Untouchable

0.16

Ivy's POV

The journey back to campus was a blur.

Maybe it was the exhaustion, the way my body still ached from lack of sleep, or maybe it was the fact that my mind wouldn't stop replaying everything from the past few days.

Nathaniel's kiss.
Adrian's anger.
Falling asleep on Adrian.

I barely processed getting off the private jet, my feet moving on autopilot as I pulled my duffel bag over my shoulder. The others were talking, stretching after the trip, but I couldn't focus on any of it.

Not when I saw him.

Alistair was waiting near the parking lot, leaning against his sleek black car. His arms were crossed, his expression unreadable, but the sharpness in his gaze made my stomach twist.

I slowed my steps.

He met my eyes, pushing off the car. "Can we talk?"

I swallowed, glancing at the others, but they had already started walking ahead.

No escape.

"Yeah," I said, voice quieter than I wanted it to be.

He motioned toward a more private spot near the edge of the campus courtyard. I followed, my pulse picking up.

The second we were out of earshot, he spoke.

"So." His tone was careful, like he was trying not to let anything slip. "You kissed Nathaniel."

I crossed my arms. "It was a game."

Alistair let out a sharp breath, shaking his head with a humorless laugh. "Right. Just a game."

"It was." My voice hardened, defensive. "And even if it wasn't, what does it matter? We're not even dating."

His expression shifted-something unreadable flickering behind his eyes. "So it didn't mean anything."

I hesitated, but only for a second. "No."

Something in his jaw clenched. "Right."

A beat of silence.

Then he scoffed. "Funny, because Adrian sure seemed pissed about it."

My stomach dropped. "What does Adrian have to do with this?"

"Oh, come on, Ivy," he snapped, his voice edged with something dangerously close to jealousy. "I see the way he looks at you."

I blinked. "Adrian hates me."

Alistair laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Yeah? Because he looked pretty damn miserable watching you kiss someone else."

I flinched, my breath catching in my throat. "Why do you even care?"

His eyes darkened. "Because we had a deal."

I sucked in a sharp breath.

He shook his head. "You think this is just about you and Nathaniel?" He took a step closer, his voice lowering. "You think I don't hear what people are saying?"

I stiffened.

"That this whole thing is fake? That you and I are a joke?" His voice cracked slightly on the last word, and something sharp twisted in my chest.

I swallowed hard. "Alistair-"

"No." His tone was clipped now, his eyes burning into mine. "If you don't care, if this is all meaningless to you, then maybe we should just end it."

The words hit harder than I expected.

My throat tightened.

I forced myself to meet his gaze, but I could feel the sting behind my eyes, the familiar ache in my chest.

"I don't know," I whispered.

His face flickered with something unreadable.

I turned, walking away before he could say anything else.

The second I turned the corner, I crashed into someone.

Strong hands steadied me before I could stumble.

Adrian.

My breath hitched as I looked up, but I barely registered his usual cold expression.

Because the second I met his eyes, my vision blurred.

Tears slipped down my cheeks before I could stop them.

Adrian stiffened.

Then, after a moment, he sighed. "Come on," he muttered.

He didn't say anything else. Just took my bag from me, slinging it over his shoulder, and started walking.

I followed, my chest tight, my hands trembling.

And for the first time in days, I let myself cry.

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