Theo's POV
"I am falling slowly in love with you…"
What the hell.
We're rock people. Heavy. Loud. Unapologetic. Not this mellow, slow-burn love-song crap. Especially Damon—he'd rather scream into a mic than hum along to something sappy. But here he was, strumming it out like he believed every cliché lyric.
Love songs. Gross. And the ones who write them? Even worse. It's not that deep.
"Turn it down, Damon. Those lyrics are headache material," I muttered, rubbing my temples.
"That's probably because you fell in the pool," Gregg snorted.
"With Melina," Damon added, shooting me a side-eye.
I glared. "You didn't have to point it out. I know."
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop the smile threatening to betray me. Close call.
We'd rushed straight to the music hall after my little unplanned swim, but I couldn't shake her face. The way her eyes squinted underwater, her lips pursed, cheeks puffed with air.
Her skin against my palm.
How the hell do I get this girl out of my head—out of my body?
Apparently, I said that last part louder than intended, because Damon snickered.
Hilarious. If only he knew what it felt like—having someone hijack your thoughts, your routines, your everything.
---
It was the band's anniversary. Something we'd started as a joke, now a small legend on campus. I was vocals. Not because I loved singing—more because I loved screaming heavy lyrics over pounding drums and shredding guitars. The one time we tried a soft track? People lost their minds. Applauded like crazy.
Boring. Not like I hated singing, just… I hated that.
"So what do we do for the anniversary?" Gregg asked.
"Drinks and games?" Damon offered.
"Sounds good!" Ellie piped in, though no one asked. She had a habit of forcing herself into our circle.
"We should invite Zara and her friends," Gregg said.
"Nope. Never." My voice cut through sharp.
I couldn't risk Melina's physical presence on top of her already haunting me in my head.
A crack of thunder backed me up like the universe agreed. A moment later, rain.
Hands in my pockets, I drifted toward the corridor, leaning against the railing, staring out.
Damn, I hated rain. The drenched clothes, the sticky skin, the whole depressing vibe.
And then I saw her.
Melina.
She stood alone, tilted face up to the sky, a tiny smile playing on her lips. Her lashes fluttered closed when the wind shifted and the rain kissed her cheeks.
Beautiful. Annoyingly beautiful.
I glanced to my side—and of course, Gregg was staring at her too, smiling.
Dear Lord.
I watched her run back into her classroom. And I couldn't help wondering—what the hell was going through her head?
---
Melina's POV
Rain.
Cool, soft, comforting rain. The wind tugging playfully, the world washed clean. How could anyone hate rain?
I stretched out my palm, catching droplets and watching them burst against my skin. Simple. Beautiful.
I needed to write that down.
I ran into class to grab my notebook and pen.
Clutching it, I flipped it open, grabbed my pen—
And… sigh. Gone. Whatever I'd wanted to say just slipped from my brain. Typical.
"Is Zara here?"
That voice. Too familiar.
I looked up, and there he was—Theo. Of all people. If he was looking for Zara, why was he staring at me? Idiot.
I bent over my notebook, scribbling nonsense before I forgot everything.
"You're ignoring me," he said softly.
The air shifted. He'd moved closer. Too close. Leaning in, his breath brushed my ear. My pulse jumped.
"No, why would I—" I started, but his gaze dropped.
"My name?" he smirked.
Hell. I'd scribbled it. His name.
"'Theo'? Hm? Crush?" he teased.
"In your dreams. You're not even my type," I snapped back.
A lie buzzer blared in my head, but who cared, as long as he didn't hear it.
"What are you doing here, Theo?"
The answer came from behind him—Zara, striding back from wherever she'd gone. Her lipstick was smudged. Odd.
"Looking for you," Theo said smoothly, straightening up.
Zara's eyes narrowed. "Looking for me? Looked like you were about to kiss Melina."
WHAT.
Theo laughed it off. "Nice joke, sis."
