Close Second

Chapter 7

CLOSE SECOND

Chapter 7 — Same University

Everest's POV

I had always believed that some things were better left separate.

My family life belonged to one world.

University belonged to another.

And Ashfall belonged somewhere no one could touch.

That separation had always worked for me.

Until Kaelan Voss walked into my university.

And apparently decided to occupy all three.

I stared at the campus entrance from the back seat of the car.

Westbridge International University was already busy.

Students crossed the enormous courtyard carrying laptops and coffee cups. Groups gathered beneath the trees. Luxury cars lined the road outside the main entrance, while bicycles and electric scooters passed between them.

It was Monday morning.

Normally, I would have been thinking about my classes.

Instead, I was thinking about one person.

Kaelan Voss.

The man my parents wanted me to marry.

My project partner.

And, if the universe had a particularly cruel sense of humor, possibly someone I would have to see every single day.

My phone buzzed.

PRIYA: Where are you?

I looked out the window.

ME: Five seconds away.

PRIYA: Hurry.

ME: Why?

Her response came immediately.

PRIYA: There's a rumor.

I frowned.

ME: What rumor?

PRIYA: Come here.

I sighed.

"Stop."

The driver looked at me through the mirror.

"Miss?"

"Nothing."

The car stopped.

I stepped out.

The moment my shoes touched the pavement, I could feel people looking.

It wasn't unusual.

Being a Calloway meant attention followed me everywhere.

But today, the whispers seemed louder.

I walked toward the main courtyard.

Then I saw Priya.

She was standing near the fountain, waving both hands.

"Finally!"

I approached her.

"What happened?"

She grabbed my arm.

"You won't believe it."

"I probably won't."

"Kaelan Voss."

I immediately regretted asking.

"What about him?"

"He's here."

I stared at her.

"Obviously. He goes here."

"No."

She shook her head dramatically.

"I mean everyone is talking about him."

"Why?"

"Apparently he's joining Professor Whitfield's advanced systems seminar."

I blinked.

"So?"

"So?"

She looked offended.

"Everest, that's your class."

I froze.

"Wait."

She smiled.

"Exactly."

I closed my eyes.

"You're kidding."

"I'm not."

"How do you know?"

"Someone in my class heard it from someone in his class."

"That's not exactly reliable information."

"Then look."

She pointed.

I turned.

Students were gathering near the administration building.

And there he was.

Kaelan.

He stood near the entrance with Marcus, dressed in a dark jacket over a crisp white shirt.

He looked annoyingly composed.

Like he hadn't spent the previous night playing against me.

Like he hadn't nearly driven me insane with his ridiculous counterattack.

Like he wasn't the person currently occupying far too much of my thoughts.

Then his eyes found mine.

He paused.

I paused.

For one brief moment, everything else seemed to disappear.

His gray eyes remained fixed on me.

There was something almost amused in them.

As if he knew something I didn't.

Marcus noticed the exchange.

He leaned toward Kaelan and said something.

Kaelan replied without taking his eyes off me.

I looked away first.

I hated that.

"Interesting."

Priya's voice pulled me back.

"What?"

She grinned.

"Nothing."

"Priya."

"Nothing."

"You have that look."

"What look?"

"The one that means you're about to annoy me."

She laughed.

"Let's go to class."

---

Professor Whitfield's Lecture

Professor Whitfield entered exactly at nine.

He placed a stack of papers on his desk.

"Good morning."

The room responded.

"Today we'll be discussing information architecture and decision systems."

I opened my laptop.

Then the door opened.

I didn't need to look.

I knew.

Kaelan walked in.

Professor Whitfield glanced up.

"Mr. Voss."

"Professor."

"Nice of you to join us."

"Apologies."

"Take a seat."

There was only one empty chair.

Beside me.

I stared at the chair.

Then at Kaelan.

He noticed.

The faintest smile appeared on his face.

"You've got to be kidding."

He sat down.

"Good morning."

I kept my eyes on my laptop.

"Morning."

"You don't seem happy to see me."

"I'm trying to study."

"Right."

I glanced at him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

He looked toward the professor.

I turned back to my screen.

For the next twenty minutes, I managed to ignore him.

Then Professor Whitfield began explaining a complex systems problem.

I raised my hand.

He called on me.

I answered.

"Correct."

Kaelan leaned slightly toward me.

"That's one point."

I frowned.

"What?"

"You answered first."

"So?"

"We're competing now."

I stared at him.

"We're not competing."

He smiled.

"Sure."

I turned away.

But a smile threatened to appear on my own face.

I quickly hid it.

---

When class ended, Professor Whitfield stopped everyone.

"Before you leave, a reminder."

The room settled.

"Your major project begins this week. You'll be working with your assigned partners."

