Odessa’s pov
By the time my alarm rang the next morning, I had accepted one simple truth: going to school was exhausting.
In the span of one day, I’d somehow managed to sneak into an underground fighting ring, meet the undefeated champion, find out he attended my university, get assigned as his tutor, and become the target of the campus mean girls.
A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.
“Come in.”
Havana peeked through the door, already dressed for work.
“Morning.”
“Morning.”
She studied my face carefully.
“No more screaming?”
“I’ve retired.”
“For good?” she asked.
“I make no promises.”
She laughed.
“Breakfast is ready.”
“I’ll be down in one minute.”
Twenty minutes later, I was walking through the university gates with a coffee in one hand and my backpack slung over my shoulder.
Today’s goal was simple: go to class, avoid Cecily, and survive.
That was it.
Surely the universe could grant me one peaceful morning.
Apparently not.
“Well,” a male voice drawled from somewhere behind me, “would you look at that.”
I stopped walking.
Three boys stood in the middle of the pathway.
I wanted to scream and claw my eyes out—why was I suddenly a beacon for attention?
The one in front had neatly styled black hair and wore the kind of confident smile that immediately put me on guard.
His expensive watch shimmered under the morning sunlight as he slipped both hands into his pockets.
The two boys beside him looked equally amused.
One was tall and broad-shouldered with messy brown hair; the other had dyed silver streaks running through dark hair and chewed lazily on a piece of gum.
They weren’t blocking anyone else’s path, just mine.
The black-haired boy smiled.
“You must be Odessa Hopkins.”
Not again.
“Yes.”
He nodded thoughtfully.
“I figured.”
“Do I know you?”
“No.” He placed a hand dramatically against his chest.
“My mistake.” He bowed slightly.
“Paxton Harold.”
He gestured toward the taller boy.
“Ian.”
Ian lifted two fingers in greeting.
“And this idiot,” Paxton gestured to the silver-haired boy, “is Jarrett.”
“I’m deeply hurt,” Jarrett sighed.
“I thought we were friends.”
“We tolerate you,” Paxton said.
“Fair enough.”
I offered a polite smile.
“It was nice meeting you.”
I stepped to the side, and Paxton stepped to the same side, blocking me again.
I blinked.
“Excuse me.”
“I just want to talk,” he said.
“I have class.”
“So do I.” He smiled pleasantly.
“I’ll survive being late.”
“I won’t.”
“You’re the smart one,” he tilted his head.
“I’m sure you’ll catch up.”
“I really need to go,” I said in a serious tone.
Paxton ignored that.
“You transferred from Ashford University.
I heard about your family.” He softened his voice.
“I’m sorry.
That must’ve been difficult.”
“Thank you.”
“I mean it.” He took one slow step closer.
“You’ve had a rough week.”
“I have.”
“So,” his smile widened, “maybe you could use someone showing you around.”
“That’s kind of you,” I kept my tone polite, “but Maya and Naomi already offered.”
His smile faltered for the briefest second.
“They’re nice, but they don’t know this campus like I do.”
“I’m sure.”
He leaned casually against the railing beside me.
“I could introduce you to the right people.”
Ian nodded.
“Paxton’s pretty popular.”
Jarrett grinned.
“Unfortunately.”
Paxton ignored him.
“What do you say?”
“I appreciate the offer,” I smiled apologetically, “but I think I’ll manage.”
For the first time, his smile slipped, and I got the creeps.
“I don’t think you understand.
I’m trying to be friendly.”
“And I’m trying to get to class,” I snapped.
The atmosphere shifted, and Paxton folded his arms.
“So you’re rejecting me?”
“I’m declining your offer,” I said.
“Same thing.”
“No,” I shook my head calmly.
“It isn’t.”
Ian exchanged a glance with Jarrett, and Jarrett quietly muttered, “Here we go.”
Paxton laughed softly.
“You know, I don’t hear ‘no’ very often.”
“Then maybe it’s time you got used to it.”
The smile disappeared completely, and without another word, Paxton stepped directly into my path.
This time there was no way around him.
I tightened my grip on my coffee cup.
“Move.”
I kept my voice calm, but Paxton smiled.
“I just want five minutes.”
“I don’t.”
“You’re making this difficult,” he said.
“No,” I met his eyes.
“You are.”
A faint chuckle escaped Jarrett, and Ian elbowed him.
“What?”
Jarrett shrugged.
“She’s got guts.”
Paxton didn’t seem amused.
“You know…
I’ve been trying to welcome you.”
“And I’ve thanked you.”
“So why are you acting like I’m the bad guy?”
I almost laughed.
He was saying it loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear, trying to make me look unreasonable.
“I’ve said no three times,” I took a slow breath.
His jaw tightened.
“You don’t know who you’re talking to.”
“No,” I replied evenly.
“I know exactly who I’m talking to.”
That seemed to hit a nerve, and his smile vanished completely.
“Listen, girl—”
“No.” I cut him off.
“I don’t owe you my time.”
A murmur spread through the students nearby.
“She’s brave.”
“Or crazy.”
“I heard Paxton doesn’t take rejection well.”
Ian rubbed the back of his neck.
“Paxton, we should go.”
“Not now.” Paxton never looked away from me.
“You’ve got an attitude.”
“I’ve got a class.”
“I can change your schedule.”
“And I can call campus security.”
His eyebrows lifted.
“Would you?”
“If I have to.”
He laughed.
“You really are interesting.”
I didn’t answer.
I tried to step around him again, but his hand grabbed my wrist firmly enough to stop me.
“Let go,” I stared at his hand.
“I’m serious.”
“I just—” he started.
“You heard her.”
The deep voice cut through the silence like a blade.
Paxton’s grip loosened, and every head turned.
A familiar figure stood a few feet away, one hand tucked into the pocket of a black hoodie.
Messy ginger-orange hair, tattooed forearms, and headphones resting around his neck.
Landon Harlway.
He looked like he’d just rolled out of bed, and now that his bruises were gone, he looked breathtaking.
He also looked bored, like he’d rather be anywhere else.
His eyes settled on Paxton’s hand still wrapped around my wrist, then slowly lifted to Paxton’s face.
“Didn’t your parents teach you to respect ‘no’?” His voice was calm.
“So I’ll do it for them.
When someone says no, you let go.”
Paxton released my wrist immediately.
Neither of them spoke; they simply stared at each other.
The tension between them was so thick it felt impossible to breathe.
Ian took one nervous step backward, and Jarrett muttered under his breath, “Let’s just go.”
Around us, the crowd instinctively widened the circle.
Nobody wanted to be standing between those two.
Paxton gave a humorless smile.
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
Landon shrugged.
“You are now.”
Paxton chuckled without humor.
“The stray dog finally decided to bark.”
Landon didn’t react.
He only looked at me for the briefest second.
“Are you okay?”
The question caught me off guard, and I nodded slowly.
“Yeah.”
His eyes returned to Paxton.
“Good.”