Chapter 5: Sabotage on Campus

The next morning, Lila tried to convince herself that yesterday was just a one-time encounter.

It wasn’t.

By the time she reached the campus quad, whispers started almost immediately. Students turned their heads as she passed, some snickering, some staring.

She clutched her books tighter.

Then she saw the source.

Vanessa Hart. Standing near the fountain, perfectly poised, a group of popular students clustered around her like a small army. And in her hand… Lila’s notebook.

Lila’s heart dropped.

“What are you doing?” she demanded, striding toward her.

Vanessa smiled sweetly. “Oh, just sharing some… interesting reading material.” She held the notebook up so the surrounding students could see. Pages were flipped open, revealing parts of Lila’s private writings about Ethan.

Heat rose to Lila’s cheeks as students leaned closer, reading snippets.

Vanessa’s voice was loud enough for the entire quad to hear:

“Apparently, Ethan Ryder has a secret fan… and it’s our very own library genius!”

The crowd laughed.

Lila felt frozen, humiliated.

But before she could react, a familiar voice cut through the laughter.

“Vanessa.”

All eyes turned.

Ethan Ryder, walking fast across the quad, his jacket flapping behind him, blue eyes blazing.

“What the hell are you doing?” he demanded.

Vanessa’s smile never faltered. “Just… socializing.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. He held out his hand. “Give me the notebook.”

Vanessa tilted her head. “Oh, I think people are enjoying it. Don’t you?”

Ethan’s gaze shifted to Lila. She was biting her lip, trying not to cry.

“Lila…” he said softly, his voice only for her. “Are you okay?”

“I… I’m fine,” she whispered, though her hands shook.

Ethan turned his attention back to Vanessa. His voice was sharp now. “Enough, Vanessa. This isn’t funny.”

Vanessa smirked. “Funny? I think it’s… enlightening. Isn’t that right, everyone?” She gestured to the surrounding students.

The crowd laughed again.

Ethan stepped forward, grabbing the notebook from her hand. Vanessa’s expression faltered for a split second before she hid it.

“You’re crossing a line,” Ethan said, holding the notebook protectively.

Vanessa raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. “Am I? Or are you just finally noticing the consequences of your… choices?”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. “She’s tutoring me. That’s all.”

Vanessa’s green eyes glinted dangerously. “For now.”

Before Lila could say anything, Vanessa turned on her heel and disappeared into the crowd, leaving behind a quiet tension.

Ethan looked at Lila, his blue eyes softening.

“You okay?” he asked, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“I… I think so,” Lila said, still shaking.

He smirked, teasing. “Good. Because you’re stuck with me now. And Vanessa… well, she’s going to try everything to make your life difficult.”

Lila groaned. “Why did I even agree to this?”

Ethan leaned closer, his tone low and playful. “Because you’re brave… and secretly, I think you like the challenge.”

Lila blinked, her heart skipping. “I—what?”

Ethan’s smirk widened. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you… mostly.”

A blush crept across Lila’s cheeks as he stood straight again, giving her a wink before walking off toward practice.

Her stomach fluttered.

And then her phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number:

She’s not done. Be careful.

Lila’s fingers tightened around her notebook. Vanessa wasn’t just a rival. She was a force of chaos, and Lila was right in the middle.

And as Lila watched Ethan disappear into the distance, a thought hit her like a punch to the chest:

This tutoring session was supposed to be about coding… not surviving a queen’s war.

The rest of the morning felt like a nightmare for Lila. Everywhere she went, she could feel Vanessa’s presence even if the queen of campus wasn’t physically there. Whispers followed her down the hallways, snide comments about Ethan and “the tutor girl” floated in her direction, and a group of Vanessa’s friends smirked every time she passed.

By the time Lila reached the library for a second tutoring session, her stomach was tied in knots.

Ethan was already there, leaning casually against the table, a mischievous glint in his blue eyes.

“You look… tense,” he said, raising an eyebrow.

Lila groaned. “You have no idea.”

Ethan chuckled. “I can imagine. Vanessa Hart?”

“Relentless,” Lila muttered.

He shook his head. “Yeah… she doesn’t play fair. But don’t worry. I’ve got your back. We’ll make it through this.”

Lila opened her laptop and began explaining another problem. This time, Ethan seemed to pay extra attention to every word she said, leaning closer, sometimes brushing her hand accidentally against his as he pointed to the screen.

Her heart skipped every time.

“You’re… really good at this,” he said softly, eyes meeting hers for a brief second. “Honestly, I might actually enjoy learning now.”

Lila’s cheeks burned. “I—uh… thanks.”

Before she could settle into a rhythm, the library doors slammed open.

Vanessa.

Again.

But this time, she didn’t come alone. Two of her closest friends followed, smirking like they had a secret mission. Vanessa sauntered over to their table, arms crossed, eyes gleaming.

“Oh, look,” she said loudly, enough for everyone nearby to hear. “The campus genius is tutoring the campus heartthrob. How… charming.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. “Vanessa, leave. Now.”

Vanessa’s smirk widened. “I’m just checking on him,” she said, leaning dangerously close to Lila. “Wouldn’t want him to be… distracted.”

Lila’s stomach twisted. She clenched her notebook tightly.

“You don’t get it,” Vanessa whispered directly to Lila. “This isn’t just about tutoring. I own Ethan. And I don’t like competition.”

Before Lila could respond, Vanessa’s phone buzzed, and she glanced at it, smirk widening.

“See you around,” Vanessa said sweetly… but the tension in her eyes promised chaos.

As Vanessa and her entourage left, Ethan ran a hand through his damp hair, frustration clear in his expression.

“She’s going to make your life… interesting,” he said, glancing at Lila with a playful smirk. “But I like a challenge.”

Lila blinked. “A challenge?”

“Yeah,” he said, leaning closer across the table, his voice low. “And I have a feeling tutoring me is going to be… more than just coding lessons.”

Lila’s chest skipped a beat.

Just then, a text buzzed on her phone. Unknown number:

Watch your back. She’s planning something big.

Her hands trembled slightly. Vanessa wasn’t just a rival she was a storm, and Lila was standing in the middle of it.

Ethan noticed her shaking. He reached over and lightly touched her hand.

“Relax,” he said softly, voice only for her. “Whatever she throws at us, we’ll handle it… together.”

Lila’s heart fluttered.

And as she looked at him, she realized something terrifying and exciting all at once:

This semester wasn’t just about passing a class… it was about surviving Vanessa Hart… and maybe falling for Ethan Ryder.

Outside the library window, a shadow lingered.

Vanessa. Watching. Smiling.

And Lila knew, without a doubt, that the next move was hers and it would be dangerous.