Bryson POV Blackridge University was already a nightmare before I dumped hot coffee all over Julian Hayes. He's tall, built, with this perfect smirk that makes me want to punch him. Captain of the hockey team and the biggest asshole I've ever met. He destroyed me in front of everyone. Made sure I knew exactly where I stood. But then I joined the hockey team to make my mom happy, and suddenly everything changed. I could actually play. And Julian? He started looking at me like he wanted to destroy me in a whole different way. Now every practice feels like war. Every time we're alone in the locker room, I can barely breathe. I hate him. I want him. And I'm pretty sure he knows it. Julian's POV I run Blackridge University. Team captain, golden boy, everyone wants to be me or be with me. Then some transfer kid crashes into me and ruins my shirt. Bryson Miller. Smart mouth, cheap clothes, and eyes that look at me like he's not impressed. I should've crushed him and moved on. But the little shit joined my hockey team and turned out to be good. Really good. Now I can't get him out of my head. Every practice, every fight we have feels like something else entirely. Something I don't want to think about. I thought that was complicated enough. Then I walk into my house tonight and find Bryson unpacking boxes in my living room..
View MoreFirst Day At School
Bryson's POV
I should have stayed home. The thought hits me as I stand in front of Blackridge University's main gate, staring at buildings that look like they belong in some fancy movie about rich people's problems. Everything here screams money. The stone walls are so clean they practically shine, and the grass is cut so perfectly it looks fake. Even the trees look expensive. My phone buzzes in my pocket. Another text from Mom. "Have a great first day, honey! Remember to smile and talk to people. Maybe join a club or something fun!" I shove the phone back without answering. Mom means well, but she doesn't get it. She's so happy about marrying Richard Hayes that everything will be perfect now. She keeps talking about how this is our chance for a better life, how I'll love Blackridge, how I'll make amazing friends. What she doesn't understand is that I don't belong here. I look down at my jeans. They're clean and they fit okay, but they're from the thrift store back home. The kind of place where everything smells like old fabric softener and costs five dollars. Around me, other students walk by in clothes that probably cost more than Mom makes in a week. Designer bags, perfect shoes, watches that catch the sunlight. I feel like a fraud. "You can do this," I mutter to myself. "Just find your classes and survive the day." The campus map in my hands is already getting wrinkled from my sweaty palms. I've been lost twice already, and I'm starting to panic. Economics class starts in ten minutes, and I still have no idea where Hamilton Hall is supposed to be. A group of girls walks past me, their designer heels clicking on the stone path. They're laughing about something, and I catch bits of their conversation. "Did you see what Jessica wore to the party last weekend? So embarrassing." "I know, right? Like, where did she even get that dress?" They glance at me as they pass, and I see their eyes take in my clothes. One of them whispers something to her friend, and they both giggle. My face gets hot. This is exactly what I was afraid of. I check my phone for the time. Seven minutes now. I need to move. The coffee shop on the corner looks busy, with a line of students waiting for their morning fix. I should skip it, but I barely slept last night and I need the caffeine if I'm going to survive my first day. Plus, maybe if I'm holding a coffee cup, I'll look more like I belong here. The line moves fast, and soon I'm walking away with a large coffee that's way too hot and costs way too much. But at least it smells good, and the warmth feels nice in my hands. "Hamilton Hall, Hamilton Hall," I repeat to myself, checking the map again while walking. It should be around this corner somewhere. My phone buzzes again. Another text from Mom. "Don't forget what we talked about! This is a fresh start for both of us. I love you so much!" I smile a little despite everything. Mom really is happy, happier than I've seen her in years. After Dad died, she worked herself to death just to keep us going. She deserves this. She deserves Richard and his fancy house and not having to worry about money anymore. Even if it means I have to suffer through this place. I'm reading her text and trying to walk at the same time when I realize I'm going too fast. There's a corner coming up, and I should probably slow down, but I'm already late and— CRASH. The collision happens so fast I don't even see it coming. One second I'm rushing around the corner, the next I'm slamming into something solid and warm. My coffee cup flies out of my hands like it has wings, and hot coffee goes everywhere. I mean everywhere. It splashes across the stone floor, it hits the walls, and worst of all, it soaks both me and whoever I just crashed into. "Shit!" I gasp, looking down at my now coffee-stained shirt. Then I look up. Oh no. Oh no no no. The guy standing in front of me, dripping with my coffee, is the most gorgeous person I've ever seen in real life. He's tall, maybe six feet, with broad shoulders that fill out his expensive-looking shirt perfectly. His hair is this perfect brown color that looks like he just rolled out of bed but in a good way, all messy and soft-looking. And his eyes... His eyes are hazel, this amazing mix of green and brown that would be beautiful if they weren't currently looking at me like I'm something disgusting he stepped in. "I'm so sorry," I stammer, reaching toward him like I can somehow fix this mess. "I didn't see you coming, I was looking at my phone and—" "Are you kidding me right now?" His voice is deep and smooth, the kind of voice that probably makes girls melt. But there's nothing attractive about the way he's looking at me. His expression shifts from shock to something worse. Disgust. His eyes move down, taking in my thrift store jeans, my old sneakers, my coffee-stained shirt that probably cost ten dollars new. I watch his face change as he puts the pieces together. Rich boy meets scholarship kid. Popular guy meets nobody. I feel my face burning with embarrassment. Around us, other students have stopped walking. They're staring, whispering to each other. Some of them have their phones out. Great. My first day at Blackridge and I'm already the entertainment. "Look, I'm really sorry," I try again. "Maybe I can pay for dry cleaning or—" "Pay for it?" He laughs, but it's not a nice sound. "With what?" The hallway has gone completely quiet now. Everyone's watching, waiting to see what happens next. I can feel their eyes on me, judging my clothes, my face, everything about me that screams 'doesn't belong here.' This is my worst nightmare come true. The gorgeous guy looks me up and down again, and I see something cold settle in his expression. His mouth curves into a smile that makes my stomach drop to my shoes. It's not a friendly smile. It's the kind of smile that means trouble. "Interesting," he says, his voice carrying in the quiet hallway. "Very interesting." I don't know what he means by that, but I know it's not good. Everything about his tone, his expression, the way he's looking at me like I'm some kind of bug he's about to squash... My day just went from bad to catastrophic. And something tells me this gorgeous stranger is about to make it infinitely worse.New RoommatesBryson's POVIt's move-in day and Rowan shows up at my dorm early, coffee in one hand and an energy that's way too bright for eight in the morning. It's not a surprise anyways, she's always been overly energetic about my life after the whole Julian and I kissing thing."Ready to move in with your stepbrother? " she asks, grinning wide. “Or should I say, husband?” She continues, this one barely a whisper."It's literally 8 in the morning, please don't start." I mutter, already regretting telling her about this arrangement. My stomach is already twisting just by remembering what's about to happen.Danny's sprawled on his bed doing absolutely nothing useful while Rowan and I pack boxes. He keeps tossing out terrible pick-up lines that somehow makes Rowan laugh, not in the romantic sense but just our of humor."So if I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?" he tries, waggling his eyebrows.Rowan snorts, shaking her head. "Gosh, that's awfully terrible.
