"We're done, Maya."
Four words. Four cold, clipped syllables that shattered everything Maya Rivers thought she knew.
Her fingers curled around the edge of the wooden bench as Logan Cross—her boyfriend, or ex-boyfriend now—stood before her like she was a stranger he'd accidentally bumped into. His hands were shoved deep into the pockets of his varsity jacket, his expression unreadable. Casual. Cold.
"What?" she asked, her voice brittle.
He didn't even blink. "You heard me."
They were in the middle of the student courtyard. It was lunchtime, which meant the stone benches were packed, the smell of fries wafted from the café, and laughter echoed under the clear sky. But none of that registered anymore. All she could hear was the sound of her heartbeat thudding in her ears.
"You're breaking up with me?" Her voice was lower now, strained. "Here?"
"I didn't mean for it to be public," he said, eyes flicking around like she was the problem. "But you kept saying we needed to talk. So let's talk."
Maya stood slowly, her breath shaky. "So, what—this is your way of making sure I don't make a scene?"
"I'm trying to be honest."
"Honest?" Her voice cracked. "You slept at my place last night."
He looked away.
Her eyes followed his gaze—and landed on the girl.
Standing a few feet behind him. Curvy. Short skirt. Hair glossy. Her lip gloss caught the sun, and her smirk deepened the second Maya's eyes met hers.
Something inside her stomach flipped violently.
"You cheated," Maya whispered.
"It's not cheating if it was already over in my head."
Maya stared at him. "Wow."
He shrugged. "Look, you're intense, Maya. It's always drama with you. I just want peace."
"Oh," she said, breathless with fury. "So now I'm too much?"
"Don't do this."
"No, Logan. You don't get to dump me in public and then tell me not to react."
"Keep your voice down."
A small crowd had gathered. Whispered voices surrounded them like fog.
Maya's throat burned.
She wanted to scream. She wanted to throw her drink in his face. But more than anything, she wanted to disappear.
She looked him in the eyes. "You are a coward."
He exhaled, already turning back toward the girl. "I'm done here."
As he walked away, that girl reached for his hand—and he let her.
Maya stood there like a fool.
Two years. Two years of shared secrets, of late-night phone calls, of telling him things she'd never told anyone. Gone. All of it discarded like trash.
A few students were filming now. Others were just watching with wide eyes.
And then—
A new voice cut through the noise.
"You're really going to let him walk away like that?"
Low. Smooth. Confident.
Maya turned—and froze.
Damien Cross.
Logan's older brother.
Everyone at the university knew him, but no one really did. He was the guy who didn't party, didn't gossip, didn't play games. Rumors followed him like shadows—about fights he won, girls he left, enemies he made.
He was dangerous. Cold. Off-limits.
And devastatingly attractive.
"Excuse me?" she said.
He stood with one hand tucked into the pocket of his black jeans, his jacket slung casually over his shoulder. His dark eyes held no pity, no curiosity—just an unsettling calm.
"You let him control the story," he said. "He gets to cheat and play the victim. Now everyone's going to say you were too emotional. Too clingy. That you chased him away."
She blinked. "And you care… why?"
"I don't."
"Then why are you here?"
"Because I hate watching people lose without fighting back."
She stared at him. "And what would you suggest I do? Walk over there and punch him in the face?"
Damien tilted his head, then gave her a lazy smirk. "Too messy."
"Then what?"
A pause.
Then—
"Kiss me."
Her heart stopped.
"What?"
"You heard me."
Maya let out a stunned breath. "Are you insane?"
"Probably."
"You want me to use you to make Logan jealous?"
"No," he said smoothly. "I want you to make Logan furious."
She opened her mouth, but before she could form a word, he stepped forward.
His hand slid to her waist.
She gasped. "Damien—"
Too late.
He kissed her.
It wasn't a soft, testing kiss. It wasn't gentle or hesitant.
It was a storm.
His mouth claimed hers like he had every right to. Confident. Bold. His other hand slipped to the back of her neck, tilting her just slightly, deepening the kiss until her thoughts unraveled completely.
Maya froze.
Her body tensed—
Then melted.
Her fingers curled into the leather of his jacket. Her knees nearly buckled. She didn't kiss him back, not really—but she didn't stop him either.
Whispers erupted around them. Gasps. The sound of a phone clattering. A girl somewhere shrieked, "Oh my god—he's kissing Logan's ex!"
When Damien finally pulled away, she was breathless.
Her lips tingled.
Her thoughts were wreckage.
He leaned close, his voice so low it danced along her skin. "If you're going to fall, Maya… fall for the right brother."
And then he turned and walked away like he hadn't just exploded her entire life in sixty seconds flat.
Maya stood rooted to the spot.
The crowd didn't matter anymore.
The world had narrowed to the taste of him, the heat still lingering on her skin, and the sound of her own heartbeat crashing in her ears.
What the hell just happened?
—
By the time she reached her dorm, her phone was blowing up.
Claire:Was that real?? Damien Cross kissed you???
Brianna:That was… HOT. But also, what???
Logan:So now you're making out with my brother? Real classy, Maya.
Group Chat (Media Girls):BREAKING: Damien Cross KISSES Logan's Ex Maya in front of half the courtyard!!
Maya flung her phone onto the bed.
She touched her lips, still warm, still tingling.
It was supposed to be revenge, right?
But why did it feel like something else entirely?