Unfriendly | dark romance 🖤

1. Freya

"Oh my gosh.." some girls whispered.

Yeah, there he is. The tallest guy in our college, Elijah Rosewood, who is impossible to miss. He's the kind of guy who commands attention the moment he walks into a room. Tall—easily over 6.5 feet—with broad shoulders and a build that makes it clear he spends serious time in the gym. His muscles strain against the fabric of his shirt, hinting at the raw power beneath. His dark hair is perfectly tousled, framing a face that's all sharp angles—high, chiseled cheekbones and a strong jawline that could have been carved from stone.

But it's his eyes that really get you. Dark, intense, almost predatory, they seem to see right through you, leaving you feeling exposed and vulnerable. There's something dangerous about him, something that sends a shiver down your spine even as you can't help but be drawn in. His presence is magnetic, and you can feel the tension whenever he's around—like he could either ruin you or protect you, depending on his mood.

Women want him, desperately. They're pulled to him like moths to a flame, knowing full well they might get burned but unable to resist. Men, on the other hand, keep their distance. There's a quiet fear in their eyes when they look at him, an understanding that he's not someone to mess with. You can see the respect, but it's mixed with caution. He's a force to be reckoned with, and everyone knows it. I don't know why he exudes that ultra sigma vibe wherever he goes, but he is perfect. 

I roll my eyes, grab my stuff, and lock my car when suddenly someone stands behind me, casting a shadow over car. When I turn to face him, I start to sob. It's my bestie, Ryan, who spent the whole summer at his father's place, living through a real nightmare.

"Ryan!!" I jump into his arms, feeling tears well up in my eyes. He's tanned and more muscular than I remember and I have to admit, I understand why women always turn their heads after him.

"Hello, sweetheart," he whispers, brushing hair off my face.

When I turn my head to the side and open my eyes, I see those dark eyes staring at me. They look like they're glaring straight into my soul with anger. I start thinking about them, but Ryan snaps me out of it.
"You look beautiful as always, Freya. Come with me, let's go grab a coffee, please." he smiles, like always.
"Of course, R. I missed you so much!" I turn back, searching for Elijah's black eyes, but they're nowhere to be seen.

"Are you looking for someone?" Ryan asks, curious, but I shake my head and smile as we walk toward the café on the corner by our university.
"How long are you back, R? I tried to reach you all summer... and you didn't respond at all."
"I know, Freya, and I'm sorry about that. But you know this summer wasn't a good time for me. I wouldn't have been the friend you deserve," he says quietly, staring at his shoes.
"I love you, R. You're my best friend, my true friend since childhood. I need you in every possible way," I say, but deep down, I know he's trying to protect me from his life, and I can't change that.
"Please forgive me, Freya," he says, and I see the pain in his eyes.
"Of course I do, but I missed you, so... get me a coffee! A big one!" I say, laughing as I see the sadness leave his eyes.

You need to know that I hate it when he's upset. Maybe I try too hard to help him feel better, especially when his parents don't give a damn about his life or feelings. Our childhood wasn't normal like others. We were separated from the world because of our parents. They were too afraid of the outside world, so they kept us playing together since our families had known each other forever. My parents worked for Ryan's parents, and they loved them, though I've never understood why. My dad died in an accident when I was 12, and my mom has been in the hospital ever since, lost in her madness. Yeah, I'm traumatized, but who cares?

My grandma, who passed away last year, took care of me from that day on, and I started to live a "normal teen life." She was cold-hearted, but I think she loved me. She left me our old, big house and enough money to study law at Blackwood uni, just like my mom had always dreamed of.

I promised her that I would finish my law degree, even though I believe I'm a creative soul. I spent the entire summer painting, and it's the only time I feel a sense of relief from the constant tension.

So, here I am, with Ryan, who was pushed into this life too, because of his royal, cruel family.

"How was your summer?" I ask Ryan, taking a sip of the largest coffee you can order around here.

"Frey, you don't want me to even start," he replies.

"But I do want to know, Ryan."

"Alright, let me just say that I spent the whole summer in my dad's office, listening to him tell me how useless I am without a degree." he says, and it's clear that although he's hiding what's really going on in his life, he can't hide the emotions in his eyes.

"I'm sorry to hear that, R. You know I'm here for you."

"Yes, I know, Frey. But I don't want to talk about myself anymore. What about you, sweetheart?" He smiles and strokes my hand. To some, it might seem like an intimate gesture between lovers, though that's not the case.

"I spent the entire summer at home, painting an trying to mentally prepare for another year with people," I say bitterly, meeting Ryan's gaze.

"Frey... this can't go on. We need to prepare you for life after school. You can't stay shut away forever. I want you to live, fall in love, and have a family," he says, and I see concern in his eyes.

"I know you don't like it, but I'm okay..."

"Frey, you're not. But we'll work on it," he says, and I think maybe it wouldn't be so bad, and who better than Ryan to help me?