I kept stealing glances at him as we drove, the silence hanging thick between us. His focus was locked onto his phone, and he seemed entirely unaware of my curiosity. The GPS was guiding me, and I was more than ready to follow wherever it took us.
"Turn left on Sunset Boulevard," the voice directed, and I complied, glancing back at him. The way he was huddled under that cap, shielding his eyes, was both frustrating and alluring. Every now and then, he let out a low chuckle, clearly entertained by something on his screen. The mystery of it was eating away at me.
"Eyes on the road, Isla," his voice cut through the silence, rich and commanding, as his blue eyes flashed to mine for just a second. The suddenness of it made my heart jolt.
"Eyes on the road," he repeated, more softly this time, as I quickly turned back to focus on the traffic. But the butterflies in my stomach weren't as easy to calm. That voice, that look - his attention on me, even briefly, left me reeling. He knew my name. Reid Carter knew who I was. That simple fact alone was enough to keep me off-balance.
I wanted to ask him how he knew me - whether he remembered that night we'd met, however briefly - but I didn't want to sound awkward or desperate. So, I just took a breath, fighting for composure.
"So, uhm..." I started, aiming for casual.
"Can you drop me off at Westwood Village?" he interrupted with a smirk, raising his eyebrow at me in that playful, almost smug way. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks.
"Uhm, sure," I replied, struggling to keep my tone nonchalant, though I was flustered. The awkwardness settled back over us, and I hit play on the stereo, hoping the music would drown out my nerves. Taylor Swift's voice filled the car, and I caught him smirking again, fighting back a laugh.
I hit pause, unable to ignore it. "I'm sorry, is something funny?" I challenged, a little sharper than I'd intended.
He turned his phone off and slipped it into his pocket, still chuckling. "Taylor Swift? Really?" he asked, raising a brow, clearly amused.
"Hey, no Taylor Swift slander allowed in this car," I shot back, my tone light. He laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender.
"Alright, alright, noted." He says
"What do you listen to?" I asked, curious.
"Hey, are you free tonight?" he asked abruptly, his British accent thickening, catching me off guard.
"Tonight?" I echoed. He had a habit of cutting me off whenever I tried to start a conversation.
"You got into UCLA, right?" he continued, a teasing glint in his eye.
"Yeah," I said, surprised. How did he know that? I knew he went there, but I honestly thought the chances of us running into each other were slim because of our different majors.
"There's a party tonight. I'll send you the details." He held his phone out expectantly. "Your IG?"
"Uhm..." I hesitated, feeling a flush of embarrassment creep up. "P-A-M-P-E-R-E-D-P-R-I-N-C-E-S-S 101," I spelled out, hoping somehow that it sounded less cringe-worthy in letters. Aliyah made up my username, and I never thought it necessary to change it, until now.
"Pampered princess, huh?" he laughed, his posh accent only making it worse. He had this aristocratic way about him that made everything he did seem... elevated. My cheeks burned as he kept laughing, though not unkindly. "It's cool. I rate it," he added with a grin. "Alright, PamperedPrincess101. Just sent you the details. Hope to see you there," he mocked with a wink, making me grip the steering wheel tighter.
As we neared his stop, I spotted a sleek black Valiant parked by the curb. Reid noticed too, putting his phone away and stretching out his hand toward me. I pulled over and parked, reaching out to shake his hand, the awkward tension returning.
He gave my hand a quick, warm squeeze, then brought it to his lips and kissed it while winking. before stepping out of the car.
After taking a few steps, a tall, model-esque girl stepped out of the Valiant and wrapped her arms around him in a cozy hug. Something about the way he embraced her shook me from whatever daydream I was in. I knew then, as I watched him walk away with her, that Reid Carter was definitely not the guy for me.
After navigating the maze of campus roads and finally parking, I find myself standing at UCLA, trying to get my bearings. I grab my bags from the trunk, glancing at the tall, iconic buildings around me. This is my new home, but the reality of it still feels distant, like I'm walking in someone else's life.
For someone like me, with a bit of a privileged background, a dorm setup might seem unconventional, but it's exactly what I wanted - a taste of independence in its truest form. While I could have chosen an upscale shared housing option, I opted for a dorm room. It's realistic, within walking distance to classes, and gives me a chance to experience campus life as it is. Dad almost had an aneurysm when he heard this, but mum stood by me and finally he gave in.
