Ivy's POV I had been denying this for weeks. Every time Ava looked at me for too long and every time her shoulder brushed mine in the hallway.I told myself it meant nothing and that I was straight.  But standing this close to her now, with her breath already mixing with mine, all those lies collapsed. Ava's blue eyes were dark, almost desperate . One of her hands was braced on the desk beside my hip, the other hovered near my waist like she was fighting herself. When she finally spoke, her voice was low and soft. "Ivy... if you don't stop me right now, there is no going back " She looked at me with her seductive blue eyes and I didn't stop her. I closed the last inch between us and kissed her like I had been starving for it. The first kiss was soft...careful and then everything broke.  Ava made a quiet, broken sound against my mouth and kissed me back harder.  Her hand slid up my side, her fingers pressing into the fabric of my shirt, then higher until her palm rested against the side of my neck. Her thumb stroked just under my jaw, slow and possessive. Heat flooded my stomach so fast my knees weakened. I grabbed the front of her shirt without thinking, pulling her closer as our bodies pressed together. I could feel the warmth of her through her clothes and the steady press of her thighs against mine. She tasted like mint and something darker. When her tongue brushed mine, a soft, helpless sound left my throat. Ava's hand moved from my neck to the back of my head, fingers sliding into my hair, holding me in place like she was afraid I would disappear. The kiss turned slower, deeper, almost painful with how much we both wanted it.  I felt her other hand slip under the back of my shirt, just enough for her fingers to touch bare skin. The contact burned. We only broke apart when we heard the door handle turn. Both of us froze. Ava's forehead was still against mine. Her hand was still under my shirt, fingers warm against my lower back. My own hands were still fisted in her clothes. The door opened. "Ivy?" Adrian's voice. My heart dropped so hard I felt dizzy. He stood in the doorway, staring at us. His eyes moved from my face to Ava's, then to the way we were still touching. The color drained from his face so fast. No one spoke. Ava slowly pulled her hand out from under my shirt. The loss of her skin against mine felt like a punishment. I tried to step back, but my legs didn't want to move. Adrian's voice came out quiet and broken. "What the hell is this?" I opened my mouth. Nothing came out. There was no version of the truth that wouldn't destroy everything. How did it come to this? Six months earlier... The car ride to campus was quiet. Mom tried to make conversation, but I mostly stared out the window with my phone in my lap.  Adrian had been texting me the entire morning, checking how close I was, telling me where to find him. I answered with short replies. My stomach was tightened with excitement.  When we finally pulled up to Westbridge College, the campus was already full of students. Suitcases, laughter, music, people hugging like they hadn't seen each other in years.  Dad helped me with my bags and my mum hugged me too tightly and told me to call every night. I promised I would. Then they left, and I was alone. Adrian was waiting exactly where he said he would be, blue hoodie, hands in his pockets, that familiar smile on his face. The moment he saw me, he walked over and pulled me into a hug that lasted longer than it should have.It felt safe.  "You're finally here," he said against my hair. "Yeah." He pulled back just enough to look at me. "You okay?" "I think so." "You would be" He replied smiling. He took one of my bags without asking and started walking me toward Student Affairs. People kept calling his name. He smiled at everyone, waved, and introduced me quickly as "my girlfriend."  Every time he said the word, something small and uncomfortable twisted in my chest. I ignored it. Checking in took only a few minutes. I got my keycard, my student ID, and the number of my new room. Residence Hall B, Room 312. Adrian insisted on walking me all the way there. The closer we got to the residence hall, the quieter the campus became. Students moved in and out with boxes and it already felt like a different world from the main courtyard. Just before we stepped inside, two girls passed us. One of them lowered her voice, but not enough. "Did you hear Ava's back already?" The other girl actually flinched. "Don't. I'm not ready for her this semester." The name hit me harder than it should have. I didn't know why. "Ava?" I asked once they were gone. Adrian's expression changed for half a second. Something careful. Something closed. "You'll meet her eventually," he said. "Everyone does." He pressed the elevator button for me. When the doors opened, he didn't get in. "Text me when you're settled," he said. "I'll come find you later." I stepped inside and the doors began to close before Adrian left. As the elevator started rising, the name the girls had said kept repeating in my head, louder than normal. Ava. I didn't know who she was. I only knew that the way they said her name already felt like a warning. And for some reason I couldn't explain, it also felt like the beginning of something I wasn't ready for.

