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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I walked into the penthouse, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion. The trip to my old house had left me emotionally drained, but I pushed it to the back of my mind. La Fiesta was calling, and I wasn't going to let anything ruin the one thing that made Valencia feel like home.
"Nick?" I called out, setting my bag on the console by the door.
"In the kitchen!" his voice rang out.
I frowned, walking toward the kitchen, and froze mid-step when I saw him. There he was, casually perched on the kitchen island, scrolling through his phone. A towel was loosely wrapped around his waist, beads of water glistening on his skin, but his hair wasn't even wet.
"You have got to be kidding me," I said, hands on my hips.
He looked up from his phone, his face lighting up in that infuriatingly charming way. "Hey, Angel. You're back already?"
"Yes, I'm back. And what are you doing sitting there like a Greek statue when you're supposed to be getting ready?" I scolded. "You haven't even showered yet, have you?"
He shrugged, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "I thought you'd take longer. Besides, I was just—"
"Don't 'just' me," I interrupted, striding over to him. I grabbed his arm and tugged him off the counter. "You're getting ready now."
Nick chuckled, clearly enjoying my annoyance. "Ooo, fiesty," he teased, letting me drag him toward the bathroom.
Once we were inside, I pointed at the shower. "In. Now."
But instead of listening, he turned to me with that mischievous glint in his eyes. "You know, it'd be a lot faster if we showered together."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Nick, we don't have time for your games."
"Who said I'm playing?" he said, stepping closer. His hands slid to my waist, pulling me in as he leaned down to murmur in my ear. "It's just practical. Think of all the water we'd save."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small laugh that escaped me. "You're impossible."
"And you love me for it," he said, grinning as he reached behind me to turn on the water.
I sighed, shaking my head. "Fine. But if we're late, it's your fault."
Nick chuckled, already stepping under the stream of water and pulling me with him. "Angel, I'd take the blame for anything, as long as I get to be with you."
I tried to stay annoyed, but his touch and that damn smirk made it impossible. Sometimes, I hated how easily he could disarm me.
In the end we were late
~/~/~
La Fiesta was as lively as ever. The music, the laughter, the clamor of little feet running around—it felt like stepping into a memory, but with brighter colors. The orphanage still had its same warm charm, even if it now looked a bit more modern, thanks to the donations I'd been secretly sending.
