The Basketball Incident
The afternoon sun bathed Starlight University in a golden glow. Students crowded the wide courtyard, laughing and chatting, the sound of rolling wheels from suitcases mixing with cheerful voices and the rhythmic thump of basketballs from the nearby court.
Ava adjusted her backpack strap nervously as she and Lina walked through the main pathway that led toward the orientation building. Her eyes wandered across the campus—marble benches, sculpted fountains, and polished cars lined like trophies. Everything gleamed as if to remind her she didn't quite belong here.
"This place looks like a movie set," Lina murmured, spinning around with wide eyes. "I feel like I should've worn heels."
Ava chuckled softly. "Yeah, and maybe a price tag around our necks to remind everyone we're not supposed to be here."
Lina elbowed her playfully. "Hey, don't say that. We worked hard to get here. Well… your mom did too. You deserve this."
Ava smiled faintly but didn't reply. Her mom's tired eyes from last night's farewell dinner flashed through her mind. All that sacrifice, all that debt—it weighed heavy, like invisible luggage strapped to her heart.
Across the courtyard, laughter erupted again. A group of boys in designer sweatshirts and gold watches played basketball near the sports building. Even from afar, their presence drew attention—girls slowed their steps, whispering and giggling behind manicured hands.
"Who are they?" Lina asked, curious.
A student passing by overheard and grinned. "That's the Blake gang—Ryan Blake and his crew. His dad basically funds half the university. No one messes with them."
Ava followed the direction of the boy's nod. She spotted him—tall, tanned, wearing a white shirt rolled at the sleeves, his hair tousled perfectly like he'd just stepped out of a commercial. Ryan dribbled lazily, his expression half-bored, half-amused. Every move screamed effortless confidence.
He wasn't just playing basketball. He was commanding attention.
"Rich boys and their games," Ava muttered under her breath.
Lina gave her a warning look. "Don't start, Ava. Let's just focus on finding the administration office."
But Ava's gaze lingered for a second too long—just long enough to see Ryan's smirk as one of his friends passed him the ball again.
---
Ryan's phone buzzed in his pocket. He ignored it. He was in his element here, surrounded by his crew—Ethan, Caleb, and Marcus. They'd been friends since childhood, bonded by money and mischief.
"Hey, watch this," Ethan called, passing the ball high toward Ryan.
Ryan caught it effortlessly, spun once, and shot with a lazy flick. The ball arced perfectly—except it didn't hit the net.
It veered off course.
Straight toward a girl crossing the path.
---
The sound came before the pain.
Thud.
Ava froze. Something hard smacked the side of her head, sending her books flying out of her hands. The ball rolled across the pavement, bumping gently against her shoes.
Gasps echoed around the courtyard.
Lina was the first to reach her. "Ava! Are you okay?"
Ava blinked rapidly, rubbing the side of her face. It stung like fire. Slowly, she turned—and saw him walking toward her.
Ryan Blake. The basketball boy.
Her heart pounded—not from attraction, but from fury. He wasn't even running to apologize. He was strolling, hands in pockets, like nothing serious had happened.
He picked up the ball from beside her shoe, straightened, and looked down at her through those annoyingly calm eyes. "You should watch where you're going."
Ava's jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"
He spun the ball on his finger. "You were standing in the middle of the path. Kind of your fault."
Lina's eyes widened. "She was walking by! You hit her!"
Ryan shrugged. "It's just a ball. You'll live."
Something inside Ava snapped. Heat rushed to her face, her humiliation turning into sharp anger. Around them, students had stopped to watch—rich kids with smirks, a few whispering as if this was free entertainment.
"Apologize," Ava said, her voice shaking but firm.
Ryan raised a brow, tilting his head slightly. "For what?"
"For being a jerk!" she fired back. "You hit me in the head, and you can't even say sorry?"
Caleb, one of Ryan's friends, chuckled. "Whoa, someone's got a temper."