"Then why are you here?"
"No particular reason." He gave me one last glance before walking away.
Zara frowned. "He's never come looking for me like that. Weird."
I stared at her smudged lipstick, thoughts spiraling. Dove and Zara? But Dove already had a boyfriend.
Still… gasp. Scandalous.
"You look funny. Why are you staring at me like you've seen a ghost?" Zara asked suddenly.
"Your lipstick is smudged. You're the one who looks funny."
For a moment, panic flashed across her face. Uh-huh. Scandal. Then she quickly wiped her mouth clean.
I walked off, leaving her to panic. Hehe. Stupid girl.
I checked my schedule—next up, Financial Management.
Dragging myself into class, I took a seat. And of course, this was the same class I shared with Mr. Theo the Great.
Why wasn't he here yet? Probably skipping.
"Hey, didn't know you take this class too!"
I jumped. That was sudden.
Gregg.
I'd seen him around with the guys, but this was the first time he'd spoken to me directly.
"Yes. I am," I said carefully.
Gregg dropped into the seat beside me. Theo still hadn't arrived.
"So, uh… you like finance?" he asked, drumming his fingers on the desk.
"I tolerate finance," I replied, hugging my notebook closer.
He laughed. "Fair enough. I mostly survive it."
The professor still hadn't walked in, and the room buzzed with chatter. Gregg leaned closer.
"By the way… that thing with Theo earlier. He was definitely looking for you, not Zara."
My head snapped up. "What? No. He said he was looking for Zara."
Gregg lips thinned like he knew something I didn't. "Theo doesn't look for Zara. Trust me. If he walked all the way into that classroom, he had other reasons."
My stomach flipped. Heat crept into my cheeks. I quickly buried my face in my notebook.
Gregg stayed silent. I don't know why he is telling that to me and for what.
And then the door swung open.
Theo walked in.
Late, damp hair pushed back, hand in his pocket ofcherry.eyes scanning the room like he didn't care who noticed. His gaze landed on Gregg sitting next to me—then sharpened.
Oh no.
He walked straight over, steps steady, jaw tight.
Gregg waved casually. "Yo, man, over here!"
Theo's eyes flicked from Gregg to me. For a second, the air between us tightened, heavy with something unspoken.
I looked away quickly, pretending to reread my notes.
But my pulse? It was pounding loud enough to drown out the rain outside.
---
Theo's POV
Classrooms.
Fluorescent lights. Chalk dust.
And Gregg. Sitting next to her.
I don't know what it was—jealousy, irritation, whatever—but the sight of him laughing with Melina burned worse than the rain I hated.
"Seat's taken?" I asked, voice flat, eyes on Gregg.
He grinned like an idiot. "Not really. Want to join?"
"No," I said, already pulling the chair beside Melina out. Metal scraped against tile, and she flinched.
Her pen froze halfway through a word. Her knuckles whitened around it.
Good. At least I wasn't the only one on edge.
The professor started droning on about debt ratios, capital budgeting, all the stuff no one cared about. Except Melina—she sat straighter, pretending to take notes, though her pen barely moved.
I leaned back, arms folded, watching her from the corner of my eye.
"Debt is commitment," the professor said. "And commitment comes with risk."
My lips twitched. If only he knew how perfectly that applied to me right now.
"Are you going to keep staring at me?" she hissed under her breath.
I smirked. "Depends. Are you going to keep pretending to write?"
Her pen slipped. She bit her lip. And damn it, my eyes went there before I could stop myself.
I looked away, jaw tight.
Why her? Out of everyone? Why the girl who smiles at rain like it's some gift from God? Why the one who laughs at nothing, scribbles my name without realizing, and makes Gregg—Gregg—smile like he's got a chance?
Focus, Theo. Get your head back.
But it was too late. Because when she shifted, brushing her arm against mine by accident, I knew—
I wasn't getting my head back. Not anytime soon.
--------
To be continued.