Pov: Jules
Friday. Finally. The end of my first official week at Evergreen Academy. I wasn't sure if I wanted to throw myself a little celebration or just collapse face-first into my bed and not move until Monday. The week had been a whirlwindâbetween classes, weird encounters, and figuring out how to share a dorm with Nathan, my energy was drained. Not to mention the Chloe Situation, which still hung over my head like an unwelcome cloud.
Nathan had announced earlier that he was heading to the gym with Finn. Something about leg day, which seemed unnecessary considering Nathan already looked like he could bench press a car. Not that I was looking. Much.
The quiet in our dorm was almost disorienting without him there. As much as I'd hated the chaos of moving in, I had to admit that the silence was just as strange. I stared at the ceiling, letting my thoughts wander. Living on the guys' floor was weird. Really weird. The lingering smells of cologne, sweat, and something unidentifiable made the hall feel like a middle school locker room. But it wasn't all bad. I'd met Harper, who was like a breath of fresh air in this unfamiliar place.
My phone buzzed on the desk, pulling me out of my thoughts. It was Harper.
Harper: "Hey! Want to hang? Snacks and tea await. My room in 10?"
I smiled. Harper had a way of making even a simple invitation sound like an adventure.
Me: "On my way. Hope your tea isn't as pretentious as this school."
Harper: "Rude. You'll see."
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Harper's room was exactly what I'd expected: cozy chaos. Posters of indie bands and travel destinations covered the walls, and a string of fairy lights gave everything a warm glow. She'd arranged a spread of snacks on her deskâchips, chocolate, and a plate of cookies that smelled suspiciously homemade.
"Don't look so surprised," Harper said, catching my expression as she poured tea into mismatched mugs. "I'm not completely hopeless in the kitchen."
"Color me impressed," I said, grabbing a cookie. It was delicious. Figures.
We settled onto her bed, cross-legged and surrounded by pillows. The conversation flowed easily, starting with stories about her disastrous first week at Evergreen last year. Apparently, she'd accidentally spilled coffee on the headmistress during orientation. I laughed so hard I almost choked on my tea.
"So," Harper said, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her eye. "How's living with Nathan Talon? I'm dying to know."
"Oh, it's a dream," I said dryly, setting my mug down. "Who wouldn't want to share a tiny room with someone who's constantly brooding and takes up half the space?"
Harper snorted. "I knew it. What's he like? Really?"
I hesitated, trying to find the right words. "Complicated. He's... not as bad as I thought he'd be. But he's definitely not easy to figure out."
"Sounds about right," Harper said, nodding. "And how's sharing a bathroom with the guys?"
"Don't even get me started," I groaned. "I've seen enough stray socks and questionable hair products to last a lifetime."
Harper laughed, tossing a pillow at me. "Welcome to Evergreen. You'll survive. Probably."
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By the time I left Harper's room, the sun had dipped low, painting the campus in soft oranges and purples. The walk back to my dorm was peaceful until I passed the common room on the guys' floor. Laughter and the faint sounds of a chaotic card game spilled into the hallway.
"Jules! Hey!"
I turned to see Finn waving me over, a grin plastered on his face. He was surrounded by a group of guys, cards and snacks scattered across the table in front of them.
"What are you doing?" I asked, stepping inside.
"Teaching these amateurs how to lose gracefully," Finn said, shuffling the deck with practiced ease. "Come on, join us."
"I don't even know what game you're playing," I said, eyeing the table.
"Doesn't matter," said Jackson, one of the guys I'd met earlier in the week. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes glinting with mischief. "You're in."
Reluctantly, I sat down. Within minutes, I found myself caught up in the game, my initial hesitation fading as I matched their banter with my own.
"You're surprisingly good at this," Jackson said, narrowing his eyes at me.
"Surprisingly?" I shot back, smirking as I played my winning card. "Looks like you're not as smooth as you thought."
The table erupted in laughter, and even Finn looked impressed.
"Told you she was cool," Finn said, nudging Jackson.
We played a few more rounds, the stakes escalating from pride to ridiculous dares. At one point, Jackson had to sing the school anthemâoff-key and with dramatic hand gestures. By the time it was Finn's turn to lose, he was halfway through a handstand attempt, much to everyone's amusement.
It was fun, chaotic, and loud, but the atmosphere shifted when Nathan walked in. His presence was like a switch flippingâthe room quieted slightly, and a few of the guys exchanged glances. Nathan's eyes landed on me, his expression unreadable.
"Having fun?" he asked, his tone casual but carrying an edge I couldn't quite place.
"More than you, probably," I replied, holding his gaze.
Finn grinned, clearly enjoying the tension. "Relax, Nate. We're just hanging out."
Nathan didn't respond, but he walked over and leaned against the wall, watching the game with a detached curiosity.
"You're not going to play?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Not my thing," he said simply, though his smirk hinted that he found the whole scene vaguely entertaining.
"What is your thing then? Standing around looking broody?" I teased.
Nathan's smirk widened slightly. "Pretty much."
Finn let out a bark of laughter. "She's got you pegged, man."
The game continued, and I couldn't help but notice Nathan watchingânot just me, but the whole group. It was subtle, but there was a faint glimmer of amusement in his eyes. When Jackson tried (and failed) to bluff his way through a losing hand, Nathan actually chuckled under his breath. It was barely audible, but it was there.
"Are you going to keep lurking, or are you actually going to join?" I asked, leaning back in my chair.
Nathan shrugged. "I'll pass."
"Coward," I said with a grin, earning a round of laughs from the table.
For a moment, it almost felt like Nathan was part of the group. He didn't join in, but his usual icy demeanor seemed to thaw just a little. By the end of the night, I found myself smiling more than I had all week.
As the group began to disperse, Finn clapped Nathan on the shoulder. "You've got a good roommate here, Nate. Don't scare her off."
Nathan rolled his eyes, but his smirk lingered. "I'll try."
When it was just the two of us walking back to the dorm, the silence wasn't as heavy as usual. Nathan glanced at me once, his expression unreadable.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing," he said, looking away. But there was a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.
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A/N
Haven't uploaded in a week WHOOPS sorry girlys!
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