All Chapters of Rival Hearts: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Harper Lawson prided herself on two things: her impeccable sense of timing and the fact that she never, ever, let anyone push her around. Today, however, the universe seemed determined to test both.The morning sun filtered through the towering glass windows of Jefferson College’s main quad, painting the courtyard in sharp lines of gold and shadow. Harper, clutching a stack of textbooks against her chest, navigated the crowd of students with her usual precision. She had fifteen minutes to make it to chemistry lab, and she was not about to be late—especially not for Professor Aldridge, whose scowl was as legendary as his pop quizzes.And then she collided with her.“Oh—shit!” Harper yelped, stumbling as a warm body pressed against hers. Textbooks nearly slipped from her grip, landing with a thud on the polished stone walkway.“I’m sorry! I wasn’t looking—” The voice was smooth, confident, teasing, and Harper felt a jolt run straight through her chest.She looked up and froze. Emery Col

The Jefferson College library was Harper’s sanctuary—quiet, organized, and strictly rule-bound. Rows of bookshelves stretched endlessly, punctuated by small study tables, and the faint smell of old paper and coffee lingered in the air. Harper loved it. It was peaceful. It was ordered. It was hers.And then Emery Collins entered.Harper froze mid-step, textbooks clutched to her chest. Emery glided between the shelves with that infuriating ease, a stack of poetry books in her arms and that signature cocky smile plastered across her face. She looked like she had just stepped out of a magazine: effortless, untouchable, entirely unaware of the chaos she left in her wake.Harper wanted to groan. Loudly. Publicly.“Of course,” Harper muttered under her breath, her voice tight. “Of course she’d come here.”Emery, of course, heard. She glanced over her shoulder, amber eyes sparkling with mischief. “Hear that? Someone’s missing me already,” she whispered, loud enough for Harper to hear but soft

Harper Lawson hated dorm room chaos. She thrived on order, on routine, and on personal space. Her dorm room was her sanctuary: meticulously organized, textbooks stacked neatly, clothes folded in precise piles, and her little potted succulent on the windowsill perfectly centered.Then Emery Collins showed up.It started innocently enough. Harper had agreed—reluctantly—to meet Emery in the dorm lounge to collaborate on a group assignment. But Harper hadn’t anticipated that Emery would somehow follow her back to her room, under the pretense of “grabbing a textbook she forgot.”“You really do take your personal space seriously,” Emery said with a teasing smile, sidling into the doorway. Her eyes roamed the room, taking in Harper’s perfectly arranged sanctuary. “Cute. Very…color-coded.”Harper’s hands tightened on the notebook she’d been holding. “I like things in order. What’s your point?”“Just saying, this is…intimidating,” Emery replied, stepping closer. She leaned on Harper’s desk, da

The Jefferson College quad buzzed with activity as students rushed between classes, laughed in clusters, and sipped iced coffee under the crisp spring sun. Harper Lawson moved through the crowd with her usual precision, clutching her notebooks tightly. She had promised herself she’d avoid Emery Collins today. Absolutely avoid her.Ha.Naturally, that was impossible.Harper spotted Emery almost immediately, lounging casually against a tree near the student center, headphones around her neck, latte in hand, and that infuriating grin ever-present. Amber eyes locked briefly on Harper’s, and Harper felt that familiar, maddening flutter in her chest. Flustered. Why am I flustered?She shook her head and kept walking, determined to ignore her.“Looks like someone’s trying really hard not to look at someone,” a familiar voice teased from behind. Harper spun around to see Lila Martinez, waving energetically.“I am not—” Harper began, but Lila cut her off with a smirk.“You’re totally blushing,

Harper Lawson sat cross-legged on her dorm bed, textbooks spread across the floor, pens scattered, and a notebook open to a half-written chemistry report. The quiet hum of her laptop and the faint sound of traffic outside were comforting—until her phone buzzed.It was Emery.Don’t answer it. Don’t even think about it. Harper muttered under her breath, but curiosity won. She swiped the screen.Emery: “Hey…can we talk?”Harper froze. Talk? About what?She typed back carefully, trying to maintain control:Harper: “About what?”Emery: “About…last night. And maybe about…you.”Harper’s chest tightened. You? What does that even mean? She hated the way her heartbeat accelerated. She hated that she wanted to know.She told herself firmly: Ignore it. Ignore her. This is a trap.⸻By the time Emery appeared at Harper’s door fifteen minutes later, Harper had paced three times around the room, cheeks flushed, nerves frayed, and a notebook clutched like a shield.“Can I come in?” Emery asked, voice