Untouchable

0.26

Ivy’s POV

I hadn’t seen Adrian since this morning. Not since he showed up at my dorm. Not since he told me he hated me but didn’t. Not since he said—

It doesn’t matter.

I sighed, gripping the strap of my bag as I walked through campus, trying not to think about him. Trying not to think about any of it.

But it was impossible.

The argument, the way he looked at me—the way he told me to stay away from Nathaniel—it was all still fresh in my mind, looping over and over again, leaving me frustrated and exhausted.

And it wasn’t just Adrian.

Nathaniel was another problem I had no idea how to deal with. Ever since last week, after that kiss, I’d been avoiding him too.

Not because I wanted to.

But because I needed to.

I wasn’t ready to deal with whatever was going on between us. Not when my entire life was already tangled in chaos.

I just needed to get through the rest of the day without another confrontation.

I turned the corner—

And stopped in my tracks.

Adrian.

Standing in the hallway, facing Alistair.

Neither of them saw me.

But I saw them.

And I knew immediately—something was wrong.

Alistair’s stance was rigid, hands clenched at his sides. Adrian’s posture was just as tense, his expression unreadable.

I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

I swallowed hard, debating whether to turn around and pretend I hadn’t seen anything—

And then Adrian turned his head.

Our eyes met.

For a second, neither of us moved.

The hallway felt smaller. The air, heavier.

Then Alistair followed Adrian’s gaze and noticed me too.

His expression shifted.

Adrian’s didn’t.

A lump formed in my throat.

I can’t do this right now.

I forced myself to look away, to move past them without acknowledging what was clearly happening.

But as I walked away, I could feel Adrian’s gaze burning into my back.

Like he had something to say.

Like he was daring me to turn around.

I didn’t.

I kept walking.

And for the second time today, I left Adrian standing there, watching me walk away.

—

I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.

Not until I collided with someone.

Hard.

My heart jumped as I stumbled backward, but strong hands gripped my arms, steadying me before I could fall.

“Ivy.”

I knew that voice.

I looked up—straight into Nathaniel’s dark eyes.

I froze.

For the past week, I’d done everything in my power to avoid him. And now, here he was, standing in front of me, his hands still on my arms, his expression unreadable.

Great.

I took a shaky breath, trying to pull myself together. “Sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

Nathaniel didn’t let go immediately. His hands lingered, just for a second too long, before he finally released me.

“It’s been a week,” he said, watching me closely.

I swallowed hard. “Yeah.”

“You’ve been avoiding me.”

It wasn’t a question.

I hesitated, unsure how to respond. But my silence was enough of an answer.

Nathaniel exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Ivy—”

“I can’t do this right now.”

He tilted his head slightly, studying me. “Why not?”

Because I was a mess. Because Adrian was a mess. Because Alistair was also a mess, and Kennedy was waiting for me to screw everything up.

Because the last time I saw Nathaniel, he kissed me, and I hadn’t figured out what that meant yet.

“I just… need some time,” I finally said.

Nathaniel didn’t look away. “I told you I’d wait.”

The words sent a shiver through me.

I wasn’t sure if that made things better or worse.

Before I could respond, Nathaniel glanced over my shoulder, his expression darkening slightly. I turned—

Adrian.

Standing at the end of the hallway, watching us.

His face was unreadable, but something about his posture—stiff, tense—made my stomach twist.

Nathaniel let out a quiet chuckle, barely audible. “He’s still watching you.”

I clenched my jaw, ignoring the way my pulse quickened. “I don’t care.”

Nathaniel didn’t look convinced.

And neither did Adrian.