I FELL FOR THE WRONG GIRL

Chapter2: Lines Drawn

Ivy’s POV

The third floor smelled like fresh paint and vanilla. I stood in front of Room 312 longer than necessary before swiping the keycard.

Red light.

I flipped it and tried again and it worked and brought a green light and then the door opened into a bright room with three beds.

One was neatly made with fairy lights and stacked books. The other looked like someone had unpacked by throwing everything into the air and walking away. Before I could put my suitcase down, the bathroom door opened.

I saw a familiar face.

“Tessa?”

She let out a short scream of excitement and pulled me into a tight hug. “I told them it had to be you. I knew it.”

“I can’t believe I am with an old friend from my school”

“ It’s fate” Tessa said laughing.

A girl with glasses sat up on the messy bed, phone in hand. “You must be Ivy. I’m Chloe. Please ignore the disaster over here. I’ll clean it… eventually.”

I smiled. “Nice to meet you.”

Tessa dropped onto her bed and crossed her legs. “Orientation starts soon. You’re coming with us.”

I nodded and started unpacking a few clothes. While I did, Chloe stretched and looked at Tessa.

“Did you see the group chat? Ava’s already back.”

Tessa made a face. “Of course she is. The universe couldn’t give us even one peaceful week.”

I looked up. “Who’s Ava?”

Both of them stared at me.

Chloe sat forward. “You’re joking.”

“I got here less than two hours ago.”

Tessa exhaled. “Ava Hart.

She’s the one everyone either follows or avoids. She’s popular, rich, and she knows it. The problem is she doesn’t just lead. She controls. If she decides she doesn’t like you, campus life gets very uncomfortable.”

“Uncomfortable how?”

Chloe answered this time. “Last semester she made a girl cry in the middle of the cafeteria because she sat at the wrong table. The girl transferred out two weeks later. That’s the kind of power she has.”

Something cold settled in my stomach. I had never liked people who treated others like that.

We left for the courtyard ten minutes later, the campus was full of movement and noise .

Tessa and Chloe walked on either side of me, pointing out buildings, but I only half listened. My mind kept going back to the name and the story about the girl who left.

We were halfway across the main courtyard when the energy shifted.

People slowed down.

Conversations dropped.

Some students stepped aside without being told.

A group walked through the center like the space belonged to them. At the front was a tall girl with short buzzed brown hair, light skin, and sharp blue eyes. She wore black baggy jeans and an oversized white shirt, one hand in her pocket, the other holding her phone. She didn’t look around. She didn’t need to.

Beside her was a girl with long brown hair who laughed a little too loudly at everything.

“That’s Nina Reed,” Chloe whispered. “And the one in front is Ava.”

I watched her but I didn’t see anything too special in her. Then a boy carrying a stack of textbooks accidentally bumped into her shoulder. The books scattered across the pavement. He froze.

“I’m so sorry,” he said quickly, already kneeling.

Ava stopped walking. The entire courtyard seemed to stop with her. She looked down at him the way someone might look at dirt on their shoe.

“You’re in my way,” she said, voice flat.

“I didn’t see you” he said shaking.

“I didn’t ask for an excuse.” She used the side of her shoe to push one of the notebooks further away from him. “Pick them up. And next time, move when you see me coming.”

A few people laughed under their breath. The boy’s ears turned red as he scrambled to gather his things. His hands were shaking.

Something hot and sharp rose in my chest as I stepped forward before Tessa could stop me.

“You didn’t have to do that.” I said

The laughter around us died.

Ava turned her head slowly. Her blue eyes landed on me, curious at first, then cooler.

“Excuse me?”

“He already apologized,” I said. My voice stayed steady even though my heart was racing. “You didn’t need to humiliate him.”

Nina laughed once. “Oh, this is going to be good.”

Ava took a step closer. Students nearby watched like they were waiting for a crash.

“You’re new,” she said.

“I am.”

“Then let me give you some free advice.” Her voice dropped, quiet enough that only the people closest could hear.

“On this campus, you don’t talk to me like that. You don’t correct me and you especially don’t do it in front of an audience.”

I held her gaze. For a second, something dangerous flickered across her face. Then she smiled.

It wasn’t friendly.

“What’s your name?”

“Ivy.”

She repeated it slowly, like she was tasting it. “Ivy.” Then she looked at Nina. “Remember that name.”

Nina pulled out her phone and typed something. My stomach twisted.

Ava stepped even closer. Close enough that I could smell her perfume. Close enough that I had to tilt my chin up to keep eye contact.

“You just made a mistake,” she said softly. “I’m going to enjoy watching you regret it.”

She turned and walked away. Nina followed, but not before giving me a look that promised trouble.

The second they were gone, Tessa grabbed my arm.

“Are you insane?”

Chloe looked pale. “She’s going to come after you. That’s what she does.”

I still felt the heat of Ava’s stare on my skin. Part of me was afraid. A bigger part of me was angry.

“I don’t care,” I said. “I don’t like bullies.”

Tessa shook her head. “It’s not about liking them. It’s about surviving them.”

We barely made it ten steps before my phone buzzed. It was notifications from an unknown number.

“Cute speech”.

“Let’s see how long that attitude lasts”.

I stopped walking. Tessa leaned over my shoulder and read the messages. Her face went tight.

“That’s her,” she said quietly. “She already has your number.”

I stared at the screen.

Less than three hours on campus, and I had already drawn a line I couldn’t erase.

And for some reason, even though I disliked her, the way she had looked at me still sat under my skin like a bruise I couldn’t stop pressing.