Ivy's POV The third floor smelled like fresh paint and vanilla. I stood in front of Room 312 longer than necessary before swiping the keycard.  Red light. I flipped it and tried again and it worked and brought a green light and then the door opened into a bright room with three beds.  One was neatly made with fairy lights and stacked books. The other looked like someone had unpacked by throwing everything into the air and walking away. Before I could put my suitcase down, the bathroom door opened. I saw a familiar face. "Tessa?" She let out a short scream of excitement and pulled me into a tight hug. "I told them it had to be you. I knew it." "I can't believe I am with an old friend from my school" " It's fate" Tessa said laughing. A girl with glasses sat up on the messy bed, phone in hand. "You must be Ivy. I'm Chloe. Please ignore the disaster over here. I'll clean it... eventually." I smiled. "Nice to meet you." Tessa dropped onto her bed and crossed her legs. "Orientation starts soon. You're coming with us." I nodded and started unpacking a few clothes. While I did, Chloe stretched and looked at Tessa. "Did you see the group chat? Ava's already back." Tessa made a face. "Of course she is. The universe couldn't give us even one peaceful week." I looked up. "Who's Ava?" Both of them stared at me. Chloe sat forward. "You're joking." "I got here less than two hours ago." Tessa exhaled. "Ava Hart.  She's the one everyone either follows or avoids. She's popular, rich, and she knows it. The problem is she doesn't just lead. She controls. If she decides she doesn't like you, campus life gets very uncomfortable." "Uncomfortable how?" Chloe answered this time. "Last semester she made a girl cry in the middle of the cafeteria because she sat at the wrong table. The girl transferred out two weeks later. That's the kind of power she has." Something cold settled in my stomach. I had never liked people who treated others like that. We left for the courtyard ten minutes later, the campus was full of movement and noise .  Tessa and Chloe walked on either side of me, pointing out buildings, but I only half listened. My mind kept going back to the name and the story about the girl who left. We were halfway across the main courtyard when the energy shifted. People slowed down. Conversations dropped.  Some students stepped aside without being told. A group walked through the center like the space belonged to them. At the front was a tall girl with short buzzed brown hair, light skin, and sharp blue eyes. She wore black baggy jeans and an oversized white shirt, one hand in her pocket, the other holding her phone. She didn't look around. She didn't need to. Beside her was a girl with long brown hair who laughed a little too loudly at everything. "That's Nina Reed," Chloe whispered. "And the one in front is Ava." I watched her but I didn't see anything too special in her. Then a boy carrying a stack of textbooks accidentally bumped into her shoulder. The books scattered across the pavement. He froze. "I'm so sorry," he said quickly, already kneeling. Ava stopped walking. The entire courtyard seemed to stop with her. She looked down at him the way someone might look at dirt on their shoe. "You're in my way," she said, voice flat. "I didn't see you" he said shaking. "I didn't ask for an excuse." She used the side of her shoe to push one of the notebooks further away from him. "Pick them up. And next time, move when you see me coming." A few people laughed under their breath. The boy's ears turned red as he scrambled to gather his things. His hands were shaking. Something hot and sharp rose in my chest as I stepped forward before Tessa could stop me. "You didn't have to do that." I said The laughter around us died. Ava turned her head slowly. Her blue eyes landed on me, curious at first, then cooler. "Excuse me?" "He already apologized," I said. My voice stayed steady even though my heart was racing. "You didn't need to humiliate him." Nina laughed once. "Oh, this is going to be good." Ava took a step closer. Students nearby watched like they were waiting for a crash. "You're new," she said. "I am." "Then let me give you some free advice." Her voice dropped, quiet enough that only the people closest could hear.  "On this campus, you don't talk to me like that. You don't correct me and you especially don't do it in front of an audience." I held her gaze. For a second, something dangerous flickered across her face. Then she smiled.  It wasn't friendly. "What's your name?" "Ivy." She repeated it slowly, like she was tasting it. "Ivy." Then she looked at Nina. "Remember that name." Nina pulled out her phone and typed something. My stomach twisted. Ava stepped even closer. Close enough that I could smell her perfume. Close enough that I had to tilt my chin up to keep eye contact. "You just made a mistake," she said softly. "I'm going to enjoy watching you regret it." She turned and walked away. Nina followed, but not before giving me a look that promised trouble. The second they were gone, Tessa grabbed my arm. "Are you insane?" Chloe looked pale. "She's going to come after you. That's what she does." I still felt the heat of Ava's stare on my skin. Part of me was afraid. A bigger part of me was angry. "I don't care," I said. "I don't like bullies." Tessa shook her head. "It's not about liking them. It's about surviving them." We barely made it ten steps before my phone buzzed. It was notifications from an unknown number. "Cute speech". "Let's see how long that attitude lasts". I stopped walking. Tessa leaned over my shoulder and read the messages. Her face went tight. "That's her," she said quietly. "She already has your number." I stared at the screen. Less than three hours on campus, and I had already drawn a line I couldn't erase. And for some reason, even though I disliked her, the way she had looked at me still sat under my skin like a bruise I couldn't stop pressing.

