Chapter 18: 17| A Do-Over

A Second Beginning

After my last encounter with Reid Carter, I decided this was my chance to start fresh—a real do-over. I could still have the college life I'd dreamed about all through high school. Sure, my first kiss might have been a little underwhelming, but at least it was with Reid, my first crush.

I wasn't going to let that derail me. There was still time to find the love of my life. We'd spend the rest of college as the perfect campus couple. Right before graduation, he'd propose, and I'd say yes. We'd have one of those dreamy destination weddings, and I'd wear Mum's dress, ugly cry, and it would be perfect.

Yes, just like I planned, even though mom thinks I should just relax and let myself enjoy the journey and not focus on the destination. Considering, that's what led me to my present predicament, I think I'll continue to focus on the destination.

I closed my journal, satisfied with my latest entry. I'd been slacking on keeping it updated lately. Between my focus on Reid and my disappointment over how things turned out, writing about it felt like reliving the embarrassment all over again.

I pulled out my planner from underneath the journal and flipped through the pages.

Isla's Planner

Monday

•    6:00 AM: Wake up, morning stretch, breakfast

•    7:00 AM: Revise class notes (Math)

•    8:30 AM: Attend Calculus lecture

•    10:00 AM: Study session in the library (Statistics prep)

•    12:00 PM: Lunch

•    1:00 PM: Research for Literature assignment

•    3:00 PM: Study group (Science project collaboration)

•    5:00 PM: Gym

•    6:30 PM: Dinner

•    7:30 PM: Review readings for Literature

•    9:00 PM: Organize notes and prep for tomorrow's lectures

•    10:00 PM: Sleep

Tuesday

•    6:00 AM: Wake up, light yoga, breakfast

•    7:00 AM: Flashcards (History review)

•    8:30 AM: Attend History lecture

•    10:00 AM: Library study session (Essay writing)

•    12:00 PM: Lunch

•    1:30 PM: Attend Biology lab

•    3:30 PM: Edit Literature essay draft

•    5:00 PM: Evening run

•    6:30 PM: Dinner

•    7:30 PM: Review next week's lecture materials

•    9:30 PM: Free time or journaling

•    10:30 PM: Sleep

And so it went, every day meticulously planned. I smiled, feeling more in control after mapping it all out.

As I reviewed my planner, a knock at the door broke my concentration.

"Come in," I called, knowing it was Mum. Kemi had left yesterday, and I was heading back to school today for my classes tomorrow.

"You all set?" Mum asked, stepping into my room and hovering by my table. She rested a hand on my shoulder, glancing at my open planner.

"Honey, this is... intense. When do you plan to actually have fun and enjoy college life?" she teased, raising an eyebrow.

"You know, any other parent would be thrilled to see this," I teased back, smiling up at her.

"Well, I'm not just any other parent, am I?"

"No, you're definitely not," I said, laughing. I closed my planner and slipped it into my backpack. "Are you sure you'll be okay alone? I could stay..."

"Shhh," she said, pulling me into a hug. "You sound just like Kemi. I'm a grown woman; I can handle being home alone." She kissed my forehead.

I hesitated, still worried. "You're sure?"

"Absolutely positive. Now, off you go! I've got a yoga class to get to."

"I thought you hated yoga."

"I do," she said, laughing, "but I'm trying new things."

At least she planned to keep herself busy until Dad got back.

"All right. I love you so much," I told her, grabbing my bag.

"Love you too," she replied, walking me to the car.

We exchanged another round of "I love yous" before I got in the car and drove off.

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

Arriving back at school, I half-expected to be swarmed by stares, whispers, and gossip, but to my surprise, everyone seemed too preoccupied with their own lives to care. Sure, a few people glanced my way, but there were no loud whispers or hushed conversations that I could hear.

Was two days really enough time for everyone to forget about it? Or had something else happened to shift their attention?

I'd purposely stayed off social media since the whole ordeal because I wasn't ready to face the comments or see what people might be saying about me. Whatever it was that distracted them, I was just grateful it did.

When I reached my room, I noticed it was empty. Maddy must have been out. I hoped she and Lila had patched things up. It would be awkward to be caught in the middle of their fight. I still couldn't figure out what it was about, but it definitely started the night of the party. I'd asked both of them about it, but neither seemed willing to share.

I threw my backpack onto my bed and let my hair loose with a sigh of relief. Stripping off my travel clothes, I pulled on my unicorn onesie—my comfort uniform—and got to work. I changed my sheets, unpacked my bag, organized my study desk, and even managed to squeeze in a trip to the laundry room. Finally, I settled into bed with a bag of Doritos and gave myself my mandatory one-hour break before diving into my sociology textbook.

When I turned my phone back on, a flood of notifications poured in. I expected that much. What I didn't expect was what greeted me on Bruin Buzz.

There it was: a picture of Reid. He was wearing a white T-shirt pulled halfway up by his teeth, revealing his abs. The shirt had the Bruin Buzz logo printed across it, along with the phrase "Catch the Tea." Bold red letters sprawled across the post read: SOLD OUT.

