(Sierra's POV)
Architecture class flew by in a flurry of sketches and discussions, with Angel constantly whisper-gossiping in my ear. And suddenly she said.
"Luciana hates girls prettier than her. And you're—well—you."
I rolled my eyes. "Don't exaggerate." Angel slammed her sketchbook shut. "Half the campus has a crush on you, Sierra. Have you seen the way guys look at you? Even some girls—"
"Okay, stop." She grinned wickedly. "Even the ones who pretend to hate you." I froze. Stefano. Angel noticed the way I stiffened—and her grin widened into something evil.
"Ohhhh. Interesting."
"There's nothing—"
"Lies."
I groaned. The boys caught up with us by afternoon break outside the colonnade near the architecture wing. Sunlight reflected off the glass buildings, students were pouring out for snacks and the smell of coffee everywhere.
Marko cheerfully waved his bandaged hand at me. "Morning interrogation incoming in three… two—"
"Did you really take care of that hand?" I asked firmly. Smiling sheepishly, he said, "I tried."
"Marko," I sighed. "If you're careless with it, it will get infected."
He blinked. Actually blinked. As if no one had reprimanded him in years. "I'll be careful," he said softly.
Next to him, Stefano mimed scrolling through his phone. But I saw the way his jaw shifted. Saw the way his eyes flicked up toward me when he thought I wasn't looking. Saw how he listened to every word. He didn't want to care. But he did. And there lay the problem. For both of us. I don't understand why this arrogant jerk is always jealous, rude all the time.
Sebastian dragged Ethan away to ask about some football schedule, leaving me and Marko sitting on the stone bench under the giant oak tree.
"You seem calmer today," Marko said.
"Because you're okay."
He let his breath out, staring straight ahead. "You worry too much."
"You get hurt too much." He laughed-really laughed. And for a moment, something warm settled in the space between us. A brother-sister kind of warmth. One I didn't realize I needed.
(Stefano's POV)
I saw them. From across the courtyard. But something pulled tight across my chest again. And something in me-something dark and hungry-didn't like it. Didn't like her laughing with someone else, even if the person saw her as sister. Didn't like seeing her soft expression directed at anyone but—
I shut the thought immediately. She's not yours.
She will never be yours. She's part of the plan. But then why- Why did I want to walk over there, pull her away from him and demand that she never smile at him like that again? Why did I want to— The thought ended abruptly as she looked up and caught me staring. Her eyes widened slightly. My chest constricted painfully— And then she smiled. A small, timid one. I felt it in my bones. And for a moment-only a moment- I wanted to walk to her. I wanted to touch her hand. I wanted to touch her face. I wanted to taste her cherry lips. I wanted to lean down and feel her— No. Absolutely not. I turned away sharply. But my heartbeat didn't obey me. I'm becoming more and more hungry for her day by day.
I couldn't tell what she was doing to me.
She walked into class with Angel, her hair brushing her shoulders, fingers holding her notebook close to her chest. And when she bit her lip, her nervous habit—
My chest tightened. Her nightmares weren't my business. Her soft crying at dawn wasn't my problem. The way she curled into herself, scared… It wasn't supposed to make me feel anything.
But last night… When she looked so small, so shaken… I touched her face before I even realized it. Why? WHY? I gritted my teeth. I didn't know what was happening to me. And then—
A high heel clicked behind me. Strong perfume. False sweetness.
Luciana Robinson
Hell no! I'm already dealing with so much problems. Not her here again. Her eyes followed Sierra as a hunter would track a prey.
"So," Luciana said with a smirk, "that's the girl stealing all the attention on campus? Huh. How. cute. Let's see how long she can survive"
A warning flashed in my mind. She wasn't talking to me. She was studying Sierra. Evaluating her. Planning something. And I felt-surprisingly-protective. I just completely ignored her and walked away. But in my mind I was thinking how I could keep her and Sierra away. I didn't want that kitten to know about Luciana. Reason? I don't know…
(Sierra's POV)
Architecture class was going well until Angel nudged me mid-lecture. "Your brain is standing on a cloud again."
"Sorry, "I whispered. She winked. "At least your cloud has the Blackwood Brothers orbiting around it."
"Angel!"
"Don't be angry, not everyone so lucky to have two hot, sexy and charming stepbrothers at home Sie"
Later on the campus, we're walking and gossiping over sudden thing just then
I turned.
Luciana Robinson stood not far away. Perfect makeup. Perfect hair. A smile that wasn't a smile at all. Her gaze traveled up from my shoes to my face slowly—calculating, cold, assessing every inch of me. Then, she smirked. "Well," she said, her voice sugary and deadly, "so you're the new… fascination."
I blinked. "Sorry?" She laughed. "You will be." She walked away before I could reply, heels clicking like the sound of warning shots. I swallowed hard. "Who was that…?" I whispered.
Marko and Ethan exchanged looks.
Angel's voice lowered. "Luciana Robinson. Model. Influencer. The girl who thinks she owns this college and everyone has a crush on her."
"And Stefano's ex." Sebastian said. My heartbeat quickened. Angel's fingers brushed my arm. "Be careful around her, Sierra. But she didn't need to tell me. Because for the first time… I felt truly watched. No god, no more problems plz. My life's already a mess.
(Stefano's POV)
I turned the corner just as Luciana was walking away, her bag swinging triumphantly. And then I saw Sierra standing there, her eyes wide, her lip caught between her teeth, her chest rising with a shaky breath. Something inside me snapped. I walked toward her-too fast-she looked up at me with a sharp glance. Her breath hitched. Mine did, too. "Wh-what?" she whispered. I didn't know what answer I intended. All I knew was that the afternoon light was hitting her hair like gold, her eyes looked like trembling emerald glass, and she had no idea how she affected me. I leaned down—closer than I should. Too close. Her back brushed the wall behind her. My breath mixed with hers. Her fingers curled into the hem of her skirt. Mine twitched at my sides. "Sierra…" I whispered, unable to stop myself. Her lips parted- And for a split second, for the first time ever— I wanted to kiss her. Really kiss her. My heartbeat was a thunderstorm. Her eyes dropped to my mouth. I moved closer. So close our noses brushed— And then— "STEFANO!" Sebastian's voice cut through the air like a blade. I jerked back instantly, breath ragged. Sierra stared at me, astounded, puzzled, flustered. And I— I turned away before my expression betrayed me. Before I betrayed myself.
(To be continued...)