Chapter 1

On the first day of college, my roommate, Jorja Pipe, and I volunteered to help freshmen find their way around campus and handle their paperwork.

Out of the four campus gates, the West Gate faced a neighborhood where locals were always out and about with their pups for a stroll.

With my 20/20 vision, I spotted a middle-aged man with a Golden Retriever across the street. There, the Golden Retriever and I locked eyes, and before I knew it, the dog zipped across the road in my direction.

The place was crowded with people. The security guard lunged forward carrying a steel pole, while terrified students scrambled around, ripping their throats screaming.

Too bad the dog headed straight for me at record speed.

Feeling weak in the knees, I stumbled and fell. In a frantic panic, I grabbed hold of something and yanked hard. Gasps filled the air.

I looked up and stared at SpongeBob SquarePants right in the face. Then came a guy’s voice, hissing through clenched teeth. “Mind letting go?”

“I-I’m sorry!”

Blushing in the cheeks, I released my grip.

The Golden Retriever got near me, only for the middle-aged owner to grab it and drag it away.

Amid the laughter all around, I scrambled to my feet and apologized, “I’m really sorry!”

I turned and bolted right after.

By the time Jorja caught up, I was on the verge of tears. “My life is over. How am I supposed to show my face now?”

“It’s okay, Maeve. You might have lost your dignity, but you’ve gained popularity.

“Take a look. It’s hilarious. Luke has SpongeBob SquarePants plastered all over his boxers.”

She shoved the phone in my face, and I wanted to crawl into a hole and die. The whole thing was captured in HD—the exact moment I tripped and pantsed Luke.

I fled the scene in a panic while Luke stared at my receding figure with a grimace.

“I can’t show my face ever again. What do I do now?”

“That’s enough. Luke wants you.”

Jorja handed me her phone. Her boyfriend shared a dorm with Luke.

I took the phone with shaky hands, and the familiar voice of a guy came through. “Maeve, right? I’ve added you on social media. Accept my request.”

“Huh? Oh, sure thing!”

After the call, I checked my phone. Sure enough, I saw his friend request and approved it before going straight to damage control.

Maeve: “I’m sorry about today. It was an accident. I didn’t mean to!”

Luke: The whole school witnessed that. Even the freshmen know who I am now. I’m famous thanks to you. How are you going to make it up to me?”

I couldn’t believe he was asking for compensation. He wasn’t the only one humiliated today.

Maeve: “I’m a victim here, too!”

Luke: “I’m the one who got pantsed. You saw my butt, so what are you going to do about it? Get down here. We need to talk.”

I wanted to cry. The guy was supposed to be the school hunk. Yet, he was so petty.

It wasn’t as if I did it on purpose. Besides, Luke should take this up with the Golden Retriever.

Putting away my phone, I debated for a while before deciding against going.

It was only three days into the semester. Yet, I still couldn’t bring myself to go out in public with so many people around.

I even muted messages from Luke.

Luke held himself together, not coming around again.

I was relieved, to say the least. The next morning, Jorja dragged me to the East Gate. With fewer people there, I figured that I was safe from being recognized.

As soon as we got there, Luke smirked at me, and my knees buckled.

I wobbled my way over and plastered a smile for Luke.

“Fancy running into you here.”

“It’s no coincidence. I’ve been waiting for you.”

I turned to Jorja, who looked just as baffled. She didn’t let Luke know that we were heading to the East Gate.

Reading my confusion, Luke grinned. “The guilty usually would not return to the scene of the crime, so I was confident you’d head for the East Gate, where there are fewer people. I was right on the money.”