinked. "You're joking."

She put the car in park.

"This is ridiculous," I muttered. "We're not even on campus."

"You'll walk."

"I could've stayed in the dorms and walked less."

She didn't answer.

Just tapped her fingers once on the steering wheel.

I grabbed my bag, shoving the door open harder than I needed to.

"You know what?" I said, turning back to face her. "One day, I'm gonna figure out why you keep hiding me."

She looked at me...just for a second.

Something cold in her eyes..

Then she smiled.

"I look forward to it."

And with that, the car peeled off.

Leaving me in the middle of nowhere.

Again.

My boots hit the pavement fast.

Every step tighter than the last.

I was tired of being handled. Tired of being hidden. Tired of..

"Lost again, Winter?"

The voice slid over me.

My heart stuttered.

I looked up.

Liam.

Leaning against a fence post. Hoodie half-zipped. Lip ring glinting. Fingers tucked into his pockets.

He grinned.

"Didn't think I'd see you walking from this side of town," he said. "Detention already?"

I opened my mouth...snapped it shut...then glared.

"None of your business."

He pushed off the fence, falling into step beside me like we did this every day.

"I make it my business," he said smoothly. "You've got a look on your face."

"What look?"

He grinned.

"The one people get when they're two seconds from exploding."

I rolled my eyes.

He leaned closer.

"Want me to help with that?"

My thighs clenched.

Dammit.

"With what?" I asked. "The slow death of my sanity?"

Liam's eyes flicked to my clenched fists. Then lower. A slow, lazy drag down my body.

"The tension," he said. "You're vibrating like a live wire."

I scoffed. "I'm not tense."

"You are."

He stopped walking.

So did I.

"Your jaw's tight," he said, stepping closer. "You clench your fists. Your eyes? Screaming."

He leaned in just a little. Enough for his voice to drop.

"Wanna know what else gives you away?"

"Nope."

"Your thighs," he said.

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You're squeezing them."

My face flamed. "No, I'm not."

His mouth twitched. "You just did it again."

I took a step back.

Mistake.

Because he stepped forward, closing the distance between us.

His body heat hit me like a furnace. He smelled like chocolate chip cookies.

He leaned down.

"I could take the edge off," he whispered.

My throat tightened. "You're joking."

"Not really. Just an offer."

"What kind of offer?"

His smile deepened.

"Hands-on therapy."

My whole body locked.

"W-What the hell does that even mean?"

He didn't answer.

His eyes burned into mine. Then drifted down... to my lips.

And lower.

God.

My stomach twisted.

His voice dropped to a murmur. "You're like a glass ready to crack."

He reached up.

His fingers barely grazed my wrist. Just a whisper of a touch.

"You're warm," he said softly.

I pulled back.

He caught my hand.

Not forcefully. Just... there. Holding.

Thumb brushing gently over my palm.

"You think I haven't seen this before?" he murmured. "The girl who says she's fine but is burning from the inside out?"

I swallowed. Hard.

"I don't need therapy," I muttered.

His mouth tilted into a smirk. "Yeah? Then why are you shaking?"

"I'm not."

He laughed. Soft. Low. Way too hot for 8:30 a.m.

"Sure you do," he said.

He stepped even closer.

Now our chests were almost touching. His breath brushed my cheek.

And then..

"I don't kiss girls who flinch," he whispered.

My brain short-circuited.

He leaned in.

I forgot how to breathe.

His lips hovered near my ear. "But only if they beg."

Then...just like that...he pulled away.

Hands in pockets. Like he didn't just make my brain think things in seconds.

"Coming?" he called, already walking toward the gate.

My knees were jelly.

But I straightened, threw my hair back, and called out..

"You wish," I said, forcing my legs to move even though my thighs still remembered his voice.

Liam didn't answer, just smiled like he already knew he'd be living in my head rent-free.

I was just starting to recover when-

"Yo. Liam!"

A voice. Deep. Familiar.

My whole body tensed.

No. No way.

Liam turned toward the sound casually.

"Hey, man."

I turned too.

And when I saw who was walking toward us..

My breath caught.

~Nicole~

I knew that voice.

And my body knew it, too...judging by the way every nerve went on high alert.

Landon.

He strolled up like he owned the pavement, broad shoulders cutting through the morning air, the same cocky grin plastered on his annoyingly perfect face.

His uniform blazer was hanging off one shoulder like rules didn't apply to him.

