THE TEST!
694 Words
Lucy was a Computer Science major at Crestmont University—an elite private institution owned by the Crestmont family themselves. Naturally, only the wealthy or well-connected could afford to walk its pristine halls.
Still in the car, Lucy chewed her nails nervously, praying she wasn’t late. The moment they pulled up to the gate, she didn’t even wait for it to open. She flung the door wide, told the driver not to worry, and sprinted off toward her test venue, bumping into a few students along the way and tossing out rushed apologies.
As a finalist, even the smallest mistake could cost her an extra year. Crestmont didn’t joke with academic standards; competition was the air everyone breathed.
“Oh my God, Lucinda, who’s chasing you this time?” a skinny girl—easily mistaken for a boy—asked as Lucy skidded to a halt.
“I’m fine… I’m good,” Lucy panted. “Has the test started? Why are you outside?”
Zoey shrugged, mischief in her grin. “Follow me.”
When they reached the classroom, Zoey spread her arms. “Tadaaaa. Test cancelled. Did you not check your phone?”
Lucy blinked, scanning the nearly empty room. The news hit her like a wave. She dropped into a seat with a long, shaky sigh.
Zoey laughed and plopped down beside her. “So what do we do now? That test was the only reason we came.”
“I prepared so hard… what happened?”
“Professor couldn’t make it. Something with the dean—they’re sorting it out.” Zoey tugged her up. “Come on. Let’s go see Luke.”
---
Penelope was feeling much better after breakfast and a few stretches, but she couldn’t stop thinking about the doughnuts Lucy gave her last night. Just one wouldn’t hurt, she convinced herself. Feeling bold, she strutted to Lucy’s room.
“Oh, would you look at that,” she murmured when the doorknob turned easily.
She slipped inside and shut the door behind her.
---
Luke was in Lucy and Zoey’s department—technically their friend, though his obvious crush on Lucy made things… awkward. Still, who wouldn’t want to hang out with the Crestmont heir? Perks came naturally to him, including his own little apartment on campus.
He heard a knock, expecting his dudes—but when he opened the door, it was Zoey and Lucy.
There he stood: fresh from the shower, towel slung low on his hips, chest smooth and glistening, lean frame marked with soft abs, midnight-dark hair dripping. For a second, he froze like he’d been sculpted by a Renaissance master.
Zoey snapped her fingers in front of him. He jolted back to life, muttered an apology, and, remembering he was half-naked in front of Lucy, immediately flushed. Lucy pretended not to notice.
The rest of the afternoon passed with the three of them eating snacks and talking about school until it was time to leave. At 4:30, they walked to the main gate. Zoey’s driver arrived early, so she left first.
Lucy kept adjusting her glasses—a nervous habit.
“Will your driver be here soon?” Luke asked, trying to break the silence.
“Uhh… yes. I don’t know what’s taking him so long,” she sighed.
She could feel the girls nearby gawking and whispering. She was used to it. Being seen with the famously low-profile but undeniably hot Luke Crestmont made her a target. People had tried and failed to get close to him for years. When Lucy entered the picture, jealousy skyrocketed. Sometimes she wondered how bad it would be if she wasn’t from a comfortable family.
Then suddenly… everything went quiet.
Too quiet.
A moment later, the roar of an engine shattered the silence. A motorcycle carved through the golden hour light—black, sleek, and ghostlike. The rider’s Ghost Face helmet gleamed wickedly as they slowed.
The rider spotted their target.
They stopped directly in front of her, pulled off the helmet, and smirked at the stunned look on Lucy’s face.
But when their eyes shifted to Luke, that smirk morphed instantly into a deadly glare.
- Writer
