Nicholas didn't speak for the first few seconds after they stepped out of the building. It was weird. He wasn't the type to stay quiet; normally he filled the air with teasing comments or that lazy arrogance he wore like a second skin. But now? He just walked beside her, hands tucked in his pockets, jaw clenched like he was trying not to say something.
Ava kept her eyes straight ahead, refusing to look up at him.
She could still feel the ghost of his touch on her wrist. The way he'd pulled her away from Liam wasn't normal. It wasn't casual. It wasn't friendly.
It was possessive.
And that scared her more than she was willing to admit.
"Why did you drag me away?" she finally asked, her voice soft but steady.
Nicholas exhaled, long and tired, like he had been waiting for that question.
"Because you shouldn't be talking to guys like Liam," he muttered.
"Guys like Liam?" She raised a brow. "You mean guys like you?"
That made him stop walking.
He turned to look at her fully, expression unreadable, eyes dark and sharp. "I'm nothing like him."
"Oh really?" Ava folded her arms, a small bitter laugh leaving her. "Campus bad boy. Heartbreaker. Player. Sounds very… familiar."
His jaw ticked. "Ava, I'm not—"
"Save it," she cut him off, brushing past him.
Nicholas ran a hand through his hair and swore under his breath before jogging lightly to catch up with her. "I'm serious. Liam doesn't care who he talks to. He doesn't care who he touches. He's reckless."
"And you're not?" she asked quietly.
"I…" His voice faltered. He looked away. "Not with you."
That shut her up.
She felt her breath catch.
Not with you.
Not with you.
The words kept repeating in her head, sending a weird flutter down her chest that she hated herself for feeling.
Before she could respond, someone called from behind them.
"Nicholas!"
Ava turned to find Ethan and Noah walking toward them. Great. Exactly what she didn't need — an audience. Ethan was grinning, Noah wearing that annoying smirk he always had when he was about to say something problematic.
Nicholas muttered under his breath, "Perfect timing," before stepping slightly in front of her, as if shielding her from his own friends.
Ethan looked from Nicholas to Ava, eyes bright with recognition. "Ohhhh, so it was her at the party. I told you she looked familiar."
Ava flushed. Nicholas glared.
Noah chuckled, crossing his arms. "So this is the girl who has you walking out of lecture like a bodyguard?"
Nicholas shot him a warning look. "Noah."
"What?" Noah shrugged. "We're all thinking it."
Ava lowered her gaze, uncomfortable. But Noah wasn't done.
"You dragged him out of the class." Noah tilted his head at Nicholas. "Or is it that he dragged you out?"
Nicholas stepped forward slightly. "Drop it."
Noah leaned closer, raising a brow at Ava. "You sure you know what you're getting into with him? Nicholas Wolfe is dangerous."
Ava didn't know why that bothered her more than it should have. She inhaled sharply.
"I can handle myself," she said quietly.
Nicholas turned to look at her, something like surprise flickering in his eyes.
But Noah only laughed.
"Oh I bet you can," Noah teased. "Which is probably why Nic over here has suddenly grown a conscience."
"Enough," Nicholas said, voice firm.
But Noah only smirked. "Relax, man. It's just a dare. You know—make her fall, nothing serious."
Ava froze.
Nicholas's entire body stiffened.
No.
No.
No.
The ground suddenly felt unstable under her feet.
"A dare?" Ava whispered, her throat tightening.
Nicholas turned sharply toward Noah. "Do you ever shut the hell up?"
But it was too late.
Ava had already stepped back. Her breathing was uneven, her fingers trembling slightly at her sides.
Ethan nudged Noah hard. "Bro, shut up. Now."
Noah blinked, finally realizing he had messed up. "Wait, no—Ava, it wasn't—"
"A dare," she repeated, voice barely there. "To make me fall for you."
Nicholas stepped forward immediately. "Ava, look at me—"
"A dare."
Her vision stung.
She hated that she knew her eyes were watering. She hated that they could see it.
She hated that she had let herself feel anything for him.
"Ava, it's not what you think," Nicholas said urgently, trying to close the distance, but she took another step back.
"Really? Because it sounds exactly like what Liam said two minutes ago," she replied, voice breaking.
Nicholas winced like she had physically hit him.
"I didn't accept it," he said. "I told Noah to shut up. I'm not—this isn't a game. Not with you."
But she shook her head. "You shouldn't have needed a dare in the first place."
Noah opened his mouth again, but Ethan elbowed him so hard he doubled over slightly.
"Ava, please," Nicholas tried again. "Can we talk somewhere else? Not here."
"I'm fine," she whispered. "I just need to go."
"Let me walk you."
"No," she said firmly. "No more dragging me anywhere."
The words sliced through Nicholas.
He stopped moving.
Ava took one more step back, distancing herself from all of them.
"You said you weren't like Liam," she said quietly. "But right now… you feel just like him."
Nicholas's expression cracked — pain, guilt, anger, all fighting for space on his face.
"Ava—"
But she was already turning away.
She walked fast, not looking back, not trusting herself to stay strong if she did.
Ethan glared at Noah. "Nice. Real nice, bro."
"I didn't mean—she wasn't supposed to hear it," Noah said defensively. "And I didn't say he accepted the dare."
"That's not the point and you know it."
Nicholas didn't say a word.
He just stood there, fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white, chest rising and falling sharply as he watched the girl he never meant to hurt walk away from him like he was a stranger.
He felt something burn in his chest — fear? frustration? Regret?
He didn't know.
All he knew was one thing:
He had to fix this.
And fast.
Because losing her — even before he properly had her ,felt like a line he couldn't afford to cross.