Different worlds collided

A week had passed since Gabrielle stepped through the gates of Green valley academy. She was slowly but surely adjusting to her new setting, she has fallen into a routine , walking up early every morning doing some studying before her alarm rang for her to get ready for school, after classes she would eat then go back the library to study until late at night. Each and every one of Gabrielle days felt like a whirlwind filled with laughter, whispers, and lesson, a blend of excitement and anxiety for the unknown.However, her thoughts always returned to him: the head boy, Tyler McClellan . His blond hair caught the sunlight in a way that felt unreal, and when he smiled, those electric blue eyes shimmered like sapphire gems. Just the thought of him left Gabrielle blushing and smiling like a mad person.

Gabrielle had spent the whole week trying to piece together bits of gossip about Lukas, a task easier said than done. The other students seemed preoccupied with their own social dramas. She could glean little more than murmurs about him being swamped with student body planning sessions and his reputation for being unattainably charming. It gnawed at her, the idea that she had come this far only to feel so hopeless thinking ‘Maybe I am being delusional how in the world could a guy like Tyler even spare me even a glance, with all his admirers , those’s girls with pretty made up faces and their radiating confidence’ she laughed at herself “ I sure am crazy” she once said.

In one Wednesday Gabrielle was just walking aimlessly, that day’s math lesson had been particularly torturous. Each equation haunted her, and a challenging problem danced all over her her mind yet, still out of reach. The impending arrival of her monthly cycle added to her frustrations. As each tick of the clock echoed in her head, Gabrielle felt that all her worries collided into one unbearable mass

The way back to her dorm room felt heavier than usual. Little did she know that the emotions swelling inside her would spill out in an explosive manner. As she turned the doorknob and pushed the door open, her heart sank.

Inside, the familiar scent of their shared space was invaded by another… a more intimate fragrance. On the small sofa in the corner of the room, her roommate Emma was entwined in an embrace with her boyfriend, Brad , their lips locked in a kiss that felt too private. Gabrielle stood frozen at the door, shock coursing through her as she gulped. She had heard of such things, obviously , but witnessing it was something entirely different.

“Gabby!” Emma exclaimed, finally seeing her. She pulled away from Brad, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. “I didn’t hear you come in!”

Brad looked equally surprised, but a flash of irritation crossed his face. “Seriously? Could you not knock?” he asked, clearly put-off by the interruption.

“Um, excuse me? This is supposed to be a shared room!” Gabrielle’s voice trembled with disbelief.

“Have you no shame!”

Emma stared at her, momentarily at a loss for words. “We were just… just… having a moment, Gabby! It’s normal for couples to share affection, get with the program,” she snapped, arms crossing defensively over her chest.

Gabrielle felt her temper ignite. “Normal? What about respecting our shared space? This is a dorm, not a private suite!”

Braden shifted, annoyance painting his features. “Look, it's just a kiss. Are you really going to act all high and mighty about this? It’s not like we planned on you walking in, okay?”

“Just a kiss?” Gabrielle fumed, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. “You’re making it seem like there’s nothing wrong with taking over a shared space, can’t you do this… nasty thing in your own room Braden!” She stressed.

“God, it’s just a kiss, Gabrielle ! You’re making it seem like you walked in on us all naked or something,” Emma huffed back, her patience clearly running thin, what is wrong with this roommate today.

“No, what’s weird is the fact that you can’t seem to understand simple boundaries! Don’t you have any self -respect?” Emma fired back.

Braden rolled his eyes, returning to his more-than-comfortable position on the sofa. “Wow, thanks for ruining the mood, Gabby girl. You could’ve just walked in and left us alone, you know?”

“Good to know that your idea of maturity includes making out in common areas!” Emma retorted, every word dripping with anger. “I thought we were all supposed to be respectful of each other in this space. I didn’t sign up to witness whatever this is.”

Emma clenched her fists, visibly upset. “You just don’t get it, do you? You think your small-town morals apply here? Newsflash, they don't!”

Heat exploded inside Gabrielle. “My morals? You want to talk about morals? What do you call this?” She gestured wildly at the scene before her. “I thought we were supposed to be adults here, and instead, you’re acting like a couple of teenagers with no consideration for anyone else! And you Emma you are acting like a desperate ungroomed girl.”

“You know what? Maybe it’s you who needs to rethink your attitude,” Emma said, her voice rising and echoing through the small room. “You’re judging everyone here because you’re struggling to fit in! Maybe you should just grow up!”

