Miss me Kitty

REINA

My lungs forgot how to work. His lips were on mine before my brain even caught up, his hand pressing me against the wall like he planned to merge us.

The kiss wasn’t soft nor slow, it was desperate, like he was hiding behind the act. The world went silent except for the hammering of my heart against my ribcage. I didn’t move of rather, I couldn't’t. Every nerve in my body tangled up as butterflies appeared at the pit of my stomach.

When he finally pulled back, he glanced toward the direction those men had gone, scanning the shadows like he’d just escaped something big. I stood there frozen, heart racing as he stepped away. No apology, no explanation, just that same cold detachment I’d seen in the hallway.

And I snapped. I grabbed his jacket, yanking him back, and before I could think it through, my palm met his cheek in a hot searing slapped that wasn't pre planned.

“How– How dare you just—kiss me like that!” My voice cracked halfway through, the words spilling out with every ounce of disbelief in my chest. “You don’t even know me! You just kiss strangers at your convenience?!”

He didn’t even seem a bit remorseful. My slap wasn't strong enough to even get him to flinch. Just stared down at me, bored, like my outrage was entertainment. “You’re the new girl, right?” His tone was lazy. “You’re really pretty. And not a bad kisser.”

I blinked. “Not a bad—” My voice rose higher. “That was my first kiss, you arrogant idiot!”

He tilted his head, lips twitching into something close to a smirk. “Guess I’m good at making first impressions.”

My blood boiled. “You’re unbelievable!”

He dug into his pocket, pulled out two cards, and tossed them at me. They fluttered to the ground near my feet. “That’s the spare key to my suite. The hotel address is on there. Don’t be late.”

“What?” I stared at the cards, then back at him. “Who the hell do you think you are throwing things at me?”

He looked over his shoulder,“Well… I’m Adrian Vale.”

“Well I'm–”

“Mine.” His tone came out swiftly, like he was stating a fact. “That’s who you are.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me,”

I scoffed in disbelief. “You know from the second I saw you I knew you were such an arrogant rich boy mess. Who knew you were also schizophrenic.”

He took a step closer, the air around him colder somehow, his gaze fixed on me like a dare. “I'm not delusional new girl. I'm this school, I do what I want, with who I want. If I want to kiss you, I’ll do it again. if I wanted to keep you standing right here until morning, I could” His voice dropped,. “And if I want you squirming on my bed, riding on my dick? I'll have that.”

I shoved at his chest, feeling my entire face redden. “Back off or I swear I’ll punch the delusion out of you.”

He only smiled. That kind of slow, dangerous smile that didn’t belong on anyone sane. “You think you could?”

“I know I will.”

We stared at each other like two storms colliding. Then he chuckled under his breath, stepped back, and shoved his hands in his pockets like nothing happened.

“You’ve got fire,” he said. “Try not to burn out too soon.”

And just like that, he turned and walked away.

I stood there, breathing like I’d just run a marathon. The night air finally hit my skin, cold and biting. My lips still tingled from his kiss. I hated that. I hated that my body was still reacting even though my brain was screaming.

When I finally moved, I could barely feel my legs. I stormed back to my dorm, slamming the door behind me. The silence has never felt so mocking. I threw my bag on the floor and pressed both hands over my face.

“What the hell just happened,” I muttered into my palms.

My mind replayed it again and again. The feel of his lips on mine, the way he didn’t hesitate, the way he said mine like it was a name he’d already carved into me. I groaned and dropped face-first onto my bed, muffling a scream into the pillow.

“Stupid, arrogant jerk!”

I rolled onto my back, staring at the ceiling. He’d stolen my first kiss. And worse—God, worse—I didn’t hate the way it felt.

I shut my eyes, willing my thoughts to stop, but they wouldn’t. Questions poured in. Who were those men chasing him? Why did he have to drag me into whatever mess he was in? Why did he look so calm when they almost caught him?

My phone buzzed beside me and I picked it up to check.

Unknown Number: Game on, Kitty.

