Lia's POV
By Friday, I had already developed a routine wake up at seven, jog around the quad, review class readings and pretend my roommate didn't exist.
It was working until the bass started shaking the apartment walls.
I opened my bedroom door to chaos. The living room was packed with strangers, music blaring, beer bottles lined on every surface. Someone had hung a strobe light from the ceiling fan, and it flickered like a seizure waiting to happen.
And in the middle of it all of course was Jaxon Reed.
He leaned against the couch, laughing at something a girl whispered in his ear. His smile was lethal, his posture lazy, like he owned every pair of eyes on him. Which apparently he did.
I marched straight into the storm.
"Jaxon!" I snapped.
He turned, grin widening when he saw me. "Well, look who decided to join the fun. Didn't think rules allowed it."
"This is my apartment too," I hissed. "We agreed no parties."
He tilted his head. "Correction. You agreed I just didn't sign the contract."
Before I could retort, someone shoved a red solo cup into my hand. "Drink?" a stranger asked, slurring already.
"I don't
"She doesn't," Jaxon cut in smoothly, plucking the cup away before I could finish. His eyes flicked toward me, sharp for the briefest moment, before he turned back to his crowd. "Respect the lady, boys. She's too pure for this circus."
I should've been relieved. Instead, heat crawled up my neck. Pure? He said it like a challenge.
An hour later, I was cornered in the kitchen by a guy whose name I didn't remember. He was drunk too drunk and leaning way too close.
"Come on," he slurred. "Just one dance. You look like you need to loosen up."
"I said no." I stepped back, but he followed.
"Don't be like that. Just
"Problem here?"
The voice sliced through the noise. Jaxon appeared, eyes darker than I'd ever seen them. He didn't raise his voice, didn't have to the guy instantly stepped back.
"She's not interested," Jaxon said flatly. "Move along."
The drunk guy mumbled something under his breath and disappeared into the crowd.
Silence stretched between us. The strobe light flickered across Jaxon's face, shadows carving his cheekbones, the smirk gone.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
I nodded, heart thudding far too loud for comfort. "I could've handled it."
"Sure," he said, but his gaze lingered on me like he didn't believe it. Like he wasn't convinced I wasn't about to break.
And then because he couldn't help himself his mouth curved into that infuriating grin. "So, tell me sweetheart… which rule covers me saving you?"
I glared at him. "Rule Six. Don't gloat."
He laughed, low and rough and for the first time since moving in, I didn't know if I hated him or if I was in serious danger of the opposite.