The girls had woken up late as they all slept late more like slept off during the movie. They rushed around the dorm in preparation of classes.
"Why didn't you wake us earlier" Lena asked putting on her shoes, "actually I did but you ouldn't budge" Ava replied picking up her keys.
The girls drove to the campus and they all separated promising to see at lunch.
The midday sun fell across the quad, students scattering between lecture halls and the cafeteria. Ethan and Marco walked side by side, their backpacks slung casually, though neither of them looked like the type who cared about midterms or professors. They wore the disguise of students well enough—hoodies, tired eyes, notebooks tucked under one arm—but there was a weight in their stride that set them apart.
"Remind me again," Marco muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets, "why we're even here when we already make more money than half these kids' parents?"
"Because Dante says appearances matter," Ethan replied evenly. "And Uncle agrees."
Marco groaned but didn't argue.
Across the lawn, laughter caught their attention. Mia sat at one of the outdoor tables, Ava and her two dorm-mates beside her. Three other guys had pulled up chairs—fellow students, harmless, all bright smiles and easy jokes. Lena leaned forward, teasing one of them, while Clara shook her head, pretending to be annoyed.
Ava laughed too, softer but genuine. She was leaning on the table, her hair slipping over her shoulder as she listened. Ethan's eyes lingered longer than they should have.
"Let's grab Mia," Marco said, already changing direction. His tone was casual, but Ethan knew it was a convenient excuse. They never liked Mia mixing too freely, even if these boys were nothing but classmates.
As they approached, the laughter dimmed. Presence—that was what Ethan and Marco carried with them. The kind that made conversations falter and people sit up straighter.
"Little sister," Marco drawled, resting his arm on the back of Mia's chair. "You forget you've got family waiting?"
Mia rolled her eyes. "Relax, Marco. We were just eating."
The guys shifted uncomfortably, glancing at each other. One tried to make a joke, but it fell flat. Ava's gaze flicked up then—steady, curious, not intimidated like the others. Ethan caught it and, for the first time, let a small smile slip.
"You always scare her friends off?" Ava asked quietly, not with sharpness but with calm amusement.
Ethan tilted his head, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Only the ones worth scaring."
A beat of silence passed. It wasn't hostile, but it was charged. Ava's lips curved, not quite a smile, but enough. She turned back to her food, dismissing him gracefully, and Ethan found himself unsettled by the ease with which she did it.
Marco gave Mia a light tap on the shoulder. "Come on. Dante's looking for you."
Mia sighed, gathering her thingsand saying bye to her friends. The group scattered back into their chatter as though the air hadn't just shifted. But Ethan knew it had. He could feel Ava's presence at his back as he walked away, like a thread pulling taut.