Confused, I scrolled further and noticed the post about my supposed virginity scandal was gone. Completely wiped. In its place was an apology post.

Curious, I clicked on it to read:

Apology Post

"Oops! We Goofed 😬"

Hey Bruins,

We owe y'all a big apology. Last week, we posted some tea that wasn't brewed properly. Turns out, the info about a certain sociology major's personal life wasn't just wrong—it was downright cold and stale.

We're sorry for invading Isla's privacy and spreading misinformation. We'll be the first to admit: we crossed a line, and that's not cool. Our job is to bring you campus buzz, not baseless gossip. Lesson learned.

To Isla: You deserved better than this, and we're sorry. Coffee (or tea) on us anytime. DM us. 🙏

For everyone else: Remember to fact-check your friends before spilling the tea, okay? And hey, in slightly unrelated but totally exciting news—get your official Bruin Buzz merch featuring our very own Reid Carter! He's abs-olutely rocking it (literally). 🫶

Stay buzzing (ethically),

The Bruin Buzz Team

Comments

1. @SociologyQueen23: "Wait, so they just erased the tea and now we're supposed to sip Reid's abs instead? 💀"

2. @BruinChaser: "I knew Reid was hot, but THIS? This is a public service. 🔥"

3. @IsThatLegal: "Imagine ruining someone's life and then selling merch to distract us 😭😭😭"

4. @Justice4Isla: "So we're all just gonna ignore the fact that Reid is literally the face of their brand now???"

5. @TeaOrNothing: "Reid sold his soul for them to delete the post. Facts."

6. @AbsurdReidFan: @TeaorNothing "Or maybe he's just hot and y'all are overthinking it. Let the man live."

7. @ILiveForDrama: "Lowkey disappointed they deleted it though... like I missed all the chaos 😩"

8. @BruinBuzzDefender: "Y'all are dramatic. They apologized AND gave us Reid content. What more do you want??"

9. @ObsessedWithTea: "I want to know WHY Reid agreed to this tho. There's no way it's unrelated. 👀"

10. @StopWithTheDrama: "Reid + tea = Bruin Buzz profits. Simple math. Y'all are reading way too much into this."

I scrolled through the comments, my brain doing somersaults. The Reid merch and apology post couldn't possibly be connected, right? But then again... why else would Reid agree to be their model?

Before I could sink any deeper into my phone, the door burst open, and Maddy stumbled in. The moment her eyes landed on me sprawled across my bed, a wide grin stretched across her face, followed by an ear-piercing squeal. She ran toward me, throwing herself onto my bed and, by extension, on top of me.

"I'm so glad you're back! Never leave me again!" she exclaimed, pulling me into a bear hug so tight I could barely breathe.

"Maddy, are you drunk?" I asked, the sharp tang of alcohol wafting off her.

"Maybe," She slurs.

"It's 2 p.m.," I scolded, my brows furrowing. She tilted her head back to pout at me like a petulant child.

"Please, no lectures, okay? I already have it up to here with Lila acting like my mom. Not you too. I just need a friend right now," she slurred, her words uneven as she nestled her head back onto my chest.

I sighed, brushing stray strands of hair from her flushed face. She groaned at my touch, turning her face away like a grumpy kitten.

"Is this about what happened at the party?" I pressed gently, but she responded with more groaning. Clearly, she wasn't ready to talk. Given how Lila would never let Maddy get this drunk alone, I was sure the two of them were still at odds.

"I should text Lila," I muttered to myself, making a mental note to let her know I was back on campus. Maybe she could come over, and the two of them could finally settle whatever tension they had brewing.

Before I could grab my phone, Maddy gagged, bolting upright with a panicked look.

"Oh no—"

I barely managed to drag her to the bathroom in time, holding her hair back as she emptied her stomach into the toilet. The sight and smell turned my stomach, but I pushed through, whispering reassurances as I handed her some tissues and helped her rinse her mouth.

Once she was cleaned up, I ran her a warm bath and picked out some comfortable clothes for her to change into.

After Maddy was tucked into bed, protesting half-heartedly about needing to "celebrate my return," I smiled as I pulled the covers up over her.

"You're the best roommate ever," she murmured, her voice still slurring but sincere.

"Right back at you," I said softly.

"Even after... you know, the whole throwing-up-in-your-hands situation?"

"Yes. Now sleep," I teased, drawing the curtains to block out the daylight.

Since studying in the room was no longer an option, I adjusted my planner and decided to head to a cafe to catch up on the assignments I'd been procrastinating on.

I changed out of my onesie and wore a crisp white cashmere sweater paired with relaxed-fit beige trousers. I slipped on my signature minimalist gold stud earrings my dad got me and a dainty matching bracelet. On my feet, I wore soft leather loafers.

After slicking my hair back into a sleek ponytail with two face-framing strands, I grabbed my laptop bag and made my way out.

My plan was simple: find a nearby café, tackle my assignments, and pick up some fresh coffee and pastries for Maddy on the way back. Grabbing my keys, I quietly slipped out of the door, careful not to disturb her.

