Axel pov
I had perfected the art of the calm, early-morning coffee run. Nothing could ruin it. Nothing. That is, until she crashed into the café like a one-woman storm.
Backpack swinging, papers half falling out, eyes darting like she was juggling three disasters at once…She was chaos wrapped in charm—messy brown hair that reached her waist, wide green eyes, and a fire in her that made her impossible to ignore.
It hit me. Not just a drop. The full, cinematic, slow-motion disaster kind of hit me. My carefully curated shirt, my perfectly curated morning… ruined.
She froze. Wide-eyed, panicked, hands flailing like she was trying to grab every stray coffee molecule. "I—I'm so sorry!" she sputtered, and I had to pause. Somehow, her panic was… adorable. Frustratingly adorable.
"You didn't see it coming?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm, though I couldn't stop the corner of my mouth from twitching upward.
"I… I swear! I'm usually not… hazardous like this!" Her words tumbled over each other in a rush, and she looked so embarrassed that I almost wanted to let her off. Almost.
Luca asshole — in-mischief — was trying not to laugh somewhere behind her. I ignored him.
"I… I'll pay for cleaning! I promise!" she insisted, grabbing napkins like they were life preservers.
I tilted my head, studying her. She had this chaotic energy that somehow demanded attention without trying. Her hair was a little messy, her backpack stuffed too full, her eyes wide with panic and guilt, and… she looked like someone who would be impossible to ignore.
"Relax," I said finally, softer this time. "Not everyone ruins my morning before 9 a.m. Consider yourself… lucky."
She blinked, catching the tiniest flicker of amusement in my eyes. "Lucky?" she repeated, uncertain.
"Yes," I said, smirking just slightly. "Lucky. And also… interesting. Dangerous, maybe, but interesting."
Her cheeks flushed, and she looked ready to argue, but the words seemed to get stuck somewhere between her brain and her mouth. I could tell she was smart, quick, and stubborn — all the traits that made someone simultaneously infuriating and fascinating.
Good. That was exactly the effect she had on me.
As she fumbled with more napkins, muttering apologies under her breath, I realized something I didn't expect: I didn't hate her. Not even a little.
Enemies? Maybe. A little irritating? Sure. But intriguing? Absolutely. And for the first time in a while, I was genuinely curious about someone I hadn't even known for five minutes.
Even drenched in coffee and panic, there was something in the way she fumbled with those napkins, cheeks flushed, that made me want to tease her endlessly… and maybe see what other trouble she'd get into if I let her. Dangerous, infuriating, and somehow utterly magnetic—she had my full attention, whether I wanted it or not.
Ava s pov
Finally, the last lecture ended. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and started the walk back to the dorm, trying to untangle my thoughts. Somehow, classes had flown by, but my brain kept replaying one thing: Axel.
By the time I reached our dorm, Emma was lounging on her bed, earbuds in, scrolling on her phone. She glanced up as I flopped onto my bed, sighing dramatically.
"Rough first day?" she asked, eyebrow raised.
"You have no idea," I said, tossing my notebook onto the desk. "So, get this: I walk into law class, right? And guess who's sitting right next to me? Axel."
Emma's eyes went wide. "No way. That's… that's the most hottest and popular guy!!"
"Yes!" I groaned. "The one who made my morning a nightmare. And now I'm stuck next to him for the entire lecture. He's… irritating. And infuriating. And somehow… ridiculously charming."
Emma grinned. "Charming? Ava, admit it—you've got a little crush."
"I do not!" I snapped, though my cheeks warmed at her knowing smirk. "He's annoying. And condescending. And probably enjoys making me miserable. But… okay, maybe he's a little… interesting."
Emma laughed, nudging me with her elbow. "Interesting? That's exactly how it starts. Be careful, Ava."
I groaned and flopped back onto my pillows. "I swear, this campus is going to drive me insane. And that Axel? He's probably aware of it and loving every second."