The Blackwood Twins

Chapter Two

The Blackwood Twins

By Monday morning, I had learned three things about Silver Moon University.

First, the coffee in the student café was terrible.

Second, the campus was much larger than it looked on the brochure.

And third, Mia had been completely serious about the Blackwood twins.

Everyone knew them.

I discovered that before my first class had even started.

“That’s Kian Blackwood.”

I heard the whisper behind me as I walked into the lecture hall.

Another voice answered, “I know.”

“They’re both in this course.”

“You’re lucky.”

I rolled my eyes and took an empty seat near the middle of the room.

Apparently, I had enrolled in a university where two attractive men were considered campus celebrities.

Wonderful.

I opened my notebook and tried to focus on the professor setting up at the front.

Mia slid into the seat beside me.

“You survived.”

“Barely.”

She placed a coffee on my desk.

“I brought you one.”

I looked at it suspiciously.

“Is this an apology for making me drink that yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Accepted.”

She smiled.

Then her eyes shifted toward the entrance.

“Oh.”

I followed her gaze.

Kael and Kian had entered the lecture hall.

The reaction was immediate.

Several students turned around.

A girl near the front fixed her hair.

Someone whispered something that made their friends laugh.

I tried not to look.

Unfortunately, Kian chose that exact moment to look directly at me.

His mouth curved into a smile.

I looked back at my notebook.

“Don’t.”

Mia whispered.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You looked.”

“So did he.”

“That’s worse.”

I laughed quietly.

A few seconds later, the twins walked past our row.

Kian stopped.

“Morning, Aria.”

I looked up.

“Morning.”

Mia stared at me.

Kian smiled.

“You settling in?”

“Trying to.”

“Need anything?”

“I’m sure I’ll survive.”

He chuckled.

“Good.”

Kael continued walking without saying anything.

But as he passed, his gaze briefly met mine.

There was something strange about the way he looked at me.

Not flirtatious.

Not casual.

Almost thoughtful.

Like he was trying to remember something.

Then he walked away.

Mia leaned toward me.

“You’re in trouble.”

“I’ve known them for less than twenty-four hours.”

“And?”

“And nothing.”

She gave me a look.

“You’re going to learn.”

⸻

The lecture went better than expected.

By lunchtime, I had survived two classes, memorized half the campus map, and nearly walked into the wrong building twice.

Mia and I sat outside the student café.

“So,” she said, opening her lunch, “what do you think of them?”

“Who?”

She stared at me.

“You know who.”

I sighed.

“Kael and Kian?”

“Yes.”

“They seem nice.”

Mia nearly choked.

“Nice?”

“What?”

“Kael Blackwood barely speaks to anyone.”

“He spoke to me.”

“Exactly.”

I shrugged.

“And Kian?”

“He seems friendly.”

Mia leaned forward.

“Aria.”

“What?”

“They don’t usually approach people first.”

I paused.

“Maybe I’m special.”

Mia stared at me.

Then she burst out laughing.

“Don’t let them hear you say that.”

“Why?”

“Because Kian will never let you forget it.”

I smiled.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

We continued talking until a shadow fell across the table.

I looked up.

Kian.

“Can I sit?”

Mia immediately stood.

“I suddenly remembered I have somewhere to be.”

I stared at her.

“You do?”

“No.”

She smiled sweetly.

“But now I do.”

Then she disappeared.

I shook my head.

Kian sat opposite me.

“She likes me.”

“She thinks you’re trouble.”

“Same thing.”

I laughed.

For some reason, talking to him was easy.

He didn’t have the intimidating presence his brother carried.

He was relaxed.

Playful.

Almost annoyingly charming.

“So,” he said, “where are you from?”

“Northbridge.”

“That’s a few hours away.”

“Three.”

“Family here?”

I shook my head.

“No.”

“Just you?”

“Just me.”

Something changed in his expression.

It was subtle.

But I noticed.

“That’s brave.”

“I needed a change.”

“From?”

I looked down at my drink.

“My past.”

He didn’t push.

For that, I appreciated him.

Instead, he changed the subject.

“What are you studying?”

“Business administration.”

“Seriously?”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing.”

He smiled.

“I just assumed you’d say literature.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

“You look like someone who reads too much.”

I laughed.

“That’s oddly specific.”

“Was I wrong?”

“No.”

He smiled triumphantly.

“I knew it.”

I shook my head.

“You really are arrogant.”

“I’ve been told.”

“Often?”

“Daily.”

I laughed again.

Then I noticed Kael standing several feet away.

He was watching us.

Kian followed my gaze.

His smile faded slightly.

“Don’t worry about him.”

“Is he always like that?”

“Like what?”

“Quiet.”

Kian looked toward his brother.

“Pretty much.”

“Are you two close?”

He smiled.

“He’s my brother.”

“That doesn’t answer the question.”

Kian leaned back.

“We’re twins.”

“I know.”

“No.”

He looked at me.

“You don’t understand.”

Before I could ask what he meant, Kael approached.

“We need to go.”

Kian sighed.

“You always ruin the fun.”

Kael ignored him.

His attention moved to me.

“We’ll see you later.”

I nodded.

“Sure.”

The twins walked away.

I watched them for a moment.

Something about their relationship fascinated me.

They were clearly close.

But there was a tension between them that I couldn’t quite understand.

And for reasons I couldn’t explain, I had the feeling that I’d just stepped into the middle of something.

⸻

That afternoon, I went to the library alone.

I needed to finish an assignment before dinner.

The library was almost empty.

I found a quiet table near the windows and opened my laptop.

An hour passed.

Then another.

I was so absorbed in my work that I didn’t notice anyone approaching.

“You’re working too hard.”

I looked up.

Kael.

I closed my laptop halfway.

“Do you always sneak up on people?”

“No.”

“Then why me?”

He pulled out the chair opposite mine.

“I wasn’t trying to.”

“Sure.”

For the first time, I saw something close to amusement in his expression.

“You don’t trust me.”

“I’ve known you for two days.”

“Fair.”

He glanced at my notebook.

“Business administration?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I shrugged.

“I want to start my own company someday.”

“Doing what?”

“I don’t know yet.”

He nodded.

“At least you’re honest.”

I smiled.

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“What do you want?”

His eyes held mine.

For a moment, he seemed caught off guard by the question.

Then he looked away.

“There’s not much choice.”

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing.”

He stood.

I frowned.

“That was a very mysterious answer.”

“Was it?”

“Yes.”

He gave me the faintest smile.

“Good.”

Then he walked away.

I stared after him.

That man was impossible.

But as I reopened my laptop, I caught myself smiling.

And that annoyed me more than anything.

Because I was beginning to understand why everyone warned me about the Blackwood twins.

Not because they were dangerous.

Not yet.

But because they were very, very difficult to ignore.