Professor Carter cleared his throat, gesturing for Aiden to sit. "Alright, have a seat. Let's continue with the course material."
Aiden muttered something under his breath, but he slid back into his chair, shoulders stiff. His friends, sensing the tension, immediately quieted down as well.
As he settled, his eyes flicked toward Lana. She was already looking at him, notebook in hand, a faint hint of a smile tugging at her lips. He glared at her, eyes narrowing, jaw tight, as if trying to figure out what she was thinking, but she didn't flinch. She just held his gaze, calm and unbothered.
For the rest of the lecture, he stayed quiet. His friends didn't whisper or laugh. The whole group seemed… muted, which made Lana's chest lift with a quiet satisfaction. She felt a rare, simple happiness, a sense of control, of having made him pause, even if just a little.
She refocused on the lecture, taking notes, glancing up only to see him sitting there, fuming silently, and she couldn't help the small, smile that crept across her face.
Soon, the class ended. Aiden was the first to push back his chair, muttering under his breath as he stormed out with his friends. Their anger was obvious in the stiff way they moved, the sharp clatter of their chairs, and the low growls of annoyance he left. Lana didn't even glance at them.
She packed her things carefully, sliding her notebook into her bag and checking that she had all her papers. Another class was coming up, and she was focused on that. She slung her backpack over one shoulder and stepped out into the campus.
The air was warm, carrying the sound of students moving between buildings, laughing, talking, shouting across the lawns. Lana walked slowly, eyes scanning everything, the wide paths, the neatly trimmed grass, the scattered benches. She noticed small details: a group of students tossing a ball, someone strumming a guitar near the steps, a couple arguing quietly under a tree.
She let herself take it all in, feeling the rhythm of the campus, the energy of the students around her. There was a calm satisfaction in simply walking through it, being part of the movement without needing to prove anything. The campus felt alive, and she let herself enjoy the moment, letting the noise, the sights, and the smells fill her senses.
Lana's pace slowed as she rounded the corner toward her dorm, trying to shake off the fatigue of the day. Her backpack dug into her shoulder, heavy with books and notes, but she didn't care. All she wanted was to get inside, lock the door, and finally breathe.
And then—
bam!
Someone collided with her. Her books tumbled, papers scattering across the pavement.
She looked up sharply, irritation flaring instantly—and froze.
Aiden.
He was standing there like it was all part of some game, that lazy, infuriating smirk on his face. Behind him, his friends leaned casually on their bikes, laughing softly, watching the scene like spectators at a show. Lana's stomach tightened, and she glanced around. Students were walking by, staring now, drawn to the sudden tension in the middle of the campus. She felt exposed, caught in a spotlight she hadn't asked for.
"Can't you apologize for bumping into me again?" she asked, trying to keep her voice calm, though every nerve in her body screamed irritation.
"Again?" Aiden replied, tilting his head, smirk widening as though her anger amused him. He didn't move. Didn't even look like he considered stepping aside.
Lana pressed a hand against her bag strap, taking a careful step forward. "I need to pass," she said, deliberately measured, trying to assert herself without losing control.
Twice she tried, and twice he blocked her path, arms crossed, standing like a solid wall she wasn't supposed to get past. Every instinct in her screamed to shove him aside, but she stayed rooted, chest tightening, eyes locked on him.
She inhaled slowly, steadying herself. "Please… move," she said, softer this time but no less firm, her voice low, carrying a weight that wasn't there before. Her jaw clenched. Every glance from the students around her made her cheeks burn with that mix of anger and embarrassment.
Aiden's eyes flickered, just enough to show he noticed the shift in her tone. His smirk didn't falter entirely, but there was a flicker of curiosity, maybe even challenge, in the way he stared at her.
Lana felt her pulse hammering in her ears. She wanted this to end quickly, to get past him without giving him the satisfaction, but at the same time, she couldn't let him see her flinch. She squared her shoulders, gripping her bag tighter, and waited.
Lana's chest tightened as she turned and continued walking, hoping to put some distance between herself and Aiden. She adjusted the strap of her backpack, forcing herself to focus on the path ahead, trying to ignore the way her stomach twisted.
But the faint sound of footsteps made her pause. He was following. She dared a glance over her shoulder, Aiden, just a few steps behind, smirk still in place. Behind him, his friends slowly drove their bikes, laughing quietly, like they were all in on some private joke at her expense.
Her fingers tightened around her bag strap. She walked faster, forcing herself to breathe normally, but every instinct in her screamed at her to run. She finally reached a clearing near the library, stopped, and turned to face him.
A small, sharp smile crept onto her face despite the tension. "What do you want from me?" she asked, voice steady, though her heart was hammering.
Aiden's eyes glinted with amusement. "What do you think you're doing," he said slowly, deliberately, "talking to me like that in class? Who do you think you are?"
Lana's stomach dropped. Her gaze darted around, realizing several students were now watching. Her pulse spiked, and suddenly all those memories, of being cornered, ambushed after school, bruises, the fear, the shame, the painflashed through her mind. Her body betrayed her. Her hands trembled slightly, and her shoulders tensed.
"I… I just asked a question," she stammered, voice barely above a whisper, her throat tight, "because it didn't… it didn't seem like you meant what you said."
Aiden's smirk widened, a cruel little curl at the corner of his mouth. "Oh, really?" he said, mocking, leaning slightly toward her. His friends burst into laughter behind him, loud and careless, feeding off the tension.
Lana's chest heaved, a soft tremor running through her as she forced herself to meet his gaze. Part of her wanted to bolt, part of her wanted to shove him asidebut she stayed rooted, trembling.