The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across Crescent High’s sprawling campus. Aria Moretti walked briskly through the courtyard, her books clutched to her chest, her mind spinning with the intricacies of campus politics from the previous day. Alliances, subtle power plays, whispers, and sidelong glances—it was exhausting just thinking about it.
She had barely begun to process her role in the student council elections when a familiar presence loomed in her peripheral vision: Damian Cole. Leaning against the stone railing of the courtyard balcony, arms crossed, dark eyes fixed on her like a predator assessing his prey. That infuriating smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.
“Moretti,” he called casually, but there was an edge to his voice that made her stop mid-step.
“Cole,” she rep