As I made my way downstairs, something odd caught my attention. It seemed like everyone was wearing the same shirt—the one I'd seen Reid advertise earlier. The only difference was the words printed on each, but they all bore the same bruin buzz logo.

Suppressing a small smile, I shook my head. It's crazy how easily people are influenced.

I reached my car, pulling out my phone to distract myself from thoughts of Reid. My messages were a mix of the usual suspects. Lila had sent a few, asking how I was doing, and I quickly replied to let her know I was back on campus. Her response was immediate, promising to drop by later.

Then there were 15 messages from Oliver. Fifteen. I made a mental note to reply to him later. As for Aaliyah, there was nothing. She'd stopped texting after I'd left her last messages unanswered, and honestly, I still wasn't sure how to address it. How do I tell her that I in-fact did have a thing for Reid?

Finally, I checked Instagram. My heart skipped a beat when I saw a message notification from Reid.

Just one message.

Sent the day after that night on the hill.

Hi.

One word. So mundane, yet it hit me like a jolt. My fingers hovered over my screen as a rush of thoughts flooded my mind. Was he serious about this friendship thing? No, probably not. He'd said it in the moment to soften the blow, to avoid being a bigger jerk than he already was. Any second now, he'd probably go back to ignoring me, just like before.

I locked my phone and shoved it into my bag, unwilling to give him more headspace.

I drove to the nearest coffee shop, hoping the soothing hum of espresso machines and the scent of fresh-baked pastries would help me focus. Inside, I found a quiet booth near the window, where the natural light poured in just enough to create a cozy ambiance.

After settling in, I walked up to the counter and ordered a caramel latte with almond milk and a slice of lemon loaf. Something sweet but energizing to get me through the next couple of hours.

With my laptop open and my drink steaming beside me, I let the familiar rhythm of café life envelop me. Fingers tapping on keyboards, soft whispers of conversation, and the occasional hiss of the milk frother created the perfect backdrop.

I sipped my latte and tried to concentrate on my notes, but my mind kept wandering back to the message.

Hi.

Since I agreed to be friends, do I have to reply?

No! No! I need to focus on these assignments.

I had just started to get my groove back, when a woman approached my table with a bright, nervous smile.

"Hi there! I'm the manager here. Sorry to interrupt, but would you mind if we took a picture of you for our Instagram page? You are Isla Kensington right? It would mean a lot to us if you said yes."

Her request caught me off guard. "Me? On your page? I'm not... I mean, I'm not an influencer or anything."

"That's exactly why we'd love it! We're trying to build up our social media presence and you fit the bill perfectly," she said, her enthusiasm contagious. "You're so effortlessly chic—our customers would love this vibe. We'd even like to offer you a paid partnership."

"Paid partnership?" I blinked. "I don't think I'm the right fit. Plus, my social media presence is... complicated." I looked to the counter to see the staff who was probably responsible for this idea, how do I say no without coming off as a snob?

Her face fell slightly, but she recovered quickly. "No worries! If you're uncomfortable, it's totally fine, but at least let us snap a quick picture and cover your coffee today?"

"You really don't have to," I protest immediately, but she pushes even harder making it impossible to say no.

After much persuasion—and noticing the growing curiosity of the cafe patrons—I finally caved. "Okay, one picture. But that's it."

"Yes thank you so much," she squealed running to the counter to talk to the other staff. Soon they were back with cameras, studio lights and taking way more than the one picture we agreed on.

Just as I started relaxing into the shoot, the cafe bell chimed, signaling someone's arrival. The gasps and whispers that followed made my stomach drop.

I turned slowly, hoping, praying it wasn't who I thought it was.

And then I saw him.

Seriously wasn't UCLA supposed to be a big school? Why do I keep running into him everywhere?

Of course, he strolled in, radiating confidence with every step. He was dressed in a fitted black Henley that clung to his toned swimmer's physique, paired with light-wash jeans that hung low on his hips. His jet-black hair was tousled just enough to look intentional, and his striking blue eyes swept the room before landing on me.

He smiled, the kind of smile that could disarm armies, and made his way toward my table.

"You know, friends usually reply to their friends' messages," he said, his voice low and teasing, completely unfazed by the stares and the cafe staff awkwardly standing behind their cameras.

"Sorry," I mumbled. "I was just trying to keep a low profile until everything blew over, so I wasn't using my phone."

"Oh..." He raised an eyebrow, as if he wasn't convinced.

Before he could say more, the manager stepped in, her face lighting up like she'd just won the lottery.

"Reid Carter! Would you mind being in the promotional photo we're shooting with Isla? It'd be amazing for the cafe!"

I rolled my eyes, waiting for him to decline. He used to scoff at opportunities like this, even turning down casting directors who stalked him back in high school.

"Sure," he said easily, shocking me to my core. "Do you mind love?" He asks turning to face me.

What the hell was he playing at?

I stared at him, utterly baffled. This was the same Reid who hated attention, yet here he was, willingly stepping into the spotlight.

I'd never understand him, would I?

Authors note:

Thank you for reading so far ❤️. Happy new year...........