At Luxford Academy, the elite boarding school for the ultra-rich, Adriana and Nicholas have been bitter rivals since childhood. Forced to live in the same dorm, their once-friendly pranks have escalated into daily clashes-sharp insults, constant bic...
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Nick had been trailing behind me all morning like a lost puppy, trying to catch my attention, but I wasn't giving him the satisfaction. He knew exactly why I was ignoring him, yet he kept pushing his luck. The guys, of course, were watching all of this unfold with wide grins, like it was the most entertaining thing they'd seen in weeks. Theo was practically bouncing with excitement, like he'd had too much sugar—oh wait, that's just Theo on a regular day.
Nick tried again, clearing his throat as if to prepare for something important. "Angel," he began, his voice a little gruffer than usual. "Did you sleep okay last night? I was worried." His voice sounded careful, like he was trying to test the waters, but I didn't bite. I kept my gaze on my phone, pretending to be deeply engrossed. After a moment of silence, I rolled my eyes and turned to Drew, who was lounging on the couch beside Theo.
"Drew, be a dear and tell Nick what I think about his question," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. Drew smirked, clearly enjoying this way too much.
"She thinks you should keep your concern to yourself and save it for someone who cares," Drew delivered smoothly, his face as stoic as ever. The room erupted into laughter, Matteo trying and failing to hide his chuckle behind his hand, while Theo actually rolled off the couch, laughing so hard he nearly knocked over the coffee table.
Nick's jaw clenched, and he shot Drew a death glare that could have frozen the sun, but Drew just shrugged, unbothered. I could see the frustration building in Nick's eyes, a crack in that cold, straight face of his.
Without another word, I stood up and walked to my room, shutting the door behind me firmly. I could still hear the muffled sounds of the guys' laughter outside, but at least now I had a bit of peace. I knew Nick wouldn't leave it alone; he never did. A few seconds later, I heard a light knock, followed by Nick pushing the door open. He slipped inside and closed it behind him, cutting off the noise from the living room.
"Adri, come on," he whined, his voice softer now, almost desperate. I ignored him, sitting on my bed with my back against the wall. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly at a loss. "Seriously? You're not gonna talk to me?"
I didn't even look up. "Nick, I'm busy," I said flatly.
"Busy doing what? Ignoring me?" he complained, stepping closer. "You're not even looking at anything important!"
I finally glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "Do you have a point, or are you just here to waste my time?"
Nick groaned, his tough facade breaking as he slumped against the door, crossing his arms like a sulking child. "I said I'm sorry, okay? What else do you want from me?"
I sighed, putting my phone down and staring at him. "I want you to understand that it's not that easy, Nick. You messed up. I'm not just gonna forgive you because you're whining about it now."
His shoulders slumped even more, and he took a tentative step forward, his voice softening. "I know I messed up, Adri. I know. But I'm trying here. I don't know what else to do. Can't you just—can't we just talk it out, please?" His tone was more pleading now, and I could tell he was trying to hold back from whining again.