I stared at the message with creased brows. Slowly, I opened the profile. No picture. Just a single name.

Adrian Vale.

Shit.

The next morning hit like a brick to the face. My alarm rang at 6:30, and for a second, I actually considered throwing my phone out the window. My brain still hadn’t recovered from yesterday. The grades, the humiliation, the damn kiss. I’d barely slept. Every time I shut my eyes, I saw Adrian Vale, stupidly perfect, stupidly smug, stupidly him.

I dragged myself out of bed anyway. Shower. Clothes. Finishing touches. Lie to myself that today would be different. That maybe I wouldn’t crash and burn in every single class.

By the time I made it to the lecture hall, half the seats were already filled with students who looked like they were born in libraries and fed on privilege. I slid into an empty seat at the far corner and unpacked my stuff quietly.

The professor was already mid-rant. “Now, as we were saying, the philosophical basis of historical determinism lies in choice versus chance. Gravemont’s brightest minds should know the distinction by now—” his eyes skimmed past me like I was invisible. Which, honestly, I preferred.

I tried to focus, I really did. But the words floated around like bubbles I couldn’t pop. Two years out of practice and suddenly every sentence sounded like a foreign language. My notes looked like a toddler’s scribbles.

The professor asked a question, something about how revolutions are inevitable. My brain screamed no, they aren’t, but my mouth stayed glued shut. The last thing I needed was the entire class laughing at me again. I’d somehow earned the title of Gravemont’s dumbest charity case, and I was not about to add loud idiot to my list of achievements.

A few people chuckled in the back when someone answered wrong. Of course they did. The air in Gravemont’s classrooms was thick with judgment. Everyone waiting for someone else to fail.

And then my phone buzzed. I ignored it at first but then It buzzed again. I slipped my hand under the desk and peeked.

Unknown number: Miss me, Kitty?

Unknown number: I know my mere presence makes girls ovulate, but if you keep squirming on that chair you're gonna cum.

My face went blood red hot.

No. Nope. Absolutely not.

I looked up and scanned the room. And there he was, Adrian Vale, lounging in the back row. His shirt was unbuttoned, tie hanging loose with eyes fixed right on me. The smirk on his face said everything.

I rolled my eyes, blocked the number immediately, and without thinking, lifted my phone just enough for him to see the “blocked” notification screen. His grin widened like I’d just amused him.

Only problem? The professor saw me.

“Miss Moore.” His voice sliced through the air like a whip. “Since my lecture clearly isn’t captivating enough to hold your attention, why don’t you share what’s so interesting on your phone?”

Every head turned and my stomach fell out of my body.

“I—it’s nothing, sir.”

“Oh no, no, no,” he said, walking toward me. “Let’s hear it. Read the text aloud.”

Heat flushed up my neck. “I really don’t think that’s necessary—”

“Now.”

The entire class was staring. Even Ivy, who sat two rows away, had this oh crap look on her face. And then there was Julian Carter sitting near the window, pen in hand, bored as usual. Not even glancing up. Like this was just another Gravemont circus act.

“I swear it’s not a big deal,” I stammered. “It’s just—my mom checking in.”

And I would’ve left it there if Adrian hadn’t decided to open his mouth. “She’s lying.”

The words dropped like a bomb. I snapped my head toward him. “Excuse me?”

He tilted his head lazily, a ghost of a grin curling his lips. “Why lie, sweetheart? You don’t have to hide it.”

“Hide what?”

“That it wasn’t your mom.” He stretched, completely unbothered. “It was me.” A few gasps broke out. The professor blinked. “You sent her the text?”

“Yup.” Adrian pulled out his phone and waved it in the air like a trophy. “Want me to read it, sir?”

“Mr. Vale,” the professor started, clearly unsure whether to scold or dissolve the issue.

“Oh come on,” Adrian said, feigning innocence. “Transparency’s good for education, right? Let’s all learn something together.”

My entire body wanted to sink into the floor. “Don’t you dare,” I hissed under my breath.

He ignored me completely. “It said... ”