Untouchable

0.17

Ivy’s POV

The night air was cool against my skin, but it did nothing to stop the heat simmering under it.

Adrian hadn’t said a word since he grabbed my bag and started walking beside me. He didn’t look at me, didn’t acknowledge me, and somehow that was worse than another one of our fights.

I let out a slow breath, trying to steady myself. The day had been exhausting, and the argument with Alistair still sat heavy in my chest. My eyes still burned from crying, but I refused to let it show. Not in front of Adrian.

The silence was thick, pressing down on me. The campus was quieter at this hour, with most students inside, leaving only the distant sound of laughter and the rustling of leaves in the wind.

I should have let it be. Should have just gone inside and ended the night.

But I couldn’t.

I clenched my fists and stopped walking. “People are talking about us.”

Adrian kept walking. He didn’t even glance back. “So?”

I scowled, quickening my pace until I was beside him again. “So? That doesn’t bother you?”

He finally turned his head, his expression as indifferent as ever. “Why would it?”

I exhaled sharply. “Maybe because you’re part of this too? If people think Alistair and I are fake, that means they’re talking about you too.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened. “Let them.”

I blinked at him. “You seriously don’t care?”

He let out a dry laugh. “News flash, Ivy—I don’t live my life based on what other people think.”

My frustration bubbled over. “God, do you ever care about anything?”

His eyes darkened. “Not about this.”

That stung more than I wanted to admit.

I crossed my arms. “Well, maybe you should. Because like it or not, you’re involved. And the fact that you’ve been acting like a damn storm cloud ever since I kissed Nathaniel proves it.”

His head snapped toward me, eyes sharp. “I don’t give a damn about that.”

I huffed out a humorless laugh. “Right. That’s why you’ve barely spoken to me since it happened?”

Adrian’s fingers flexed at his sides, his stance rigid. “You kissed my best friend.”

I swallowed hard, my pulse spiking. “It was a game.”

His lips curled into a cold smirk. “Right. A game.”

His voice was mocking, like he didn’t believe me. Like he thought there was more to it. And that pissed me off.

I stepped closer, tilting my chin up. “Why do you care so much?”

Adrian didn’t answer.

But he didn’t have to.

The way his gaze flickered to my lips for the briefest second, the way his fingers twitched like he was restraining himself—it was all the answer I needed.

The air between us shifted, crackling with something sharp and electric.

My breath caught, and for a second, neither of us moved.

Then—

The door swung open.

I jumped back, my heart hammering.

Kayla stood in the doorway, her eyes flicking between me and Adrian. “Uh… what’s going on?”

Adrian straightened instantly, his face smooth, his expression unreadable.

“Nothing,” he said flatly. “I was just helping her with her bags.”

I stared at him, but he didn’t look at me.

Without another word, he turned and walked out, his footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Kayla raised an eyebrow, closing the door behind her. “What was that?”

I exhaled shakily, still staring at the door. “I have no idea.”

But my chest was tight, my skin still buzzing.

And I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know.