TrappedJulian's POVAs usual, Bryson and I head home for the weekend. I keep my face stone cold during the entire drive, jaw clenched and eyes fixed on the road. I need to make sure Bryson doesn't try to start a conversation about what happened at the club.Bryson isn't as brave as he was that night, alcohol giving him confidence he clearly doesn't have sober. He keeps silent in the passenger seat, staring out the window.But the memory of that night runs through my head on repeat anyway. How bold Bryson looked on that dance floor. How different from his usual careful, guarded self. How alluring he was with his hands on my waist, grinding against me like he had every right to.I grip the steering wheel tighter, trying to focus on driving instead of remembering.The question Bryson asked keeps echoing in my mind. Are you gay too? The words haunt me because I don't have an answer that makes sense.Until Bryson, I'd never felt attraction to any man. Never looked at another guy and wante
CollisionBryson's POVI walk up behind him and grip his waist, leaning in close. "Want to dance?"He goes completely rigid under my hands. Before he can answer, I circle to face him.My stomach drops when I see Julian's face. Those familiar furrowed brows, that frozen expression staring back at me in complete shock.Of all the people I expected to run into tonight, Julian wasn't even on the list.A sober Bryson would probably step back and apologize. But the drunk part of me refuses to let go. I grip his waist tighter instead, allowing the moving crowd to push us closer together.Julian stays completely tense under my hands but doesn't shove me away. His jaw clenches, eyes wide with something that looks like panic mixed with confusion.I smirk, alcohol making me bold. "Why are you even here?""Why are you here?" Julian snaps back immediately, his voice strained.I shrug, the movement making our bodies shift against each other. "I'm bisexual. Pretty normal place for me to be."Julian
Wrong PlaceJulian's POV"Let's hit a club," I say to Dylan after practice. He's one of my closest friends on the team, someone I can actually trust not to spread my business around."Yeah, sure." He's already pulling out his phone, thumbs flying across the screen. "Let me text Sarah.""Your girlfriend? Why does she need to come?""She'll want to." He grins without looking up. "Plus she knows all the good spots in the city. Better than going somewhere random."I shrug, tossing my gym bag in my car. My only goal tonight is to find a girl to hook up with, get Bryson out of my head for a few hours. Maybe if I can just reset, get back to normal, this whole mess will feel less overwhelming. Having Sarah along shouldn't complicate that plan.We meet up with her an hour later outside some place downtown I've never heard of. She's bouncing on her heels with excitement, her blonde hair catching the streetlights."I know the perfect place," she says, already leading the way down the block. "Gre
Letting GoBryson's POVAt the bookstore, I flip through my lecture notes while Rowan organizes returned books behind the counter. The afternoon shift is quiet, just a few customers browsing the shelves."So practice was interesting yesterday," I say, trying to sound casual."Oh?" She looks up, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "What happened?""Julian defended me. In front of the whole team." The words still feel strange saying them out loud.Rowan's eyes widen. "Wait, what? Your stepbrother, who hates you, defended you?""Thompson was talking shit about me in the locker room. Said my plays were just beginner's luck." I flip a page without really reading it. "Julian grabbed him by the collar and told everyone to shut up about it.""Oh my god." Rowan clutches her chest dramatically. "That's so protective. That's literally enemies-to-lovers territory right there."I roll my eyes. "It's not like that.""Sure it's not." She grins, abandoning the books completely. "The hockey capta
SpiralingJulian's POVI'm spiraling and I know it, but I can't make it stop.I keep replaying the kiss over and over. The way I grabbed his shirt. How his mouth felt against mine. The fact that he kissed me back without hesitation.Every time the memory surfaces, I swear under my breath and punch whatever's closest. The wall takes most of my anger tonight."Fuck," I mutter, slamming my fist into the drywall. Pain shoots up my arm but does nothing to clear my head.My knuckles are bruised and scraped now, raw and angry. I stare at them in the dim light of my dorm room.I tell myself it was nothing but anger. Just two guys fighting, whose wires got crossed, but my chest tightens at the obvious lie.But panic creeps in anyway, wrapping around me. I start questioning everything I thought I knew about myself, pulling at threads I don't want to unravel.Maybe I'm just horny and that's what's messing with my head. I haven't hooked up with anyone in weeks, too stressed about everything falli
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