Chapter 3

The next morning, I woke up with a dull headache and the familiar knot of anxiety in my stomach. Another day of navigating my life Sophia, Lila, Julian, and the constant effort of pretending I wasn’t affected by any of it. I stared at my reflection in the small bathroom mirror, brushing my teeth harder than necessary. You’re invincible, Ava and you’ve survived worse. But some days it felt like a lie.

  The campus was bustling when I arrived. I kept my head down as I walked toward the business building, hoping to avoid drama before my first class. But a loud splash of liquid hit my back. I froze mid-step. Cold coffee soaked through my light blue blouse and dripped down my spine. Laughter erupted behind me.

  “Oops!” Sophia’s voice rang out, she was giggling. “My bad, Blake. I didn’t see you there. You really should stop blending into the background like a nobody.”

Lila stood beside her, holding her own cup, smirking like she’d just won the lottery. A small crowd had already gathered, phones out, recording the latest episode of a Humiliated Ava. I turned slowly, refusing to flinch even though the coffee was ice cold and sticking my shirt to my skin. “Really, Sophia? This is the best you can do?”

   She stepped closer, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “It’s entertaining and cheap, just like you.” She looked me up and down. “That shirt looks even worse wet. Maybe Julian will finally realize you’re not worth the chase.”

Before I could respond, Zara stormed through the growing crowd like an avenging angel. 

  “You clumsy bitch. Do that again and I’ll pour my drink down your throat.”

  Mia appeared right behind her, carrying a spare hoodie from her bag. “Here, Ava. Change in the bathroom, just ignore them.”

Sophia laughed loudly. “Always running to your little bodyguards, how pathetic. See you in class, charity case.” They walked off, arms linked, still laughing. The crowd dispersed, some whispering, others already sharing the video. My cheeks burned with humiliation, but I kept my chin high.

In the bathroom, I peeled off the ruined blouse and pulled on Mia’s oversized hoodie. It smelled like her vanilla perfume and made me feel a little less exposed.

  “You don’t have to keep doing this,” I told my friends as we headed to class. “One day they’re going to turn on you too.”

  Zara snorted. “Let them try, I live for the drama.”

  Mia smiled softly. “We’ve got you, Ava. Always.”

We entered Professor Damien Vale’s class just as the bell rang. My heart did its usual stupid  racing the moment I saw him. He stood at the front in a crisp black shirt and dark trousers, looking unfairly perfect. His sleeves were rolled up slightly, revealing strong forearms. He scanned the room with that signature cold indifference, like none of us were worth his full attention. When his dark eyes passed over me, there was zero recognition. Just another student and it just hurts me a bit that I can't be noticed.

Sophia and Lila were already in the front row, whispering and glancing back at me with smug expressions. I took my usual seat in the middle, surrounded by Zara and Mia. Class started, but I barely heard a word. My eyes kept drifting to him. The way he moved with quiet authority. The sharp line of his jaw. The subtle flex of muscle under his shirt. In my mind, I was back in that fantasy, his hands on me, his mouth claiming mine, unbuttoning that shirt slowly while whispering my name like a prayer and a threat.

I caught myself staring again and quickly looked down at my notebook.

Halfway through class, my phone vibrated silently in my bag. I snuck a glance, it was Julian.

  Saw what happened this morning. That shirt looked terrible on you anyway. Meet me after class, we need to talk.

I deleted the message immediately. Talking to Julian never ended well. He didn’t talk but he demanded, threatened, and tried to corner me until I gave in. When class ended, I tried to slip out quickly, but Julian was waiting right outside the door like a predator.

   “Ava,” he said, grabbing my wrist before I could dodge. His grip was tight, possessive. “You’ve been avoiding me. Not smart.”

   Zara stepped forward instantly. “Let her go, asshole.”

Julian ignored her, pulling me closer. “You keep playing these games and things will get worse for you. Sophia’s just getting started, but I can make it stop. All you have to do is be mine. Let me take care of you.”

His breath was hot against my ear. “Stop embarrassing yourself with those silly daydreams about professors who don’t even know you exist.”

   I yanked my wrist free, heart pounding. “Touch me again and I’ll report you.”

  He laughed. “Go ahead. We both know how that ends.” He finally released me and walked away, but the threat lingered like smoke.

  The rest of the day passed in a fog of anxiety. More whispers in the hallways. Another accidental shove from Lila near the stairs. By evening, I was drained.

We were sitting in the small campus café when it happened.

   Professor Damien Vale walked in. He ordered a black coffee at the counter, voice low and smooth. For one brief second, his eyes met mine across the room. My breath caught. There was something different in his gaze this time not full indifference, but just something I haven't seen before in those eyes. Something darker, he looked away almost immediately, paid, and left without another glance. My cheeks burned.

  “Did he just look at you?” Mia whispered excitedly.

   Zara grinned. “Maybe your daydreams aren’t so hopeless after all.”

  I shook my head, trying to play it cool even though my pulse was racing. “He probably just zoned out. He doesn’t care about any of us.”

But that look… it stayed with me long after he was gone. Later that night, alone in my apartment again, I stood by the window replaying every second. The coffee incident, Julian’s threats. Sophia and Lila’s laughter. And then that single moment when Professor Damien Vale’s eyes had actually landed on me. I touched my lips, remembering the fantasy from earlier.

What would it feel like if he really kissed me? If he stopped being indifferent and looked at me like I belonged to him?

I climbed into bed, heart heavy but strangely hopeful. What if he finally noticed me but that was impossible since he barely knew I existed since he became our professor.