Chapter 1 – Celine
The library was my favorite part of the school. I went there every day to study. To most people, I lived a rather boring life, and everything about me revolved around getting my degree.
As a twenty-one-year-old business student determined to make a name for herself, I couldn’t afford some basic luxuries like partying and clubbing. Not that I didn’t want to, but those things just weren’t my priorities.
My fear of failure superseded my drive to engage in fleeting fun that may or may not ruin my life. Maybe I was just paranoid. Maybe I was too uptight. Stiff. Rigid. Maybe I needed to loosen up a bit. Maybe.
However, at the end of the day, my studies would always come first.
With my AirPods plugged in, I strolled down the crowded hallway, lost in the music. The world around me had faded into the background, the noise drowned by the melody that kept my mind sharp.
My eyes were fixed ahead, my spine straight as I weaved through the crowd of students chatting and laughing. My backpack hung off my shoulder, and a pile of books sat balanced on my right arm.
I glanced at my watch, estimating how much time I would spend in the library. There was a lot to cover, especially with exams quickly approaching. I was still planning the next few hours when I turned a corner and ran into someone.
The sudden collision caused my books to fall to the floor, and my AirPods clattered at my feet. My breath caught as I looked up, a flicker of anger flashing in my eyes.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you coming.” A smirk lined the corners of his lips.
“It’s fine,” I said, my tone flat and dismissive.
It was Steve, one of the popular guys in school, who thought he could get any girl he wanted. And unfortunately, to some extent, he could. He was good-looking, with nice, curly, dark hair and a pair of seductive blue eyes.
Steve had it all: height, looks, fame, and charm. Because of that, girls were always throwing themselves at him. Personally, I never saw what other girls saw in him. He was handsome. So what? Why the hype? To me, he was just a regular guy who was so full of himself.
I bent over and began picking up my stuff, one book at a time.
“Lemme help you with that.” He crouched down, his gaze lingering on me.
I ignored him, quietly grabbing my stuff and hoping he would just leave me alone.
Steve retrieved my AirPods while I collected the last book from the floor. Together, we straightened again, his gaze still lingering on me.
“Here you go.” He handed them to me. “I hope they still work.”
For your sake, me too.
I accepted the devices and gently put them back in my ears. Luckily, they hadn’t been damaged from the fall.
“And?” He cocked his head to the side, as if waiting for my feedback.
“Works perfectly.”
“Ah, thank God.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “For a second there, I thought I was gonna have to face your wrath.”
My wrath? What does that even mean?
I curled my lips into a faint grin. “If you don’t mind, I gotta go now.”
“Wait.” He blocked my path, his eyes pinned on me. “Uh…I’m throwing a party this weekend.” The slight pause came when he handed me a flyer. “I’d love to see you there.”
“You’re wasting your time; she’s not gonna come,” a girl chipped in while passing by.
Her friend laughed. “Celine is allergic to fun.”
The two girls giggled as they disappeared into the nearby classroom.
“Don’t listen to them,” he said, wearing a soft grin.