I pull out my dorm assignment, walking down the long corridor and finally stopping at my room. My new roommate greets me at the door with a warm, wide smile.
"Isla! Right? Hey, it's so nice to finally meet you!" she exclaims, practically bouncing on the spot. She's dressed in a crop top paired with a leather skirt, a fedora tilted just so, and a septum piercing that gives her an edge I immediately envy.
"You must be so tired from the drive," she adds, ushering me in. "I'm Maddy, by the way. Here, let me help you!"
Maddy doesn't waste a moment, eagerly grabbing one of my bags and leading me through the room. She's animated, pointing out all the little features of our space, from the small kitchenette to the built-in closets.
After a whirlwind of unpacking and getting settled, Maddy finally drops onto her bed, looking pleased with herself. I can already tell that she's the kind of person who could make anyone feel at home in an instant.
Just as I start arranging my books on the desk, another girl bursts through the door, a bundle of energy and excitement. Her name's Lila, one of Maddy's friends. She doesn't miss a beat, flinging her bag onto Maddy's bed before diving into Maddy's closet.
"Oh my God, what do you think? Leather or glitter tonight?" Lila asks, holding up a sparkly top and then a sleek leather jacket.
"Glitter for sure. We're aiming to be the highlight tonight!" Maddy replies with a grin. She glances back at me, as if considering for a moment. "I'd totally invite you, Isla, but it's invite-only," she says with a half-apologetic shrug.
"That's fine," I reply with a small smile, settling down at my study desk. "Honestly, I was planning to turn in early tonight anyway. It's been a long day, and tomorrow's packed."
I pull out my journal, letting the calmness of writing sink in. My pen drifts over the page as I start to record my thoughts on this strange new world I've stepped into. But a memory nudges at me - the faint echo of Reid's voice mentioning a party tonight. My fingers itch, and before I realize it, I'm pulling out my phone, opening Instagram.
There it is, in my message requests. Reid's message with the party details. A part of me knew he wouldn't follow up, he probably just asked me to the party, to be polite, right? I almost laugh at myself for that tiny hint of self-doubt. As I open his message, my focus is broken by a burst of laughter from the other side of the room.
"Dude, this is hilarious!" Lila says, showing her phone to Maddy. They're both laughing so hard that they're practically leaning on each other for support.
"Is that him? No way!" Maddy says, catching her breath. "He has zero shame."
"Confirmed. Her boyfriend chased him down the street," Lila smirks, holding back another laugh. "You think he'll actually show up tonight?"
"If it were me, I'd be way too mortified to show my face," Maddy replies, shaking her head.
Their exchange piques my curiosity, and Lila catches my gaze. She steps over, holding her phone out to me with a mischievous grin. "Here, you've got to see this."
It takes me a moment to process what I'm seeingâa video of a guy, sprinting down the street, with someone chasing after him. And even in the chaos, I recognize him. Reid Carter. His infamous cap is barely staying on his head as he dodges around pedestrians, trying to escape what I assume is the enraged boyfriend's wrath. I was on that street, so that's who was chasing him.
"He's a sophomore here, and he's so fine, it hurts" Lila explains, a glint of admiration in her eyes. "Apparently, he got caught hooking up with some girl who already had a boyfriend, and...well, the boyfriend found out."
"Though, you've got to admit," Maddy adds, sliding down beside me and sitting on my bed, "he still manages to look way too attractive, even in pure panic." I take one last look at the video and can't help but agree with Maddy.
My heart races, half-amused, half-embarrassed. Reid's reputation definitely has a life of its own here. Do I tell them I saw him today, that I helped him escape? Just as I'm debating whether to tell them or not, my phone buzzes with two new notifications.
Reid Carter just followed you on IG.
Reid Carter liked your post.
The moment those notifications appear on my screen, Maddy and Lila's eyes widen in unison. They exchange glances before looking back at me, grins slowly spreading across their faces.
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Thank you for reading this far, I would like you to tell me what you think of this chapter honestly. I'm struggling with it because it's not my usual genre but it's so much fun to write, so I hope you enjoy.