FALLING FOR THE WRONG BROTHER

I have a knack for being in the right place at the wrong time, but today had to be different. I couldn’t afford to be late for Professor Jackson’s presentation again. The last time, he’d dumped a ten-minute speech about world peace on me. For most people, that would have been a reprieve, but for an introvert like me, I’d rather sink into a toilet seat for three days than stand in front of a class. “Great! Just great!” I glanced at my wristwatch and broke into a sprint down the hallway, heart pounding, adrenaline surging. On reaching a sharp bend, I ran into someone— and fell. Books, notes, and my laptop scattered across the floor. Gasps followed, along with the clatter of items that definitely didn’t belong to me. “What the—” I scrambled to my feet and froze at the sight before me. Jayden Henderson. One of the three Princes of Graceland University. He towered over me, his expression carved from arrogance and boredom. His gray eyes were almost unreal—sharp, piercing, with an inner ring of emerald green that made my stomach twist for reasons I didn’t understand. “I—I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I was rushing to class.” He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he glanced around, fully aware of the attention gathering like a storm around us. Stepping forward, his lips parted slowly — a nefarious smirk. “Forgive me—” I stiffened. Crunch. My breath caught as his shoe came down hard on my laptop screen. “Oops,” he said lazily. “My bad.” Something lodged in my throat. I opened my mouth to protest, to say something—anything, but no sound came out. Heat burned behind my eyes, and I hated myself for it. Jayden leaned closer. His cologne—dark and sharp—wrapped around me. “What?” he asked mockingly. “You’ve got something to say?” “N—no.” I shook my head, my face heating. He smirked. “Thought so.” “Jay!” The voice came from behind him. He clicked his tongue. “Damn it.” He straightened, irritation flashing across his face before it vanished beneath a practiced smile. I peeked around him and saw Enzo Hex approaching. Caramel skin. Dark curls. Broad shoulders that filled the hallway with ease. He looked unreal—like someone carved from a myth rather than flesh — perhaps a Greek demigod. “Having fun with your new girlfriend?” He asked lightly, his sea-green eyes flicking to me before he patted Jayden’s shoulder. “f**k off,” Jayden sneered. “Why?” Enzo squared up to him, unfazed. His deep, smooth voice did unsettling things to me. My cheeks flushed, and for a brief second, I forgot about my cracked laptop. “What do you mean by girlfriend?” Jayden protested. “She doesn’t qualify.” “Maybe take a second glance,” Enzo insisted. “She looks innocent. Cute. Just the way you like it.” Our eyes met. My insides shrank. I quickly looked away. “Don’t insult me, Enzo.” “Breathe, mate. Playtime’s over. You’re late for training—Coach Harvey’s calling.” “Mmm.” Jayden peeked at me one last time. “Lucky chap.” Then he swaggered off, leaving Enzo lingering for a bit, studying me like I was a reckless child. “Watch where you’re going,” he said quietly. “You might not be this lucky next time.” I stole a glance at him. He smiled—polite, restrained—then walked away. “Thank you,” I murmured to myself. I crouched down and gathered my things. When I reached for my laptop, my chest tightened. Deep cracks splintered across the screen. I heaved. No one stopped. People passed by, some sparing a glance, most not bothering at all. “Hazel!” Relief washed over me as Violet came rushing toward me, her rosy hair flying. “I heard you clashed with the princes!” she exclaimed. “I had to come save you.” Her excitement was infectious. My tears dried up and a smile slipped out before I could stop it. “Just in time,” I said. Her eyes widened. “Oh my God—it’s true?” I nodded. “Aww, my baby.” She hugged me tightly, then pulled back. “Which one?” “Jayden.” “Oh hell.” She scowled. “The evil one. Tell me what he did and I’ll show him my true colors.” A weak laugh escaped me as I pointed at my laptop. Violet didn’t say another word—she just helped me pick everything up. “Forget him. Put on your big-girl pants. Let’s go,” she said, tugging me along. Violet had a way of making me feel better than I thought I was. With her flashy looks and model-worthy figure, she naturally drew attention—attention I was more than happy to let her absorb. Her bold, vivacious personality made me feel safe, like I could retreat into my shell and let her handle the world for us. “He stomped on my laptop,” I muttered. “The screen’s ruined. I can’t even follow Professor Jackson’s project today.” She blinked. “Do you ever check your phone notifications?” “Yes.” “I don’t think so.” “Why?” “The Professor sent a memo last night. He moved the presentation to next week—medical emergency.” “Oh.” My brows knit together. “So all of this was for nothing?” “Nope.” She grinned. “Your life got interesting for once, my antisocial best friend. And now I will get every detail before our next class at noon.” I sighed. “What about my laptop?” “We’ll call the insurance company later.” She guided me into a nearby café, and we sat. “Now,” she said, leaning forward, “tell me everything.” My cheeks burned. “Ohhh.” Her eyes lit up. “There’s more. Hazel.” “It’s not that serious,” I said quickly. “I just… met Enzo. And he smiled at me.” Her jaw dropped. “Hazel Williams!” “It was just a coincidence,” I added. “He came to get his friend for practice.” “Enzo Hex smiled at you?” Her eyes narrowed. “How are you still alive?” “I don’t know—” She grabbed my hand. “How was he? His eyes? His abs? His biceps—” “Violet, relax.” She rolled her eyes. “Killjoy.” I pursed my lips. “He looked… alright.” She scoffed. “That’s criminal understatement. He’s every girl’s dream. And guess what?” I leaned in. “What?” “He just broke up with his fashion-model girlfriend.” My eyebrows lifted. “Who would break up with… that?” She lowered her voice. “I heard it was medical.” “He’s sick?” “No idea. But he also just signed with a massive Spanish football club, so I'm not sure. It is a multimillion-dollar deal. He’s leaving after this session.” Something tugged painfully in my chest. “So he’s leaving.” “We’re in our final year,” she said gently. “He’s securing his future.” “Yeah.” I exhaled. “As for us,” she continued, squeezing my hands, “I’m making this year unforgettable. Parties. Outings—” “Violet,” I cut in. “I just want to survive this year. I don’t like being around too many people.” I gestured to my laptop. “This is what happens when I get close to humans.” She smiled. “Come on.” “I won’t stop you from having fun,” I added. “I could even babysit your brother.” Her grin widened. “Perfect.” That’s when I knew I’d fallen into her trap. “What?” I asked. She made a mischievous face. “Oh no. Not tonight, Violet.” “Come with me, then. I’ll drop him at Susan’s.” “Susan? She smokes everything within reach. She’d roll him in a rizla if she could.” Violet folded her arms. “I’m going anyway.” Silence stretched. “Fine,” I sighed. “I’ll babysit. Go have fun.” She squealed. “Thank you! And guess what?” I frowned. “What?” “Enzo Hex will be there.” My heart skipped. “Enzo?” ---