Ivy's POV By the time orientation ended, my name was already moving through the campus like smoke. People looked at me when I walked past. Some whispered while others openly stared. A girl in the bathroom asked if I was "the one who talked back to Ava." I didn't answer. I just washed my hands and left. Tessa stayed close to me the entire time, like she was afraid someone might push me. Chloe kept checking her phone and muttering under her breath. "She's going to make an example out of you," Chloe said as we walked back toward the residence hall. "That's what she does." I tried to ignore the tight feeling in my chest. "I don't regret what I said." Tessa glanced at me. "Regret and consequences aren't the same thing." My phone buzzed again. Another message from the unknown number.  "Still feeling brave?" I locked the screen without replying. The anger from earlier was still there, but underneath it something else had started to grow.  I hated that Ava had gotten under my skin so quickly. I hated that I kept replaying the way she looked at me when I challenged her. Like I was interesting, like I was a problem she wanted to solve slowly. We reached the dorm. Chloe went straight to the shower. Tessa sat on her bed and watched me. "You okay?" "I don't know." It was the truth. Part of me was still furious at how Ava had treated that boy. Another part of me felt unsettled in a way I didn't have words for yet. I needed air. "I'm going for a walk," I told Tessa. She looked like she wanted to stop me, but she only nodded. "Stay where there are people." The sun had already started to drop by the time I stepped outside. Most students were heading to dinner or back to their rooms. I walked without a real destination, just trying to clear my head.  The texts, the staring. I ended up near the older academic building on the far side of campus. It was quieter here and empty. The brick walls were faded, and the side entrance looked like it hadn't been used in years. I was about to turn back when I heard it. A song. It was soft at first, almost distant, leaking from a phone speaker. The melody was slow and familiar in a way that made the hair on my arms rise even though I had never heard it before. Then I heard a second sound , a short, choked breath, like someone trying not to make noise. I followed it. Around the corner, hidden by a concrete pillar, Ava was sitting on the ground with her back against the wall. Her knees were pulled up tightly to her chest.  One hand was pressed hard over her ear. The other was clenched so tightly her knuckles had gone pale. Her phone lay beside her, screen still glowing, the song continuing to play in a low, relentless loop. She was shaking. I stopped walking. This didn't look like the girl from the courtyard. This didn't look like the person who had stared down an entire crowd without blinking. This looked like someone trying to hold herself together and failing. Another wave of the song rose from the phone. Ava flinched hard, like the sound had hit her physically and for the first time , I saw her crying. She pressed both hands over her ears now, breathing too fast, eyes squeezed shut. Her shoulders trembled.  I didn't think. I stepped closer and stood in front of her. "Hey," I said quietly. "Ava." Her eyes flew open. For a second she looked pure panicked, almost lost. Then she recognized me and something ugly flashed across her face. "Get away from me." "You're having a panic attack." "I said get away." I didn't move. "Give me the phone." She stared at me like I had lost my mind. When she didn't react, I reached for it myself. She tried to stop me, but her hands were still trembling too hard. I turned the volume all the way down and then silenced the phone completely before shoving it into my back pocket. The sudden absence of the song seemed to hit her. Her breathing stayed uneven, but the worst of the shaking slowed. She dragged in a rough breath, then another.  Her hands lowered slowly from her ears, though they still trembled in her lap. "You shouldn't be here," she said. "You're welcome." She let out a short, bitter laugh. "I don't need your help." "You looked like you did." That was the wrong thing to say. Ava's expression changed completely. The vulnerability disappeared, replaced by something sharp and cold. She pushed herself up so fast I had to lean back. When she spoke again, her voice was harsh. "You think because you saw me for five seconds that you know something?" I stood as well. "I think you're allowed to be human." "Don't." She stepped closer, eyes bright with anger. "Don't you dare look at me like that. I don't need pity from some transfer who doesn't know when to shut up." "It isn't pity." "Then what is it?" She was almost in my face now. "You hate me, remember? You made that very clear in front of half the campus. So why are you still standing here?" I didn't have a clean answer. I only knew that walking away while she was still shaking felt wrong. The memory of her shaking from that song sat heavy in my chest. "I don't like bullies," I said. "That doesn't mean I'm going to leave someone on the ground." Something in her face cracked, then hardened again just as fast. "You don't know anything about me." "Then tell me why a song does that to you." For a moment I thought she might actually answer. Her mouth opened, then closed. The anger in her eyes flickered with something that looked almost like fear. Instead she shoved past me hard enough that my shoulder hit the wall. "Stay out of my business, Ivy." My name sounded like a warning this time. "Next time you see me like that, walk the other way. I mean it." She didn't look back as she left. I stood there for a long time after she was gone, her phone still silent in my pocket, the ghost of that song replaying in my head.  I had come out here angry at her and I was leaving with something much more complicated sitting in my chest. The girl who had looked at me in the courtyard like I was nothing had just fallen apart in front of me. And the worst part is the part that scared me more than her threats and I already knew I wouldn't be able to stay away. I pulled her phone out of my pocket and stared at the dark screen. Part of me wanted to throw it into the nearest trash can. Another part of me, wanted to understand what that song had done to her. I slipped it back into my pocket and started walking toward the dorm. The sun had almost set. The path lights were flickering on one by one. Students passed me in small groups, laughing, talking about dinner plans and weekend parties. None of them knew what I had just seen.  None of them knew that the most feared girl on campus had been shaking on the ground behind an old building, drowning in a song I didn't recognize. I didn't know what it meant yet. I only knew that something had shifted. And for the first time since I arrived at Westbridge, I wasn't sure I wanted it to shift back.