LOVE NOT 💘

2).CHAR LITTLE STUNT.

CHARLOTTE'S POV

That girl. That little bitch. She’s got Marcus in her sights, and it’s driving me insane. She knows exactly what she’s doing, smiling at him like that, batting her lashes like she’s innocent. And Marcus? He had the nerve to interrupt my conversation with some nobody just because she was standing there.

Phone rings.

Ugh. Who could possibly want something now? I glanced at the screen. Leo. Of course.

I answered with a sharp, “Yes, Leo, what do you want?”

“Charlotte Baker, are you mad?” Leo’s voice thundered through the line, so loud I had to pull the phone from my ear.

“Why on earth would you tape Vivanna to the toilet seat and post it online?!”

I rolled my eyes. Vivanna. God, just hearing her name annoyed me.

“Relax, Leo,” I said, feigning indifference. “I was bored. She was irritating me.”

“Bored? Charlotte, do you even hear yourself? You were bored?! You are completely—” he paused, his voice dropping into that cold, no-nonsense tone I hated, “—out of control. I’m calling Dad.”

And just like that, he hung up.

“Asshole,” I muttered under my breath, throwing my phone onto the bed.

I barely had a moment to breathe before my dorm door swung open. The sudden movement startled me, and I shot up.

It was Marcus.

My heart did a strange little flip—an annoying habit I couldn’t seem to control around him. But his expression? It wasn’t the usual softness I loved. Behind him was Max, grinning like the idiot he always was.

I stood, quickly smoothing my hair, ready to greet him with a hug or a smile. But instead of stepping toward me, Marcus shoved me back.

“What the hell?” I blurted, stumbling slightly.

He cleared his throat, his jaw tight. His eyes—usually warm and inviting—were ice-cold.

“Why did you do it?” he asked, his voice low, almost too calm.

My stomach dropped.

“Do what?” I asked, feigning innocence.

He laughed bitterly. “You really don’t get it, do you?” His voice rose, anger seeping into every word. “Let me make myself very clear, Charlotte Baker. If you pull one more of your bullying stunts, this—” he gestured between us, his voice sharp as a whip, “—is over.”

With that, he turned and walked out, leaving me standing there like a fool.

The second the door closed behind him, my knees buckled, and I fell to the floor. Tears pricked at my eyes, but I refused to cry. I clenched my fists, biting down on my lip to stop the sob from escaping.

Why did Leo have to tell him?

And what was with everyone calling me my full name today? Like they were trying to distance themselves, trying to make me feel like a stranger.

I barely had time to wallow before the door opened again. This time, it wasn’t Marcus or even Max. It was Stella, the principal assistant.

And behind her? Emma.

My heart sank.

Stella cleared her throat, her expression blank but stern. “Charlotte, meet your new roommate, Emma. She’ll be staying with you from now on.”

I felt like the world had just slapped me across the face. My room? My space? Now shared with her?

Before I could argue, Stella motioned for a couple of staff members to bring in Emma’s bed. They worked quickly, setting it up on the other side of the room, arranging her things like she was some queen. And just as fast as they came, they left.

Now it was just me and her.

Emma stood awkwardly by her bed, looking at me with wide, nervous eyes. She opened her mouth but hesitated, her voice barely audible when she finally spoke.

“I’m… I’m sorry.”

Her voice grated on my nerves. I stood, my fists clenched.

“Sorry?” I said, venom dripping from every word. “Nobody Stones is ever sorry.”

I didn’t think. I didn’t plan. My body moved on its own, fueled by the anger bubbling in my chest. I grabbed the razor from my desk and lunged at her.

The blade sliced across her arm before I even realized what I’d done.

She screamed, stumbling back, blood pooling beneath her trembling fingers as she tried to stop the flow. Her face was pale, her entire body shaking as she whimpered.

The sound snapped me out of my rage. I froze, staring at the razor in my hand, the blood on the floor, the terrified look in her eyes.

What had I done?

Before I could say a word, the door burst open again.

Marcus.

He stood there, holding a teddy bear. My name was embroidered on it. His eyes darted from Emma’s bleeding arm to the razor in my hand. His expression shifted—shock, hurt, disgust—all at once.

The bear slipped from his hands, landing on the floor with a soft thud.

Without a word to me, he rushed to Emma, lifting her like she weighed nothing. She clung to him weakly, her blood staining his shirt as he carried her out the door.

I stood there, trembling, staring at the blood on the floor, the bear on the ground, the razor in my hand.

The anger drained from me, leaving nothing but pain and regret.

I picked up the teddy bear, clutching it against my chest as I collapsed onto my bed. Tears flowed freely now, soaking the soft fur of the bear.

I had ruined everything