Ryan gave her a half-smile, mocking and lazy. "Look, I didn't mean to hit you, but I don't do drama over accidents. Relax, poor girl."
The words hit harder than the ball.
Poor girl.
The crowd murmured. Some laughed quietly. Lina stepped forward, her face red. "You don't talk to her like that!"
But Ava didn't wait. Before she could think twice, before reason could stop her, she stepped closer—close enough to see the surprise flicker across Ryan's face—and kicked his leg.
Not hard enough to injure, but hard enough to make him flinch backward.
"Ow—what the hell!" Ryan barked.
Ava glared up at him. "That's for being an arrogant idiot."
Laughter rippled through the crowd—shocked, disbelieving laughter. The poor girl just kicked Ryan Blake. The golden boy of Starlight. No one ever stood up to him.
Ryan's friends froze, then broke into grins.
"Damn, Blake," Marcus teased, smirking. "You just got your ego kicked."
Ethan snorted. "Guess money doesn't protect you from angry freshmen."
Ryan's jaw clenched. Embarrassment burned in his chest like acid. He could feel everyone's eyes on him, could hear the laughter echoing across the court. His hand tightened around the basketball.
"Watch yourself," he hissed quietly at Ava. "You have no idea who you're messing with."
Ava crossed her arms. "Maybe you should tell your money to say sorry for you next time."
That did it.
Ryan's temper flared, but before he could respond, the administration officer's voice rang from the distance. "All new students, please report inside for registration!"
The crowd slowly dispersed, still murmuring about the scene. Lina grabbed Ava's arm. "Come on. Don't give him more reason to explode."
Ava allowed herself to be dragged away, her heart still racing. She didn't regret it. Maybe she'd just made an enemy on her first day—but she wasn't going to let anyone, rich or not, humiliate her.
Behind them, Ryan stood motionless, his friends still laughing.
Ethan slapped his shoulder. "Man, she got you good. I didn't think anyone had the guts to touch Ryan Blake."
Ryan's glare silenced him instantly. "Shut up."
He threw the ball to the ground so hard it bounced off the court and rolled away. His jaw tightened as he watched Ava disappear through the administration doors.
Marcus whistled. "You planning to let that go?"
Ryan smirked coldly. "Not a chance."
Caleb grinned. "Oh no, she's done for."
Ryan adjusted his sunglasses, masking the storm brewing in his eyes. "No one embarrasses me in front of the whole school. Not her, not anyone."
He turned and walked off, his friends following behind. But for the first time in a long while, his mind wasn't on the next party or game—it was stuck on a girl with fire in her eyes and a kick that bruised his pride.
And somehow, that made him even angrier.
---
Inside the administration hall, Ava sat beside Lina, trying to steady her breath. The staff was calling names, handing out student cards, but her focus drifted.
Lina leaned closer. "Ava, I know you were angry, but… kicking the richest guy on campus? Maybe not the best idea."
Ava rubbed her temple. "I know. But he had it coming."
"Still," Lina whispered. "People were watching. You don't want to be that girl—the one everyone's talking about."
Ava sighed. "Too late for that."
She glanced at the open window. Outside, she could still hear faint echoes of laughter from the basketball court. Something in her gut told her this wasn't over. The way he'd looked at her—cold, calculating—it wasn't just embarrassment. It was a promise.
A promise of payback.
---
Meanwhile, in the Blake mansion later that evening, Ryan stood in front of the mirror, replaying the scene in his head. His father's voice echoed faintly from downstairs, scolding him about discipline and legacy, but Ryan barely heard.
His reflection stared back at him, the mark of humiliation clearer than any bruise. A poor girl had kicked him—in front of everyone. The thought made his chest tighten with something that wasn't quite anger, but it wasn't forgiveness either.
Ethan's voice replayed in his mind, teasing: "Man, she got you good."
Ryan smirked faintly. "We'll see about that."
---
The storm between Ava Thompson and Ryan Blake had only just begun.
And Starlight University was about to learn what happens when pride meets fire.