I immediately felt a headache coming.

Professor Whitfield looked at his list.

"Everest Calloway and Kaelan Voss."

Several students turned.

Someone whispered.

"Of course."

Another laughed.

I closed my eyes.

Kaelan leaned back.

"Looks like we're stuck together."

I packed my laptop.

"Temporarily."

"Three months."

I looked at him.

"That's not temporary."

"Depends how you define temporary."

I gave him a look.

He smiled.

"Library?"

"What?"

"For the project."

"Oh."

"Today?"

I hesitated.

I had gaming practice tonight.

I couldn't tell him that.

"Tomorrow."

"Fine."

He picked up his bag.

"Six?"

"Six."

"Don't be late."

I raised an eyebrow.

"You don't get to tell me that."

"Why?"

"Because you're the one who was late to class."

He smiled.

"Fair."

He walked away.

Priya appeared beside me.

"You're smiling."

I immediately stopped.

"I'm not."

"You were."

"No."

"Everest."

"Priya."

She laughed.

"You two are going to be entertaining."

"He's irritating."

"That's not what I said."

---

Lunch

We sat outside near the university gardens.

Priya was scrolling through her phone.

I was trying to eat.

Trying being the important word.

Because every few minutes, someone walked past and glanced at me.

Then whispered.

Finally, I sighed.

"What?"

Priya looked up.

"What?"

"Why is everyone staring?"

She turned around.

Then laughed.

"You haven't heard?"

"Heard what?"

"People are already talking about you and Kaelan."

I groaned.

"Already?"

"You two were paired together."

"That's enough for this university."

She showed me her phone.

A student forum had already posted:

CALLoway + Voss = POWER COUPLE?

I stared.

"Absolutely not."

Priya laughed.

Another post appeared.

Are Everest Calloway and Kaelan Voss secretly dating?

I almost dropped my phone.

"We've barely spoken!"

"That doesn't matter."

"It matters to me."

"Welcome to university."

I handed the phone back.

"This is ridiculous."

Priya smiled.

"You know what's more ridiculous?"

"What?"

"You still haven't told me whether you think he's attractive."

I stared at her.

"No."

"That's not an answer."

"Yes, it is."

"You're avoiding the question."

"I don't care."

She smiled knowingly.

"Sure."

---

Across Campus

Kaelan sat with Marcus at lunch.

Marcus was scrolling through his phone.

Then he laughed.

"You've got to see this."

Kaelan looked up.

"What?"

Marcus showed him the university forum.

Kaelan read the post.

CALLoway + Voss = POWER COUPLE?

He stared at it.

Then looked across the courtyard.

Everest was sitting with Priya.

She looked irritated.

He smiled.

Marcus noticed.

"You like this."

"No."

"You absolutely like this."

Kaelan looked at the screen again.

"Let them talk."

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"People will get bored."

"Maybe."

Kaelan looked toward Everest again.

She was laughing at something Priya had said.

For a moment, her expression was completely different.

Less guarded.

Less controlled.

Just...happy.

He found himself watching her longer than he intended.

Marcus followed his gaze.

"Careful."

Kaelan looked at him.

"About what?"

"You're starting to look interested."

Kaelan said nothing.

Because perhaps he was.

But he didn't understand why.

He barely knew Everest.

And yet something about her kept pulling his attention.

Her confidence.

Her stubbornness.

The way she refused to be impressed by him.

It was strangely refreshing.

Then his phone vibrated.

An Ashfall notification.

ASHEN — ONLINE

His attention immediately shifted.

A familiar thrill ran through him.

He stood.

"Where are you going?" Marcus asked.

"Library."

"You have a project meeting?"

"Yes."

"With Everest?"

Kaelan looked at him.

"Yes."

Marcus grinned.

"Have fun, future husband."

Kaelan shook his head and walked away.

---

Everest

By the time my final class ended, I was exhausted.

I checked the time.

5:42 p.m.

I had eighteen minutes before I needed to leave campus.

Gaming practice.

Then dinner.

Then, apparently, another family conversation about my future.

I sighed.

I was walking toward the parking lot when my phone buzzed.

KAELAN: Library. Six.

I stared at the message.

Then typed:

ME: I know.

His response came seconds later.

KAELAN: Just making sure.

I rolled my eyes.

Then something caught my attention.

A familiar username appeared on my gaming app.

KAI — ONLINE

My heart immediately quickened.

I stared at the screen.

Kaelan Voss was waiting for me in the library.

Kai was waiting for me online.

I had no idea they were the same person.

And Kaelan had no idea that the girl he was about to spend the evening working with was the player he'd been waiting all day to challenge.

Two worlds.

One university.

One secret.

And neither of us knew how close we were to discovering the truth.