Spoiler: they didn't.

"Well, well," Landon drawled as his gaze landed on me. It swept down my body, and stopped at my boots. "Look who the wind dragged back."

I folded my arms, glaring up at him. "Unfortunately, the wind didn't blow you away in the process."

His grin widened. "Fiesty this early in the morning? You must've missed me."

I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "Like a root canal."

Liam shifted beside me, his hand brushing my arm in a subtle, grounding way. "Ease up, Landon," he said.

"Ease up?" Landon's brows arched, and he stepped closer. "Why? She looks like she can handle it."

"I can," I snapped. "What I can't handle is your ego taking up all the oxygen out here."

Landon chuckled, a deep, dangerous sound.

He leaned in slightly, close enough for me to feel the warmth radiating off him. "You know, I was gonna be nice," he said, "but you've got a smart mouth. Makes me wanna..."

"...what?" I cut in, tilting my head with a smile that didn't reach my eyes. "Try and tame me? Good luck, egoistic jerk."

His smirk deepened at the word. "Oh, I'm scared, didn't see that coming."

"Hard to miss," I shot back. "The cockiness gave it away."

Landon didn't flinch, stepped in just a bit more, close enough that I had to tip my head back to hold his gaze.

"Careful, Winter," he murmured. "You play with fire, you'll get burned."

I leaned in too, my lips curling into a smile that matched his. "That's cute. But I'm not afraid of a little heat."

Liam cleared his throat, stepping forward "Landon, let the girl be," he said.

But Landon just laughed, the sound sliding over me like he knew exactly how much he was getting under my skin. Which... yeah, he was.

"Relax, Liam," Landon said, clapping him on the back. "I'm just saying hi to your... friend."

"Doesn't look like it," Liam responded.

"Oh, I think it is," Landon said, eyes flicking back to me.

"I'm just wondering...why you're hiding out here two blocks from campus instead of strutting through the gates like everyone else"

I stiffened.

Liam immediately stepped in. "Drop it, Landon."

But I wasn't about to let this jerk think he'd cornered me.

I forced a smile and stepped close...enough my chest brushed his when I tilted my chin up. "Why don't you worry less about where I walk," I said sweetly, "and more about the fact that your zipper's halfway down."

Landon blinked.

Then, for the first time, his cocky grin faltered as his hand dropped to check his zipper.

It wasn't down.

"Gotcha," I whispered, smirking as I stepped back.

Liam chuckled under his breath, and Landon's eyes snapped to me, heat blazing there now. But I didn't back down.

"You won this time," he said.

"And I'll win again," I fired back.

He smirked again. "Oh, Winter... you and I are gonna have fun."

I rolled my eyes, brushing past him.

Liam followed close behind, still chuckling softly as we walked toward the gates.

I didn't have to look back to know Landon was watching.

"Sorry about him," he said. "Landon's... well, Landon. You just gotta learn to match up to him and I think you're doing just fine"

I snorted. "Thanks.. How do you handle him?"

Liam chuckled. "Trust me, I try. But once you get to know him, you'll love him."

I scoffed.."You sound like you know him too well.."

"More like brothers"..he answered.

"Wow, such a thorn in your side"..I said.

"C'mon, I might be the one that needs handling".. he teased.

"Who knows. But don't worry, you'll do just fine"..

I rolled my eyes. "Figures. Just my luck that I'll be stuck seeing more of him now."

Liam arched a brow. "Why's that?"

I groaned, tossing my head back. "Because... lucky me..I guess."

I couldn't tell him the reason..I'd been assigned to tutor Landon freaking Hockman...and no one could know.

"Oh." Liam's lips quirked. "That's going to be... interesting."

"Nightmare," I corrected. "I'm already regretting it."

I gave him a pointed look and sighed dramatically. "I wish he could be more like you."

His gaze flicked down to me, warm and unreadable. "Me?"

"Yeah," I muttered. "You'd actually listen. You wouldn't drive me insane, and I wouldn't have to threaten you every five minutes."

His smirk deepened just a little. "And how do you know I wouldn't drive you insane?"

I opened my mouth, ready with a snarky comeback...then stopped.

Because my brain, traitorous as it was, decided to go there.

Liam. Sitting across from me at a desk, his hoodie sleeves pushed up, his forearms flexing as he leaned in.

That lazy grin tugging at his lips every time I got flustered.

