The first day of university was supposed to be a clean slate. A fresh beginning. A sparkling new chapter of Amelia Reyes' life.
In her head, she'd already written how it would go: she'd walk into Westbridge University like she belonged there, smile confidently at her classmates, and maybe just maybe strike up a conversation that didn't end in awkward silence.
Reality, of course, had other plans.
Amelia should have known things were going too well that morning. She'd managed to wake up on time despite tossing and turning all night. She hadn't burned her toast. The bus driver had actually waited for her instead of pulling away the second she came running. And to top it off, she'd even gotten a seat by the window.
For once, the universe seemed to be on her side.
Naturally, that illusion shattered in less than four minutes.
She'd been clutching her caramel latte like it was holy water, balancing it in one hand while the other dragged her overstuffed tote bag against her shoulder. The bag was heavy enough to qualify as a weapon stuffed with notebooks, pens, her laptop, and a "just in case" umbrella her mom had insisted she bring.
All Amelia wanted was to find her classroom in peace. That was when it happened.
She rounded the corner into the humanities building—and collided with someone.
A solid someone.
The impact jolted her arm, and before she could react, her coffee launched out of her cup in a perfect arc, splattering across the stranger's hoodie and dripping dramatically onto the floor.
Amelia froze in horror. "Oh my god—I'm so sorry!"
The stranger looked down at the mess soaking into his clothes, then at her. His expression wasn't angry. If anything, he seemed entertained.
He raised an eyebrow, his mouth twitching into the kind of smirk reserved for people who were far too confident in themselves.
"Well," he drawled, glancing at the caramel stains spreading across his chest, "I didn't realize tuition included a free coffee shower."
Amelia's face burned. "I—I didn't see you coming! I swear I wasn't—my bag is too heavy—"
Her words tangled together like a knot she couldn't undo. She fumbled with her tote, yanking out a crumpled pack of tissues. In her rush, half of them fell to the floor. She grabbed one and started waving it uselessly at his hoodie.
He tilted his head, watching her flail. "What's that supposed to do? Fan the stain away?"
Amelia blinked, heat rising to her cheeks. "No! I mean—I thought—oh, forget it!"
The stranger chuckled, brushing a hand over the damp fabric. "Relax, freshman. I'm kidding."
Freshman. The word stung. How did he know? Did she have "new student" stamped on her forehead? She hated how obvious she must have looked—wide-eyed, nervous, still gripping her campus map like it was a survival guide.
She straightened her shoulders, trying to recover some dignity. "Well… I said I was sorry. What else do you want?"
He grinned, leaning closer. "You could buy me another coffee."
Amelia gaped. Was he serious?
Before she could respond, he gave her a mock salute, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and walked away without even asking her name.
Just like that.
Amelia stood frozen, surrounded by the sticky evidence of her clumsiness.
"Great," she muttered under her breath. "Day one and I've already been branded the campus barista."
Later That Day
By the time she found her lecture hall, Amelia was a bundle of nerves. She slipped into a seat in the middle row, hoping to blend in. The room buzzed with chatter as students compared schedules and swapped introductions.
She opened her notebook, pretending to review it. The faint scent of caramel still lingered on her clothes, haunting her.
"Maybe no one will notice," she whispered to herself.
The chair beside her scraped against the floor. Someone dropped into it with casual confidence.
Amelia looked up.
It was him.
The coffee casualty.
Her stomach plummeted.
"You've got to be kidding me," she muttered.
He leaned back in his seat, smirking. "Well, well. My personal barista. Didn't expect to see you again so soon."
Amelia groaned. "Why are you sitting here?"
"Why not? It's a free country. Plus, this seat was empty." He stretched his long legs under the desk. "Unless you've got it reserved for more victims."
She buried her face in her notebook. "This is a nightmare."
He chuckled. "Relax, I'm just messing with you."
She peeked at him from behind her notebook. Dark hair fell messily across his forehead, his jawline was unfairly sharp, and his smile… well, it was the kind of smile that screamed trouble.
"I don't even know your name," she muttered.
"Adrian," he said smoothly. Then, leaning closer, "And you're Amelia. Right?"
She blinked. "How—"
He tapped the corner of her notebook, where her name was scrawled in her messy handwriting.
Her face heated again. "That's… not creepy at all."
Adrian just laughed.
The Professor Arrives
The chatter quieted as the professor entered, a tall man with glasses perched on his nose. He launched straight into the syllabus, outlining assignments, grading policies, and the dire consequences of missing deadlines.
Amelia tried to focus, scribbling notes, but she could feel Adrian watching her. Occasionally, he leaned over to make a sarcastic comment about the professor's monotone voice or the "soul-crushing weight" of the reading list.
Despite herself, Amelia's lips twitched. He was… kind of funny. Infuriating, yes, but funny.
At one point, when the professor emphasized how late submissions would receive an automatic zero, Adrian whispered, "Guess I'll see you at the makeup exam."
Amelia stifled a laugh that earned her a sharp glare from the professor. She sank lower in her seat, wishing the floor would swallow her whole.
After Class
When the lecture finally ended, Amelia shoved her notebook into her bag and bolted for the door. She needed space. Air. Anything that wasn't Adrian's teasing grin.
But of course, he caught up to her in the hallway.
"You walk fast," he said, effortlessly matching her pace.
"Maybe because I'm trying to get away from you," she muttered.
"Ouch." He clutched his chest dramatically. "You wound me."
Amelia rolled her eyes. "Look, thanks for not making a big deal about the coffee earlier, but we don't have to talk. Really."
"Too late," Adrian said, grinning. "We're classmates now. Looks like you're stuck with me."
She groaned.
This semester was going to be very long.