The rest of the day passed in a blur for Riley. Every time she crossed paths with Zayden, the tension between them seemed to grow. He was always there, watching her, challenging her in ways she couldn't quite understand. At times, she wanted to snap at him, to tell him off, but the strange pull she felt toward him kept her in check.
It wasn't just physical attraction. There was something else—something deeper. She didn't know if it was the way he seemed to see right through her, or the way his dark, intense gaze seemed to lock onto hers every time they were near each other. There was no escaping him, no matter how hard she tried.
But Riley couldn't afford to be distracted by Zayden, not with everything else on her plate. Her scholarship wasn't a guarantee, and every day felt like a battle to prove she belonged at Crestwood. She had to focus. She had to show everyone—including Zayden—that she wasn't just a charity case.
As she walked through the halls after her last class, she spotted a group of students gathered around the courtyard. Curiosity piqued, Riley made her way over, only to see Zayden standing in the middle of the group, surrounded by his friends. But what caught her attention wasn't the crowd—it was the look of annoyance on Zayden's face.
He was arguing with someone.
Riley approached cautiously, unsure if she should intervene or not. She had seen Zayden get into arguments before, but this one seemed different. There was a tension in the air, something heavy and unresolved.
"You don't get to talk to me like that," Zayden was saying, his voice cold.
Riley's gaze flicked to the person he was speaking to—a tall, blonde guy she didn't recognize. He was one of the rich kids from a prominent family, a guy who seemed to think he could do whatever he wanted just because of his last name. Riley had seen him around before, but she didn't know much about him.
"Maybe you should stop acting like the king of this place," the guy said with a sneer. "You're not untouchable, Zayden."
The group around them murmured in agreement, but Zayden wasn't having it. His posture stiffened, and his eyes darkened.
"I don't need to be untouchable," Zayden said, his voice low. "But you do need to understand something. I'm not someone you want to cross."
Riley's pulse quickened. The situation was escalating, and it seemed like no one was going to step in to stop it. She couldn't just stand there and watch things get worse. But before she could react, Zayden's gaze locked onto hers.
"Stay out of this, Riley," he said quietly, his tone commanding.
But Riley didn't listen. She stepped forward, standing between Zayden and the blonde guy. "Maybe you don't get to control everything around here, Zayden," she said, her voice steady.
For a moment, the group went silent. Zayden's eyes widened slightly in surprise, and the blonde guy looked at her like she had just said something outrageous.
But Riley didn't care. She wasn't about to let Zayden or anyone else push her around. "If you have a problem with him, you can take it up with him. But don't involve anyone else in your petty drama," she added, glaring at the blonde guy.
Zayden's eyes softened just a fraction, and for the first time since they'd met, Riley saw a flicker of something different in his gaze. It was almost like… appreciation?
The tension between Zayden and the blonde guy didn't dissipate, but the moment passed. The group slowly began to disperse, and Zayden turned his attention back to Riley.
"Thanks for that," he said, his voice softer now. "But next time, don't get involved."
Riley just nodded, her heart still racing. There was something different about Zayden, something she couldn't quite explain. And as much as she hated to admit it, she was starting to think that maybe, just maybe, there was more to him than the playboy persona he put on.