The Boy In Room 307

The Defender

“Then you'll learn why everyone on this campus knows better than to get involved with Jayden Cole.”

Jayden's warning hung between them, but Mia refused to back down. She stared at him, remembering the hateful note and the way he had folded it as though the threat meant nothing. Someone had decided to make his life even more miserable, and he expected her to stand aside because he had spent years convincing everyone that he didn't need help.

“That's a ridiculous thing to say,” she snapped. “Someone is threatening you, and you're more concerned about keeping up this tough-guy act than doing anything about it.”

Jayden's eyes narrowed. “You have no idea what you're talking about.”

“Then explain it to me!”

“Why? So you can run around campus trying to save me?” He gave a humorless laugh. “Trust me, Max, the last thing I need is a tiny roommate playing hero.”

Mia's cheeks burned, but she refused to let his insult distract her. “Maybe if someone had stood up for you earlier, those people wouldn't think they could treat you like this.”

The moment she said it, Jayden's expression changed. His jaw tightened, and his fingers curled against the edge of the desk.

“Don't make the mistake of thinking you know what I need,” he said quietly. “You want to help? Stay out of my business.”

Mia looked at him for a long moment before snatching her backpack from the chair.

“Fine. Since you clearly have everything under control, enjoy your afternoon.”

“Where are you going?”

“Somewhere I won't have to listen to you insult me for trying to help.”

She stormed out before he could answer, pulling the door shut harder than necessary. The sound echoed down the hallway, but Mia barely noticed. Her mind was already working through the words on the note, each hateful sentence making her angrier than the last.

Cheat. Drug user. Leave before someone makes you regret staying.

Whoever had written those words hadn't simply wanted Jayden gone. They wanted him to suffer.

Mia wasn't going to let that happen without a fight.

By lunchtime, her anger had only grown. She had spent the morning hearing students whisper about Jayden's supposed drug use, and every conversation seemed to add another ridiculous detail to the s********e claimed he had taken illegal performance drugs to become a better basketball player. Others insisted that his injury had been punishment for cheating.

None of them seemed interested in asking whether any of it was true.

Mia entered the cafeteria carrying a tray, her eyes moving across the crowded tables. She spotted Ethan sitting with several athletes near the windows, but before she could approach him, a loud burst of laughter caught her attention.

Three male athletes were sitting at a table a short distance away. One of them wore a basketball team jacket, while another was scrolling through his phone. The third leaned back in his chair, speaking loudly enough for the surrounding tables to hear.

“Honestly, Cole should be grateful the university hasn't kicked him out already,” the athlete said. “Imagine ruining your own career because you couldn't play without drugs.”

His friend snorted. “Maybe that's why he refuses to show his face anymore. Probably afraid someone will ask for a drug test.”

“Or maybe he's saving his money for another bottle of whatever made his knee explode.”

The three men burst into laughter.

Mia stopped walking.

For a second, she simply stared at them, gripping her tray so tightly that her fingers began to ache. She could have ignored them. She could have taken her food to another table and remembered Jayden's warning to stay out of his business.

Instead, she marched straight toward them.

“What's so funny?”

The athlete in the basketball jacket looked up, surprised by the interruption. “Excuse me?”

Mia placed her tray on the empty end of their table. “You heard me. What's so funny about someone losing his career to an injury?”

The man exchanged an amused glance with his friends.

“And who are you supposed to be?” he asked. “Cole's personal bodyguard?”

“Just someone who knows the difference between a fact and a rumor.”

His smile faded slightly. “Careful, little man. You don't want to get involved in something you don't understand.”

“Then help me understand.” Mia folded her arms. “Where's your proof that Jayden used illegal drugs?”

The athlete scoffed. “Everybody knows what happened.”

“Everybody knows?” Mia repeated. “That's not proof. That's just a bunch of people repeating the same story because they enjoy having someone to laugh at.”

A few students at the neighboring tables began turning toward them. The athlete noticed the growing attention and straightened in his chair, clearly unwilling to let a small first-year student embarrass him in front of an audience.

“Listen, rookie. Cole was a star before his injury. Nobody gets that good without taking something extra.”

Mia's eyes widened with disbelief. “So every talented athlete must be a drug user? Is that how your brain works?”

His friends laughed, but this time they weren't laughing at Jayden.

The athlete's face darkened. “Watch your mouth.”

“Why? Are you going to threaten me too?” Mia leaned forward slightly. “Or are you going to leave a nasty note under my door because someone asked you to prove what you're saying?”

The man pushed his chair back.

“What's your problem?”

“My problem is that you're spreading accusations about someone who isn't here to defend himself. You don't know what happened to his knee, and you don't know what he went through after his career ended. Yet you sit here making jokes like his life is entertainment.”

“Maybe he should come out of hiding and defend himself, then.”

“Maybe you should stop being a coward who needs three friends and a cafeteria full of people to feel brave.”

A sharp silence fell over the table.

Mia could hear her own heartbeat, but she refused to step back. The athlete rose to his feet, towering over her, and his friends quickly followed. For a moment, she wondered whether confronting them had been a terrible mistake.

Then a familiar voice cut through the tension.

“Is there a problem here?”

Ethan Brooks stepped beside Mia, his expression unusually serious. He glanced at the three athletes before looking at the tray abandoned on the table.

“Because from where I'm standing, it looks like three guys are trying to intimidate one first-year student.”