God... I wanted him to grab me, slam me against the nearest wall and fuck the attitude right out of me...

One hand around my throat, the other between my thighs, dragging every moan I'd never admit out of my mouth.

"Arrrgh!"

The sound burst out of me before I could stop it.

Liam blinked. "Uh... you okay?"

"No," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "Why does he have to pop in when I'm having a moment in my head?"

"'He' meaning...?" Liam asked..

"Landon!" I snapped. "It's like his stupid face is tattooed in my brain. One second I'm thinking about..." I cut myself off just in time.

Liam's brow lifted. "About...?"

I glared at him. "Don't push it."

He laughed, soft and low, and it did things to me I wasn't ready to admit.

"Relax," he said, bumping my shoulder lightly.

"If it helps, I'll keep Landon off your back when I can. No promises he'll stay away completely, though. He's like a bloodhound when he finds something intriguing."

Intriguing.

I shivered at that, though I didn't let Liam see it.

"Great," I muttered. "Exactly what I needed this semester...."

Liam just smiled like he knew more than he was saying.

"This is gonna be interesting ," I muttered, trying to sound tough even though my heart was still racing from just thinking about Landon's stupid grin.

I was so lost in my own head I didn't notice Liam had stopped walking...until I turned and crashed right into his chest.

"Whoa..."

His hands caught my waist before I could stumble back.

Big. Warm. Strong.

And then... they didn't move.

I froze.

Every nerve in my body lit up like I'd been plugged into an outlet.

My breath hitched, my knees went weak, and I swear I could feel the heat of his hands through my clothes.

I tilted my head up slowly, my face way too close to his.

Liam's eyes were on me...steady, dark, and way too hard to read. His thumbs brushed the sides of my waist, sending another shiver through me.

"Y-you can let go now," I whispered, my voice barely there.

One corner of his mouth lifted, but he didn't move his hands.

"Can I?" he said almost dangerous like he meant something else.

I swallowed hard.

His hands stayed on my waist, thumbs brushed my sides in slow circles, making me squirm in my mind.

"W-what do you mean?" I whispered.

He looked straight into my eyes, his voice low. "I mean... do I really have to let you go?"

I should've stepped back. But I didn't.

I just stood there, staring up at him, his breath on mine..mine on his.

He leaned even more slowly, enough that I could feel his breath on my cheek. "Because I don't want to."

"Oh my world... Nic." A sweet, high-pitched voice rang out behind me.

And just like that...I was out of Liam's embrace.

Damn it, Lulu.

Seriously? Right now?

We were this close. Like, lips-parted, breath-mingling, knees-weak kind of close.

But now.. it was..

Gone.

Cockblocked by my bestie.

She came running like she was about to win a damn marathon, arms wide open like this was a freaking reunion.

I barely had time to blink before she crushed me in a hug.

"Oh my god, girl, it's been forever!" she squealed, squeezing tight.

Yep. Definitely tighter.

Rounder....Her boobs felt like they hit the gym and never came back.

What was she feeding them? Protein shakes? Testosterone?

She pulled back, eyes roaming all over me like I was her next outfit. "Look at you! You literally murdered this red"... she flipped my hair.

"Damn, are you trying to get your ass UNWOUND this year or what?"

I cleared my throat...loudly.

Her eyes flicked up, confused for a sec.

I tilted my head slightly.

"Lucy," I said with forced calm. "Liam."

She turned.

Oh, crap.

I watched her mouth part, already bracing for the chaos she was about to unleash. I knew that look.

I'd seen it way too many times...right before she spilled my secrets like free candy.

Thankfully, by some miracle, she swallowed whatever filth was about to escape.

Instead, she smiled..sweet.

"Nice to meet you," she said, holding out her hand.

But oh no. Not just any handshake.

That dramatic, slow blink... the head tilt...

This bitch.

Full-on seductress mode unlocked.

She was the classic bad girl. Lipgloss always glossy....Attitude sharp....Straight A's like a saint, body like temptation or even sin itself.

Liam took her hand, and I swear I saw a smirk twitch at the corner of his lips.

"My pleasure," he said in that lazy, deep voice of his. "I'll leave you two. See you around, Nic."

He winked.

Wait..

Why?

But my entire system short-circuited.

God.

I watched him walk away, his back muscles flexing under that damn white shirt.

Nope.

I wasn't okay.

