Elena woke to the sound of Maya singing off-key and the faint smell of toast.
"Morning, sunshine," Maya said, waving a slice of bread like a magic wand. "You ready for day one?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
Elena dressed quickly — jeans, a cream sweater, and her best attempt at calm confidence. The memory of yesterday's coffee incident clung to her like a shadow. She hoped Sierra and her friends had already forgotten.
Spoiler: they hadn't.
Crestwood's main courtyard buzzed with life — students chatting, music playing from someone's speaker, leaves crunching beneath their feet. It should have felt welcoming. Instead, Elena felt like everyone's eyes were on her.
Whispers followed wherever she went.
"That's the scholarship girl."
"The one Sierra spilled coffee on."
"Adrian actually defended her."
She pretended not to hear.
In her first class Introduction to Political Thought she slid into the only empty seat near the window. A second later, laughter erupted behind her.
When she turned, she found a folded paper on her desk. Scribbled in neat handwriting:
"Coffee girl ☕. Try not to trip today."
She didn't have to guess who sent it. Blake Weston one of Adrian's friends, the same smirk from yesterday's car scene. His expression dared her to react.
She didn't.
After class, Maya was waiting outside. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Elena lied.
"They're just trying to get under your skin."
"They're succeeding."
Maya's eyes softened. "Listen, you can't let them see you break. That's how the Monarchs win — they feed on fear."
"Monarchs?"
Maya sighed. "I was hoping you wouldn't find out this soon."
They sat beneath a maple tree as Maya explained.
"They call themselves The Monarchs. It started as some elite honors group years ago — now it's basically a social empire. They own every student council decision, every major event, every rumor that matters."
"And Adrian Cole?"
"Their king. Sierra used to be his girlfriend. Blake and Liam are his right-hand men. Amelia's the quiet one, but she's worse , she runs their gossip pages anonymously."
Elena frowned. "And the school lets them do this?"
"Crestwood loves its rich kids. Donations keep the lights on."
Maya paused. "But Adrian… he's different. People say he only joined because of his father , some big corporate deal behind it. Still, he's untouchable."
Elena felt a strange chill. "He doesn't seem like the rest."
"He's worse," Maya said softly. "Because when Adrian Cole pays attention to you, it's never by accident."
By lunchtime, Elena's attempt at invisibility was failing miserably. Every table she passed seemed to quiet down. Someone muttered, "Here comes Adrian's charity case," followed by snickers.
She sat at the far corner of the dining hall, pretending to scroll her phone.
"Mind if I sit here?"
The voice made her freeze.
Adrian stood across the table, tray in hand. Jeans, black shirt, casual confidence that drew every stare in the room.
Elena blinked. "There are about twenty empty tables—"
"And yet, this one feels right."
He sat before she could answer. His gaze was steady, unhurried, like he was studying her reactions.
"You don't seem like the type to cry over coffee," he said.
"Thanks, I guess?"
"That's a compliment."
She looked up, meeting his eyes. "Why did you stop Sierra yesterday?"
"Because she was being boring."
"That's your reason?"
"Would you prefer I said I felt sorry for you?"
She hesitated. "Do you?"
"No." A slow smile curved his lips. "I don't do pity."
His words should have stung, but the way he said to them smooth, low, certain , felt dangerously magnetic.
"Don't let them get to you," he added. "They bite harder when you bleed."
He stood to leave, the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the air. Before walking away, he leaned close enough for only her to hear.
"You'll figure it out soon, Elena. At Crestwood, everyone wants something. What do you want?"
Then he was gone, leaving her heartbeat racing and her appetite gone.
That night, as Elena wrote in her journal, Maya peeked in.
"You had lunch with him?"
"I didn't invite him."
Maya groaned. "Girl, you don't just accidentally have lunch with Adrian Cole. That's like standing in front of a storm and hoping it'll blow past."
Elena closed her notebook. "I think I can handle him."
"I hope so."
But long after Maya slept, Elena lay awake staring at the ceiling.
Because the truth was, she wasn't sure if she wanted to handle him, or understand him.
And somewhere, in his off-campus apartment overlooking the city, Adrian Cole scrolled through his phone pausing at a security photo from the cafeteria. Elena, sitting alone.
He smiled to himself.
"So that's the girl," he murmured. "Let's see how long you can last