Gabrielle’s heart pounded erratically in her chest, a storm of hurt and betrayal swirling inside her. “You know what? I don’t need this. I came here to make something of myself, to be someone, and all I get is this petty nonsense!” With that, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, her emotions boiling over.

“Go back to your small-town bubble, Gabrielle !” Emma shouted.

The door slammed shut behind her, the sound reverberating like a thunderclap as Gabrielle hurried down the hall, tears of frustration pricking at her eyes. She couldn’t believe what had just happened; the whole ordeal felt surreal. Was this place really so different from her small-town upbringing? Would her innocence be her undoing here?

She needed a sanctuary, a place where she could escape the chaos of her dorm room and simmering emotions.The library came into mind, it was her haven on earth, the one place she hoped would soothe her soul and allow her to focus on her studies.

As she entered the dimly lit library, Gabrielle inhaled the familiar scent of old books and polished wood. Flickering fluorescents cast a warm glow over the study tables, each occupied by students deep in concentration. She settled into her favorite nook, hoping to drown herself in math equations and forgotten literature.

Hours passed as she attempted to push thoughts of Emma and Brad’s make up- section from her mind. Each tick of the clock only reminded her of how alienated she felt—not just from her roommates but from the entire Green Valley experience.

Packing up all her stuff and getting ready to call it a night, Gabrielle could bearly open her eyes as they fell swollen and as if they had sand on them. Standing up she had only took two steps from her chair then…she collided with a hard chest.

“Ow,” she muttered, rubbing her shoulder, looking up to find the last person she expected. A smirk lit up Damian Morgan’s face, Green Valley’s notorious bad boy, known for his rebellious streak and disdain for authority. Rich, reckless, and undeniably charming, Damian embodied everything Gabby found objectionable.

“Watch where you’re going, sweetheart,” he drawled, eyes glinting with mischief. “Libraries are supposed to be quiet, you know.”

Gabrielle’s cheeks flushed, both from embarrassment and annoyance. “Maybe you should stop lurking around in the shadows and pay attention to your surroundings.” She shot back.

“Lurking?” Damian feigned a hurt expression, placing a hand over his heart. “I prefer to think of it as being mysterious. But if you think someone like me would ever really care about rules, well…” He shrugged dismissively.

Gabrielle narrowed her eyes at him, aware of his reputation but already feeling the weariness of the day. “What do you want, Damian?”

“What, I can’t come in here and look for a good book? You think I’m just here to cause trouble?” he asked, the mischief in his tone unfaltering.

“I don’t know. You’re hardly the type to spend a Tuesday evening in a library,” Gabrielle replied with a roll of her eyes.

Damian took a step closer, unbothered by her dismissiveness. “Maybe I just like to get lost in a good story. Ever thought about that?”

“I doubt your idea of a ‘good story’ involves anything that requires thinking,” she shot back, crossing her arms defiantly.

He chuckled, leaning casually against the bookshelf. “You think you know me, don’t you? You’ve got me all figured out.”

“I know exactly what you are—a distraction wrapped in leather and sarcasm,” she quipped, frustrated by his unshakable confidence.

Damien raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. “At least you’re not afraid to speak your mind. But if you want to survive Green Valley Academy, you might want to ease up on the sanctimonious vibe. These people can sniff out a preachy attitude a mile away.”

Gabrielle felt heat redden her cheeks. “I’m not preachy; I just believe in holding on to some morals. Maybe you wouldn’t understand that.”

“Morals? Sweetheart, this place doesn’t run on morals. It runs on power, who you know, and a whole lot of cash.” He leaned closer, eyes glimmering with mischief, and for a brief moment, Gabrielle was taken aback, feeling vulnerable before the unnatural calm of his gaze. “You either adapt or drown, and I can see you’re already struggling.”

Gabrielle scoffed, her defenses rising to protect her wounded pride. “I’ll figure it out. I don’t need your advice.”

“Suit yourself,” Damian replied, shrugging as he turned to pick a book from the shelf. “But if you ever want to learn how to swim in these waters, you know where to find me, right?”

Gabrielle felt the spine of tension within her shift as she watched him walk away, pondering the strange conversation. His arrogance was infuriating, but there was an odd comfort in his casual rebellion.

And just maybe, in this sea of unfamiliarity, she might find allies in the most unexpected places, even a bad boy who seemed to revel in chaos. After that encounter with Damien, Gabrielle walked out of the library