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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The jet sliced through the clouds like a knife, and the cabin was filled with a mix of laughter, chatter, and the faint thrum of the engines. I was curled up in my seat, trying to enjoy the last moments of freedom before school pulled us back in. Nick was up front talking to the pilot, and I was lost in my own world, scrolling through my phone when Matteo and Dio caught my attention.
They were slipping out of the cabin with a sly look exchanged between them. I shook my head, already knowing where this was going. Dio, with her endless commentary on anything remotely related to sex, and Matteo, who was like a hyper kid playing mom to everyone—except when it came to Dio. Those two couldn't keep their hands off each other, and privacy was just a suggestion to them.
A few minutes later, they strutted back in, both looking like they'd been caught in a wind tunnel. Dio's lipstick was smeared, her hair a mess, and Matteo's shirt was half untucked with a smug, unbothered grin that said it all.
I rolled my eyes and smirked. "Really? Couldn't wait 'til we landed?"
Dio plopped into her seat, unabashed. "What can I say? We make our own fun," she said with a wink, not even trying to fix her hair. Matteo just shrugged, sliding into the seat next to her, looking way too pleased with himself.
Rora looked up from her phone, her perfectly manicured nails tapping the screen. "Seriously, Dio? You've got, like, zero shame," she scoffed, but she was grinning. Drew just chuckled under his breath, shaking his head.
Theo was busy showing Lia something on his phone, probably some dumb meme or video, and she was all sunshine and giggles, nodding along even if she didn't really get it.
Nick finally returned from the cockpit, his usual stone-cold expression softening just a little when he saw me. He slid into the seat next to mine, his presence a steady anchor in the whirlwind that was our group. His arm automatically found its way around my shoulders, pulling me close like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Miss me?" he asked, his voice low, his eyes meeting mine with that familiar, unreadable look that always made my heart skip a beat.
"Always," I replied, half teasing, half serious. He smirked, just the tiniest curve of his lips, and I leaned into him, my head resting on his shoulder.
Nick's fingers traced lazy circles on my arm, and I felt myself relax against him, the chaos of the cabin fading into the background. Matteo was trying—and failing—to smooth down his hair while Dio whispered something in his ear that made him blush. Rora was complaining about the Wi-Fi, Drew was still engrossed in his book, and Theo was now showing Lia how to play some dumb game on his phone, both of them laughing like there was nothing else in the world.
Nick leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear. "You okay?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, but I could feel the concern behind his words.
