The morning sun was bright as Lili stepped off the bus. Her heart was thumping, but she remembered the spicy pasta and the long sleep from the night before. She felt stronger. As she approached the iron gates of Evergreen State College, she saw a familiar face. Luca was leaning against a brick pillar, looking relaxed and confident.
"Ready?" he asked with a wink.
"Ready," Lili replied, taking a deep breath.
They walked into the Sociology lecture hall side-by-side. The group from yesterday was already there, huddled in their usual spot. As soon as they saw Lili, the leader smirked and nudged his friends.
"Hey, look, the New Girl is back for more," he called out, his voice echoing. He stood up, intending to block her path. "Did you find a better jacket, or—"
He stopped mid-sentence when Luca stepped forward, placing a firm, protective hand on Lili's shoulder. Luca didn't look angry; he looked bored, which was far more intimidating.
"She's with me," Luca said, his voice loud and clear so the whole room could hear. "And if you have something to say to Lili, you say it to me first. But I should warn you—I don't have much patience for people who act like they're still in middle school."
The bully blinked, glancing around. He hadn't expected the quiet girl to have a friend, especially not one like Luca who seemed so at home on campus. The rest of the group looked at their shoes, their bravado vanishing instantly. They realized that Lili wasn't an easy target anymore. They grumbled and sat down, turning their backs to avoid Luca's steady gaze. The trick had worked perfectly.
New Faces
Lili felt a rush of relief so strong she almost felt dizzy. As they sat down in their seats, a girl with bright dyed hair and a boy wearing a heavy metal band t-shirt turned around from the row in front of them.
"That was awesome," the girl whispered, giving Lili a thumbs-up. "I'm Maya, and this is Rohan. We saw what those idiots did yesterday, and we felt terrible. We were too scared to say anything, but seeing you guys stand up to them... that was cool."
"I'm Lili," she said, her voice finally steady. "And this is Luca."
"We've been looking for people who aren't obsessed with their own reflection," Rohan added with a grin. "Want to grab lunch with us after class? We know a spot that has the best fries on campus."
Lili looked at Luca, who nodded encouragingly. For the first time, Lili didn't feel like a ghost in a big city. She had a best friend, a plan that worked, and now, the start of a real group of friends.
The lecture started, but Lili didn't focus on her notebook because she was afraid. She focused because she was happy. However, as the class went on, she couldn't help but notice Luca checking his phone.
"Everything okay?" she whispered.
"Yeah," Luca whispered back, a mysterious smile on his face. "My brother dropped me off this morning. He said he might stick around the area. I think you'll meet him sooner than you think."
Lili nodded, unaware that the handsome CEO she had yet to meet was currently parked just outside the gates, waiting to see exactly who this "Lili" was.
The four new friends walked out of the lecture hall, their laughter echoing off the high ceilings. For Lili, the air felt lighter. Maya and Rohan were already telling hilarious stories about their failed chemistry labs, and for the first time, Lili felt like she was part of the group.
"I'm telling you," Maya said, waving her hands, "the smell of sulfur didn't leave my hair for a week!"
Lili laughed, her eyes bright. "I think I'll stay away from the science building then."
As they pushed through the heavy oak doors of the college and stepped into the bright afternoon sun, the atmosphere suddenly shifted. A sleek, black luxury car was parked right at the curb, its polished paint gleaming like a diamond. It looked completely out of place against the backdrop of student bicycles and old buses.
Luca's face lit up. "Oh, he's still here."
Lili followed Luca's gaze. Leaning against the hood of the car was a man who seemed to stop time itself. He was wearing a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, his white shirt crisp and open at the collar. He was tall, with a presence so commanding that even the busy students walking by slowed down to look.
"Lili," Luca said, pulling her forward. "There's someone you should meet."
Lili froze. Her breath caught in her throat. She had never seen anyone so handsome in real life. This wasn't a student; this was a man who looked like he owned the entire street. As they got closer, the man straightened up. His dark eyes—sharper and deeper than Luca's—scanned the group until they landed directly on Lili.
"Lili, this is my older brother, Leo," Luca introduced them, his voice full of pride. "Leo, this is Lili. The one I told you about."
Leo didn't move at first. He just looked at her, his expression unreadable. To Lili, the world felt like it had gone silent. There was something suspicious and magnetic about the way he watched her, as if he could see right through her nervous smile.
"So," Leo said, his voice a low, smooth vibration that made Lili's skin tingle. "You're the girl who survived the 'Jerk Zone' today."
Lili felt her face heat up. "I... I had help. Luca was amazing."
Leo took a slow step toward her. He was close enough now that she could smell his expensive cologne—a mix of sandalwood and cold rain. He offered a hand, his movements graceful but deliberate.
"I'm Leo," he said. His touch was brief, but his hand was warm and firm. "My brother speaks very highly of you. It's rare for him to find someone worth his time."
There was a hidden meaning in his words that Lili couldn't quite grasp. He was being polite, a perfect gentleman, yet there was a coldness in his eyes that told her he was someone she should be careful with. He was a CEO, a man of power, and he was looking at her as if she were a puzzle he intended to solve.
"Nice to meet you," Lili whispered, finding it hard to look away from his intense gaze.