Chapter 30

Pov: Jules

The dorm was quiet. I woke up earlier than I intended, staring at the ceiling for a moment before turning my head toward Nathan. He was still asleep, sprawled across his bed with his arm hanging over the side. His hair was a chaotic mess, but somehow it suited him—too well, honestly. I tore my gaze away, the awkward tension from our recent interactions still fresh in my mind.

Why does he have to look so... perfect even while sleeping? I sighed, trying to shove the thought aside.

Needing a distraction, I decided to organize my desk, which still wasnt fully orginized from my move. Pens rolled across the surface as I shuffled papers and notebooks, looking for something—anything—to keep me occupied. My hand brushed against a envelope buried under a pile of folders. It wasn't labeled, which piqued my curiosity, so I slid it out and opened it.

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The first document I pulled out was a photocopy of a business contract. My eyes skimmed the text until three names leapt off the page: Clara Wilder, Robert Wilder, and David Talon.

Talon? My heart skipped a beat. That's Nathan's last name.

I flipped through the contract, catching words like "real estate ventures" and "tax implications." Legal jargon swam before my eyes, making little sense until I came across a handwritten note tucked between the pages. The writing was my mom's—I'd recognize her neat, slanted script anywhere:

D—We've done what we can to minimize your exposure, but this is the last time we intervene. Handle it.

A chill ran down my spine. I reread the note, the words "exposure" and "handle it" echoing ominously in my mind. My hands shook slightly as I stared at the documents spread out before me.

What the hell, Mom? My thoughts raced. Why are my parents involved with Nathan's dad? Is Nathan part of this too?

I glanced toward Nathan's bed. He was still sound asleep, his face peaceful in a way that made me ache with confusion. I couldn't exactly wake him up and demand answers about something I barely understood myself.

Taking a deep breath, I shoved the papers back into the envelope and buried it at the bottom of my drawer, under a stack of notebooks. Whatever this was, I wasn't ready to deal with it—not yet.

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I grabbed my jacket and headphones, slipping out of the dorm as quietly as possible. The crisp morning air bit at my skin, but I welcomed it, hoping it would clear my head. Lighting a cigarette, I inhaled deeply, letting the smoke settle my nerves. It didn't help much.

The campus was waking up slowly, students trickling out of their dorms, yawning and clutching coffee cups. I walked aimlessly, my music blaring in my ears as I tried to make sense of what I'd found. Between the envelope and... whatever was happening with Nathan, my brain felt like it was short-circuiting.

Why didn't Mom just tell me? I wondered, taking another drag. What else are they hiding?

My phone buzzed with a notification, pulling me out of my spiral. It was a photo of Finn on social media, tagged at some party from the weekend. The goofy grin on his face made me laugh despite myself, and for a moment, the tension eased.

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When I got back, Nathan was awake, lazily pulling on a hoodie. My breath caught briefly when he stretched, the hem of his shirt lifting just enough to reveal toned abs. I turned away quickly, cursing myself. Focus, Jules. You're already losing it over a stupid document; don't add your hot roommate to the list of things messing with your head.

"You seem tense," Nathan remarked casually, ruffling his messy hair and reaching for his phone.

I shrugged, slipping off my headphones. "Just needed some air. It's nothing."

He raised an eyebrow, his smirk hovering between teasing and curiosity. "If you say so."

I hung my jacket on the back of my chair and moved to my desk, grabbing a notebook and flipping it open for no reason. His smirk deepened, like he didn't believe me but wasn't going to press.

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The morning dragged as I hurried to my first class. I slid into my seat just as the teacher began the class on Ethical Boundaries in Professional Relationships. The topic was too close to home. Phrases like "conflicts of interest" and "breach of trust" filled the room, making my stomach churn.

Harper, sitting beside me, nudged my arm. "You okay?" she whispered. "You look like you're about to hurl."

I forced a laugh. "Yeah, just didn't sleep well."

She narrowed her eyes. "Did Nathan say something? Do I need to slap him?"

"No, he's... fine," I said, though the word felt wrong as soon as it left my mouth. Fine didn't cover whatever weird, confusing dynamic we had.

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After class, I nearly collided with Finn in the hallway. "Jules!" he exclaimed, grinning as he adjusted his backpack. "You alive? You look like shit."

"Wow, thanks," I said dryly, crossing my arms.

He laughed, falling into step beside me. "Rough morning? Or is it Nate?"

My cheeks burned. "Why does everyone assume it's Nathan?"

"Because it's Nathan," Finn said simply, shrugging. "He has this way of making people... I don't know, question their entire existence?"

I rolled my eyes. "He's just my roommate." Right?

Finn raised an eyebrow but didn't push. "If you say so. Anyway, Harper wants to grab lunch later. You in?"

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At lunch, Harper and Finn kept up a steady stream of conversation about an upcoming campus event, but I barely touched my food. My mind kept replaying the morning's discovery and Nathan's smirk.

"Earth to Jules?" Harper said, waving a hand in front of my face.

"What?" I blinked, startled.

"You've been zoning out all day. Spill."

"I'm just tired," I said, stabbing at my salad.

Finn smirked. "Tired, or thinking about Talon? Because if it's the second, I don't blame you."

I glared at him, my cheeks heating up. "It's not that!"

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After lunch, I headed to the library, hoping to focus on homework. I opened my notebook, intending to work on an essay, but instead found myself scribbling fragments of questions: Who is "D"? Why were my parents involved? Does Nathan know?

My thoughts kept drifting back to Nathan. Why do you have to look so damn good when you're doing nothing at all? I groaned quietly and slammed my notebook shut, earning a glare from the librarian.

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Back in the dorm, Nathan was hunched over his desk, scribbling into his notebook. The glow of his desk lamp made the dark strands of his hair stand out, and for a moment, I thought he was drawing. But as I got closer, I realized he was working through a stack of assignments, his brow furrowed in concentration.

The rhythmic scratch of his pen against paper was oddly soothing. I sat on my bed, staring at the ceiling, the weight of the day pressing down on me. The envelope in my drawer felt heavier than ever, like it was calling out for attention.

"Long day?" Nathan asked, not looking up from his work.

"You could say that," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

He glanced at me briefly, his expression unreadable. "If you need to talk... or whatever, I'm here."

The offer caught me off guard, and I gave him a small smile. "Thanks."

As the day ended, I lay in bed, staring at the drawer where the envelope was hidden. My mind felt like a pendulum, swinging between the mystery of my parents and the confusing feelings I was starting to develop for Nathan.

What am I even doing here? I wondered as sleep finally pulled me under.

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A/N

OHHH GUYYY pls do let me know what you think of this plot twist!!!!

Is Nathan hiding something? What are her parents not telling Jules?

LOVE YOU ALL <333