The First Meeting
873 Words
Monday morning arrived with clear blue skies over Westbridge University.
Freshmen rushed across campus, maps and schedules clutched tightly in their hands.
Elena Carter took a deep breath as she walked through the university gates.
This is it.
Her real college life was finally beginning.
Her phone vibrated.
❤️ Ethan
She smiled and answered immediately.
“Good morning.”
“Did you sleep well?” Ethan asked.
“I barely slept. I was too nervous.”
He chuckled.
“You’ll be fine. You’re the smartest person I know.”
She rolled her eyes.
“You always say that.”
“Because it’s true.”
There was a comfortable silence.
“I wish I was there with you,” Ethan admitted.
“Me too.”
“But we’ll see each other next weekend.”
“We will.”
“I love you.”
Elena smiled.
“I love you too.”
After ending the call, she slipped her phone into her backpack.
She had no idea someone had been watching her.
Leaning against his black motorcycle across the courtyard…
Damian Cross lowered his sunglasses.
“So that’s Elena Carter.”
Mason stood beside him.
“And?”
Damian watched her laugh softly after ending the call.
“She’s pretty.”
Ryan smirked.
“Pretty enough to make you nervous?”
Damian scoffed.
“I don’t get nervous.”
“Remember…”
Ryan reminded him.
“She has a boyfriend.”
Damian’s gaze stayed on Elena.
“That just makes the game more interesting.”
Mason frowned.
“I still think this bet is a bad idea.”
Damian looked at him.
“Too late now.”
Meanwhile…
Elena searched for Science Hall.
After walking in circles for nearly ten minutes…
She sighed.
“I’m officially lost.”
A voice behind her laughed.
“Need some help?”
She turned.
A tall senior wearing a student ambassador badge smiled kindly.
“I’m Noah Walker.”
“Elena.”
“You’ve gone the wrong way.”
She laughed, embarrassed.
“I thought so.”
Noah pointed toward a brick building across the lawn.
“Science Hall is over there.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem.”
As she started walking away, Noah called after her.
“Good luck on your first day.”
She smiled warmly.
“Thanks.”
From across the courtyard…
Damian watched the entire exchange.
He didn’t know why…
But seeing another guy make Elena smile annoyed him.
After her first lecture ended, students poured into the hallway.
Elena checked her timetable.
“Introduction to Psychology…”
“Looks like we’re in the same class.”
She turned.
Damian stood beside her.
His hands were tucked casually into his pockets.
He looked relaxed.
Confident.
Almost too confident.
“Oh…”
She smiled politely.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
“I’m Damian.”
He offered his hand.
Elena shook it.
“I’m Elena.”
“I know.”
She looked confused.
“You do?”
He smiled.
“Small campus.”
She accepted the explanation.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
For a moment…
Neither of them spoke.
Then Damian asked,
“How are you finding Westbridge so far?”
“I’ve been lost twice.”
He laughed.
“I got lost during my first week too.”
“You did?”
“Three times.”
She smiled.
“That actually makes me feel better.”
“There you are!”
Chloe hurried toward them.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
She noticed Damian.
“Oh…”
Damian smiled politely.
“I’m Damian.”
“Chloe.”
She looked between them.
“Am I interrupting something?”
Elena shook her head.
“We just met.”
Damian glanced at Elena.
“I’ll see you around.”
“See you.”
As he walked away, Chloe grabbed Elena’s arm.
“Do you know who that was?”
“Damian.”
“Damian Cross!”
“Yes…”
“The Damian Cross.”
Elena laughed.
“I think there’s only one.”
Chloe lowered her voice.
“He’s famous.”
“For what?”
“For being… well…”
She searched for the right words.
“Complicated.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means girls fall for him.”
Elena shrugged.
“He seemed nice.”
Chloe looked unconvinced.
“Just… be careful.”
From the second-floor balcony…
Damian watched Elena disappear into the crowd with Chloe.
Ryan joined him.
“So?”
Damian slipped his hands into his pockets.
“She’s different.”
Ryan laughed.
“You’ve said that three times today.”
“Because it’s true.”
“Have you made any progress?”
Damian smiled slightly.
“She smiled.”
Ryan burst into laughter.
“That’s your progress?”
Damian didn’t answer.
He kept thinking about the way she’d spoken to Ethan on the phone that morning.
There had been so much warmth in her voice.
Winning the bet suddenly seemed harder than he’d expected.
But Damian Cross had never walked away from a challenge.
He watched Elena one last time before turning toward his next class.
“One semester,” he reminded himself.
That was all he needed.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD