Arrogant Billionaire: Love vs Hate

Chap. 3

"One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood."
-Lucius Annaeus Seneca
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The campus buzzed with life as I walked through the crowded halls, but no one paid special attention to me. Students were too preoccupied with their friend groups, loud laughter, or even the occasional make-out sessions happening in the corners to notice the new girl. It was a relief, honestly. Blending in with the crowd, slipping past unnoticed—I preferred it that way. I had no desire for attention.

The desk at the front of the administration building was manned by an older woman, her silver hair pulled back into a neat bun. A nameplate in front of her read Mrs. Emily Camus. As I approached, she smiled warmly—nothing like the cold, disinterested counter staff I had grown accustomed to dealing with.

"Hello, Miss Andy Davis," she said, handing me a form. "Please fill this out before attending your classes. And don't forget to grab a campus map. Being a newcomer, you might need it."

"Thank you, Mrs. Camus," I replied, surprised by her politeness. I wasn't used to this level of kindness in administrative offices, especially in institutions as large as Williams Brown.

After scribbling down my details, I grabbed the map and headed off toward my first class—Finance. According to the map, it was in the second building on campus. The moment I stepped inside, though, I realized that navigating my way around was going to be harder than I thought. The building was huge, with halls and staircases that seemed to twist and turn endlessly. After what felt like ages of wandering, I finally spotted my classroom.

"Well, at least the semester isn't over by the time I found it," I muttered, glancing at my phone. I still had five minutes to spare.

As I made my way toward the door, a group of girls caught my attention—or more accurately, I caught theirs. They were standing by the lockers, impeccably dressed. The kind of girls you'd expect to see in magazines, not textbooks. One of them—who looked like the group leader—smirked in my direction.

"Hey, girls, look at this," she said loudly. "A poor little nerd has wandered into the wrong building."

They all burst into giggles, tossing their perfect hair over their shoulders. Their clothes screamed designer labels, and their sneers were dripping with condescension. I bit my lip, refusing to give them the satisfaction of a reaction. I wasn't here to get tangled up in high school drama, and these girls reeked of it. Without a second glance, I headed straight into the classroom, ignoring their jabs.

Inside, the room was already half-full, students settling into their seats. A few glanced at me as I entered, but most quickly returned to their conversations or scrolling through their phones. No big deal. No dramatic entrance. Exactly how I liked it.

I picked a seat near the middle, next to a girl with fiery red hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. She had oversized glasses perched on her nose, giving her a distinctly nerdy look. But unlike the judgment I had just faced in the hallway, her expression was warm and inviting. I immediately felt more at ease.

"Hi! I'm Clara Williams," she said brightly, turning toward me with a smile. "You must be new here."

"Yeah, I am. Andy Davis," I replied, returning her smile. "I transferred here on a scholarship."

Her eyes lit up. "Oh, that's awesome! Williams Brown isn't an easy place to get into, especially on a scholarship. Congrats!"

We quickly struck up a conversation, talking about everything from our families to our favorite books. Clara had an easygoing energy about her that made me feel instantly comfortable, as if we had been friends for years instead of just minutes. She loved books as much as I did, which was a huge relief.

"I have to say," I confided, leaning in, "It's such a relief to meet someone who's actually nice. No offense, but a lot of people here seem pretty... you know, rich and, well, bitchy." I said, shaking my head, thinking back to the girls in the hallway.

Clara giggled. "None taken. You're right—there's a lot of that here. But don't worry, I'm rich too, though I prefer to keep things simple. Just don't call me a bitch, okay?" she teased, pouting playfully.

I laughed. "No way, you're way too sweet for that." I paused, realizing how natural our conversation felt. "Honestly, I feel like we're going to be really good friends. We have so much in common already—it's like we check all the boxes for 'best friend material.'" I added with a grin. "You know, the live-and-die-together type."

Clara laughed, shaking her head. "You're so dramatic, but I love it. You're also right—we're totally going to be best friends."

She extended her hand, and without hesitation, I shook it.

"Best friends," I agreed, smiling.

Just like that, the day felt a little less daunting. Maybe this place wouldn't be so bad after all. I had already found someone who made me feel welcome, and that was more than I had hoped for on my first day.