My lips were tingling from the way that lip ring called my name.

I needed a cold shower... Or a slap. Or both.

Lucy turned to me the second he disappeared around the corner.

Her grin was wide and her eyes sparkled like she knew everything.

"Oh," she said, dragging the word like a tease. "So... what did I interrupt?"

I groaned, covering my face.

"You ruined it."

"Ruined what? That slow, tension-filled almost kiss that probably would've had you screaming his name later tonight?"

I slapped her arm. "Lulu!"

She laughed. "Don't act shy. That boy wants to eat you alive. And honestly? You should let him."

"Speaking of eating," I shot, turning to her with narrowed eyes, "where the fuck did you zoom off to during the fresher's welcome party?"

She blinked, dramatic like always, lips twitching with amusement.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me," I pressed. "If you'd been by my side, maybe things with Landon wouldn't have gone so downhill."

God.

I could still feel the heat from that disaster. The stares. The whispers. And the worst part, he made me suck his nipples."

"And to crown it all, you ghosted yesterday. First day of school and my best friend's MIA? Real supportive."

"Relax," Lulu said, rolling her eyes with a playful shove. "Why you lashing out like I'm your cheating ex?"

I gave her a flat look.

She knows I've never had a guy.

She grinned. "C'mon, a girl's gotta spread her wings, baby. You'll survive. You probably handled yourself just fine."

I scoffed. "Yeah. Sure. You could say that."

I handled myself right into a steamy nipple-kiss."

And now? My whole system was still vibrating from it.

We strolled toward our lockers, mine creaking open with that familiar annoying screech.

Hers was just two down, close enough for the usual side-eye exchanges and whispered gossip.

I leaned in closer. "Where the hell have you been, you slut?" I hissed, keeping my voice low but very much not joking.

She gave me a devilish grin, glanced both ways, then slowly lifted her shirt.

Just a few inches, enough to show the new belly ring glinting on her smooth, tan skin.

Oh. My. Damn.

"You finally did it!" I squealed, barely stopping myself from jumping her. "You got the piercing!"

We had been planning it for years. It was our "twin baddie" move.

But of course, I chickened out because of H.P. That woman would've strung me up by my ears if I came home pierced like a rebel.

"You should ha..." Lulu started.

But just as she was about to go into details, the shrill bell rang through the hallway.

9:00 AM.

Fucking great. Class.

At least one silver lining... I got to be in the same class level as her. Thank you, scholarship clause. They let me stay in my current level as long as I keep my GPA shining like a virgin halo.

And best believe, I was grinding harder than ever. I wasn't about to let them bump me down to Freshman year.

Ugh. Just the name sounds tragic.

"Let's head to class," Lulu said, slamming her locker shut. "I'll fill you in later, promise."

I nodded and turned back to mine, shoving my books in...when something slid out and hit the floor.

A letter.

Pink.

I frowned.

Bent and picked it up.

The envelope was thick, satin-textured. A whiff of something sweet...vanilla? No. Caramel?

From your well-wisher,

Anonymous.

My heart skipped.

"What's that?" she asked, trying to peek.

I ignored her and traced the handwriting again.

And then I saw it...tucked beside my chemistry book, almost hidden.

A box of chocolates.

No brand name. Just a smooth, sleek black box with a baby pink ribbon tied into a bow.

I blinked.

Looked around the hallway like the sender would pop out and wink at me.

Who is it from?

I shivered.

No idea if it was fear, thrill, or the slow, hot buzz crawling down my spine.

"Open it," Lulu whispered, eyes sparkling. "Who knows? Maybe your secret admirer finally decided to show up."

I swallowed.

But just then, our moment was interrupted by none other than Mr. Raymond.

The ever-popular math teacher.

Tall, sharp jaw, thick lashes.

Always smelling like mint and lavender.

Also known as: Lulu's major faculty crush.

And yep...we had his class right now.

"I suppose you both heard the bell go off," he said, clearing his throat.

His voice was deep, smooth, annoyingly attractive.

Typical.

Hot man with authority.

Lulu's weakness.

You should've seen how tight she gripped my wrist..like she was about to faint from sheer thirst.

"We're heading that way, Mr. Raymond," she said, flashing him her best innocent smile.

I tried to find my voice. "Y–yeah. Yes, sir."

And just like that, we zoomed off.

Fast.

The pink letter crinkled in my pocket with every step...