The athlete in the basketball jacket scoffed. “Stay out of it, Brooks. This doesn't concern you.”

“Funny. It started concerning me the moment you decided to gang up on my friend.”

Ethan placed a hand on Mia's shoulder, positioning himself beside her rather than in front of her. His expression remained calm, but there was no mistaking the warning in his eyes.

“Max asked you a simple question,” he continued. “If you have evidence that Jayden used illegal drugs, show it. If you don't, stop spreading the accusation.”

One of the other athletes rolled his eyes. “You're defending Cole now?”

“I'm defending basic common sense. There's a difference.”

The first athlete shook his head. “Whatever. Believe what you want. Doesn't change what everybody thinks.”

“Then perhaps everybody should learn to think for themselves,” Ethan replied.

The athlete muttered something under his breath before grabbing his bag. His friends followed, throwing Mia irritated looks as they walked away. Within seconds, the confrontation was over, leaving several students staring openly at the small group around the table.

Mia finally released the breath she had been holding.

Ethan turned toward her. “Are you out of your mind?”

She blinked. “What?”

“You just challenged three athletes who could probably throw you across this cafeteria without breaking a sweat.”

“They weren't going to throw me anywhere.”

“You say that with a lot of confidence for someone who looks like he could be carried away by a strong breeze.”

Mia glared at him. “Are you helping me or insulting me?”

“Both, apparently.” Ethan shook his head, but a smile tugged at his mouth. “Seriously, Max, what was that? You didn't even hesitate.”

“Should I have?”

“No. That's the impressive part.”

Mia looked toward the cafeteria doors where the three athletes had disappeared. “Someone has to tell them they're wrong. Jayden has enough problems without people inventing new ones.”

Ethan's smile softened. “You really care about what happens to him, don't you?”

The question made Mia uncomfortable.

“Of course. He's my roommate.”

“Most people would be grateful if Cole ignored them completely. You're out here picking fights on his behalf.”

“Maybe most people shouldn't be so quick to judge him.”

Ethan studied her for a moment, his expression thoughtful. Then he laughed quietly and shook his head.

“You're full of surprises, Max.”

“That's what people keep telling me.”

“Come on.” Ethan picked up her tray and nodded toward an empty table near the windows. “Let's sit down before you decide to challenge the entire basketball team.”

Mia followed him reluctantly, though she couldn't help noticing the way several students continued whispering as they passed. She had wanted to defend Jayden, but the confrontation had drawn more attention than she expected. If the rumors reached him, he would probably be furious.

Still, she couldn't regret standing up for him.

They settled at the table, and Ethan returned her tray. For a few minutes, they talked about classes and the upcoming sports activities, allowing the tension in the cafeteria to fade. Ethan teased her about her height, and Mia retaliated by pointing out that his ego probably needed its own seat.

He laughed so loudly that two students turned to look at them.

Then, just as Mia reached for her drink, Ethan fell quiet.

She glanced up. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“You're staring.”

“Am I not allowed to look at my friend?”

“You're allowed to look. You're not allowed to make it creepy.”

Ethan leaned back, studying her face with an expression she couldn't quite understand. His gaze lingered on her eyes, and the playful smile he usually wore slowly disappeared.

Mia shifted in her chair.

“What is it?”

“Your eyes,” he said.

She immediately looked down at her drink. “What about them?”

“They're beautiful.”

Mia nearly choked.

Ethan laughed and handed her a napkin. “Careful. Compliments aren't supposed to be life-threatening.”

“Then stop giving them so suddenly!”

“What's wrong with telling someone he has beautiful eyes?”

“Nothing. It's just strange.”

“Why?”

“Because we're both guys!”

Ethan's eyebrows rose, and for a moment, Mia feared she had said too much. She forced herself to laugh, hoping to disguise her panic as embarrassment.

“Besides, plenty of people have nice eyes,” she added quickly. “It doesn't mean anything.”

“Maybe not.” Ethan rested his elbows on the table. “But yours are different. There's something about them that makes it difficult to look away.”

Mia's stomach tightened. She had spent weeks preparing to pass as Max, cutting her hair, changing her clothes, practicing a lower voice, and learning how to move without drawing attention to herself. She had never considered that something as small as her eyes could make the disguise more difficult.

“Maybe you need glasses,” she said.

Ethan chuckled. “Maybe. But that wouldn't explain why I've been thinking about you since the party.”

Mia's smile faltered.

“The party?”

“You know, when I invited you to join us and you spent the whole night looking like you wanted to escape.” He tilted his head. “Then Cole showed up and practically dragged you out of there. Ever since, I've been wondering why I keep looking for you whenever I enter a room.”

Mia didn't know what to say. She had expected Ethan to remain the friendly soccer captain who enjoyed teasing the new student. She hadn't expected him to speak with such quiet seriousness, especially while looking at her as though he were discovering something about himself.

“Ethan, you're making this weird,” she whispered.

“Maybe.” He moved his chair slightly closer, lowering his voice so the surrounding students couldn't hear. “But there's something I've been wanting to tell you.”

Mia's pulse quickened.

“Then tell me.”

Ethan held her gaze, his expression caught somewhere between uncertainty and excitement. He leaned closer, close enough that Mia could see the tiny flecks of color in his eyes, and spoke so softly that only she could hear.

“Max, I've never felt like this around another guy before.”

Mia went completely still.