It was an early Monday morning—the kind Ella hated the most. She sat in the coffee shop, chin resting on her palm, waiting for her order. College awaited her later in the day, and the thought alone made her sigh.
"Why is life so hard?" she muttered under her breath, her gaze drifting toward the window.
Then, suddenly, her eyes widened. Her hand dropped from her face as she straightened, almost in shock at what she saw. A guy was walking toward the café, dressed entirely in black—black collared T-shirt, black jacket, black pants, and shoes to match, like his entire wardrobe consisted of nothing but that one color. He was tall, easily six feet, with a lean muscular build. His dark hair was combed back in an elegant, wavy style, and his eyes—jet black, framed with lashes longer than hers—made him stand out even more.
Ella's friend Anna noticed the way she was staring at him, practically with her mouth open.
"That's Elliot," Anna said dryly, raising an eyebrow. "The dashing boy you're drooling over."
"You know him?" Ella asked, not tearing her eyes away from him for a second.
"Everyone knows him. He's the campus red flag. If I were you, I'd stop right there." Anna scoffed, crossing her arms.
"Why? What's so bad about him?" Ella asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
Anna rolled her eyes. "He's not exactly evil, but he's a player. Never sticks to one girl. Thinks way too highly of himself—ego like the devil himself, I swear."
Ella tilted her head, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "Hmm… doesn't look that bad to me."
Her tone gave away her interest, which only made Anna groan. "Oh no. Don't even think about it. You just moved here. Don't get involved with him." She gave Ella a firm nudge on the arm.
Ella had only recently shifted to this town, leaving her old life behind for her studies. Anna, her childhood friend, had been here longer—ever since her father had landed a better job. Unlike Anna, Ella was still wide-eyed and trusting. She carried an almost naïve belief that everyone was good at heart—or at the very least, that they could be changed for the better. Her dream, as innocent as she was, was nothing less than to change the world itself.