Chapter 9: Shifting Lines

Zay’s POV

College was supposed to be a fresh start for Vee. A place where she could finally breathe without the constant shadow of her past—especially me. But the moment I saw her walking across the quad that afternoon, headphones on, books pressed tight to her chest, something twisted inside me. She wasn’t the scared girl from grade school anymore. No, she had grown into someone stronger, fiercer—and yet, here I was, still the asshole who had made her life miserable for years.

I followed her to college because I never stopped thinking about her. Because somewhere deep down, I wanted to protect her, even if I had to wear the mask of the villain to do it. I never imagined I’d care this much. Never thought I’d risk everything.

That day, after psych class, I saw her slipping away to the student lounge, headphones drowning out the world around her. I sat a few feet away, my heart pounding like a war drum, trying to find the courage to talk to her—really talk.

Finally, I cleared my throat and said, “Hey.”

She flinched, pulling out one earbud, eyes flashing annoyance mixed with reluctant recognition. “Zay,” she said softly, almost like she was warning me off.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my voice. “Look, I know I’ve been the worst. More than the worst, honestly. Like a five-alarm fire blazing through your life and no water around to put it out.”

She snorted, shaking her head. “That’s one way to put it.”

I forced a small smile. “I mean it. I’m not here to mess with you anymore. I’m here because… I don’t know how to stop thinking about you.”

She looked at me for a long moment, eyes searching. “Why follow me here? After everything?”

Her question hit me harder than I expected. I swallowed again, feeling the weight of the years between us.

“Because you’re worth it,” I said quietly. “More than all the fights, more than the pain I caused. You deserve better than me.”

The air between us thickened, charged with everything we hadn’t said. I wanted to reach out, to bridge the distance, but I hesitated. That line—the line between bully and something more—was still there, shifting but unbroken.

And then, something unexpected happened. She smiled. Not the sarcastic smile I was used to, but a soft, vulnerable one.

“You’re really something else, Zay.”

I stepped closer, my voice dropping to a low growl. “Yeah, but I’m yours. If you want me.”

Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “You know this won’t be easy, right?”

“Easy’s overrated,” I said with a grin.

We laughed—a fragile sound that broke the tension just enough to let hope slip in.

For the first time, I believed maybe, just maybe, this messy, complicated thing between us could become real. I wanted it to be real. No. I need it to be real.

Because with Vee, I was ready to risk everything.