Chapter 2

The walk from the lecture hall to the courtyard felt longer than usual. Every step echoed with the laughter still ringing in my ears. Sophia and Lila’s voices played on repeat in my head like a bad song I couldn’t turn off.

“You okay, Ava?” Mia asked softly, still holding my arm. Her gentle eyes were full of concern, the way they always were when Sophia struck.

I forced a smile. “I’m fine, I'm really fine. It’s just words.”

“Words my ass,” Zara snapped from my other side, her sharp tongue ready as ever. “Those two bitches need to be slapped into next semester. Next time Sophia throws something at you, I’m throwing it back straight at her fake nose.”

I laughed despite everything, Zara had been my defender since freshman year. She didn’t take shit from anyone, especially not rich girls who thought money made them untouchable. Mia was the soft balance always trying to keep the peace while quietly supporting me through the worst days.

We found our usual bench under the big oak tree. I dropped my bag and collapsed onto it, finally letting my shoulders relax. The paper ball incident still burned, Earth to Scholarship Slut. Such annoying spoilt girls.

“Julian’s been circling again,” Mia said carefully, handing me a bottle of water from her bag. “I saw him staring at you during the last ten minutes of class.”

I stared into thin air. “Great, Just what I need today.”

As if summoned by my dread, Julian Hale appeared across the courtyard like a nightmare in designer clothes. Tall, handsome in that polished, wealthy way, with perfectly styled brown hair and a smile that hid pure entitlement. He headed straight for us, hands in his pockets like he owned the entire campus.

“Ava Blake,” he drawled, stopping right in front of our bench. His eyes raked over me slowly, possessively. “You look good today, even after Sophia’s little games.”

Zara glared at him. “Fuck off, Hale.”

Julian ignored her completely, his focus locked on me. “You know, if you stopped fighting this thing between us, life could be so much easier for you. No more bullying and no more money problems. I could take care of you, all you have to do is say yes and stop acting like you’re too good for me.”

I met his gaze steadily, even though my heart was racing with anger. “I’m not interested, Julian. How many times do I have to say it?”

His smile turned colder. “You will be. Sooner or later, girls like you always break eventually. Keep playing hard to get and I might stop being so nice.” He leaned closer, voice dropping. “Your mom’s medical bills aren’t getting any smaller, are they? Think about it.” He straightened up, shot me one last arrogant look, and walked away like he hadn’t just threatened me.

Mia looked pale. “Ava… we should report him again.”

“They won’t do anything,” I muttered. “His family basically funds half the business school.”

Zara cursed under her breath. “This school is rotten, rich kids get away with everything.”

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly with classes and forced smiles. By the time we reached the cafeteria for a late lunch, I was exhausted. We’d barely sat down with our trays when Sophia and Lila appeared again, flanked by two other girls from their circle.

Sophia placed her designer bag on the table loudly. “Well, if it isn’t the charity trio, still breathing after that paper ball incident, Blake? Your little daydream looked intense. Were you imagining Professor Vale bending you over his desk?”

Lila burst out laughing. “She wishes. As if someone like him would ever touch a broke nobody like her. He probably doesn’t even know her name.”

I gripped my fork tighter but stayed silent, because reacting only made it worse.

Zara wasn’t having it. “Keep talking and I’ll make sure everyone knows what you did last semester with that TA, Sophia. You want to play dirty? I can play dirtier.”

Sophia’s eyes flashed with rage, but she recovered with a sweet smile. “Cute threat. But we all know who has power here.” She looked straight at me. “Enjoy your lunch, Ava. Oh, and watch your back at the party this weekend. Wouldn’t want anything… embarrassing to happen to you again.”

They walked away laughing and I pushed my food around the plate, my appetite was gone.

Mia reached over and squeezed my hand. “You’re stronger than them. Don’t let them break you.”

“I won’t,” I said quietly. But inside, it was getting harder. The bullying had started as petty stuff notes, whispers, ruined assignments. Now it felt more direct, more personal. And Julian’s threats were getting bolder.

Later that evening, back in my small off campus apartment, I tried to study. My books were open, but my mind kept drifting back to him. Professor Damien Vale.

I closed my eyes and let the fantasy return. This time he wasn’t in his office. He was in the empty classroom after hours, lifting me onto his desk, kissing me like he’d been starving for me. His hands sliding under my shirt, his mouth on my neck, whispering my name like a secret.

“Ava…”

The fantasy felt so real I could almost smell his cologne. Suddenly the knock on my door snapped me out of it. Zara and Mia had come over with snacks and cheap wine, it was our version of emotional support.

We spent the next two hours talking, laughing, and complaining about Sophia and Lila. Zara kept threatening creative revenge ideas while Mia tried to calm her down. For a little while, I felt normal, safe.

But when they left and I was alone again, and the thoughts returned.

Professor Damien Vale had only been here one semester, yet he’d completely taken over my mind. He was cold, distant and completely unreachable. And that only made me want him more. Because he seemed different than any man I know, he looked like he had boundaries. Julian actually bothered me a lot. He was beginning to look more obsessed than usual.

“Spoiled kids”. I whispered to myself. I fell asleep that night with his face in my dreams, dark eyes, such strong hands, and the ghost of a kiss that hadn’t happened.