Untouchable

0.25

Adrian’s POV

I knew leaving wouldn’t fix anything.

Didn’t stop me from doing it anyway.

The second I stepped out of Alistair’s dorm, the air outside felt colder than before. My hoodie wasn’t enough to block it out, not when my skin was already burning from frustration—from the argument, from her.

I didn’t stop walking. I just kept moving, down the empty hallway, through the courtyard, ignoring the few students scattered across the campus.

I should’ve never gone to her dorm.

I should’ve never let myself stand in front of her door, debating whether or not to knock.

I should’ve—

I cursed under my breath, running a hand through my hair.

Nothing made sense anymore.

Not the way I’d felt standing in front of her, looking at her. Not the way my chest tightened every time she spoke back to me. Not the way my blood boiled every time I thought about her with Nathaniel.

That was what this was about.

Right?

Nathaniel.

I couldn’t explain it, but the thought of them together—of him touching her, kissing her—made something dark coil in my stomach.

And it was stupid.

It shouldn’t have mattered. It didn’t.

I shoved my hands deeper into my pockets, jaw tight, eyes trained ahead as I kept walking, trying to get as far away from this mess as possible.

But of course, I didn’t get far.

“Adrian.”

I came to an abrupt stop.

Alistair.

He was leaning against a stone pillar just outside his dorm, arms crossed, watching me with an unreadable expression. His usual carelessness was missing.

I exhaled sharply. “Not now.”

“Yeah, I don’t really care what you want.”

I clenched my jaw. “Alistair—”

“I saw you.”

I stilled.

His gaze was sharp, studying me, picking me apart the way only he could. “With Ivy.”

A muscle in my jaw twitched. “And?”

His lips curled, but there was no humor in it. “And you looked like you were about to lose your mind.”

I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay calm. “It’s none of your business.”

He let out a short laugh. “That’s funny, because last time I checked, it was my business.” He pushed off the pillar, stepping closer. “You made it my business.”

I stared at him.

He stared back.

We weren’t kids anymore, but sometimes it still felt like we were. Like we were back in my parents’ backyard, standing on opposite sides of the field, waiting to see who would make the first move.

“Tell me something, Adrian,” Alistair said, voice casual but lined with something sharp. “Are you just pissed because Ivy’s in your space, or because she’s not yours?”

My blood turned to fire.

I took a step forward before I could stop myself. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Alistair arched a brow. “Don’t I?”

I clenched my fists. “Drop it.”

“Why? Because you can’t admit it?” He tilted his head, watching me too closely. “Because you hate that she’s with Nathaniel, but you can’t bring yourself to admit why?”

I said nothing.

“God, you’re exhausting.” Alistair exhaled, shaking his head. “You act like you don’t care, like none of this affects you, but the second Ivy gets too close to someone else, you lose your damn mind.”

I clenched my teeth. “Shut up.”

“No.” His expression hardened. “You’re acting like a coward.”

Heat surged through my veins.

I let out a bitter laugh. “I’m the coward? You’re the one who gave up.”

Alistair’s expression darkened.

“You had Ivy first,” I said, voice quieter now. “And now you’re just—what? Moving on?”

Alistair exhaled slowly, but there was something dangerous in his gaze now. “Ivy and I were never real.”

I scoffed. “That’s not the point.”

He tilted his head. “Then what is the point?”

I opened my mouth.

And then closed it.

Alistair’s lips curled. “That’s what I thought.”

I inhaled sharply. My chest was too tight. My head was spinning. My heart was—

No.

I wasn’t going to do this.

Not with him. Not with anyone.

I turned, shoving past him.

“I’m done talking.”

Alistair didn’t stop me.

But as I walked away, his voice cut through the air.

“So what now?” he called after me. “You just going to stand there and pretend you don’t want her?”

I kept walking.

Even when my entire body screamed at me to turn around.

I kept walking.