Chapter 1: The New Girl
Rose POV
I had always believed that starting over was supposed to feel exciting.
A new school.
New people.
A fresh beginning.
But as I stood outside the tall iron gates of Westbridge University, staring at the massive buildings beyond them, excitement was the last thing I felt.
My stomach was twisting.
My palms were sweaty.
And I couldn't stop wondering if I had made a mistake.
“Rose?”
I turned.
My father was sitting behind the wheel, watching me through the open window.
“You're going to be late.”
I glanced at my phone.
7:48 a.m.
I sighed.
“I know.”
He smiled.
“You'll be fine.”
I looked at the university again.
“That's easy for you to say.”
He laughed.
“You're going to meet people. Make friends. Study hard. Before you know it, you'll be comfortable here.”
I wanted to believe him.
I really did.
But there was something terrifying about being the new girl.
Everyone would already have their friends.
Their groups.
Their routines.
And I would be the stranger walking into a world where nobody knew me.
I opened the car door.
“Call me when you're done.”
“I will.”
“And Rose?”
I looked back at him.
“Don't overthink everything.”
I smiled.
“I'll try.”
I closed the door and walked through the gates.
The moment I entered the campus, I knew my father had been right about one thing.
This place was huge.
Students filled the walkways, talking, laughing and rushing toward their various buildings.
I adjusted the strap of my bag and checked the message containing my class schedule.
Room 204.
I looked around.
Nothing.
I had absolutely no idea where it was.
“Great.”
I sighed.
“This is going to be a long day.”
I started walking.
After several wrong turns, I finally found the building.
I climbed the stairs and checked the room numbers.
201.
202.
203.
Then 204.
I stopped outside the door and took a deep breath.
“Here goes nothing.”
I walked inside.
Several students looked at me.
My confidence immediately disappeared.
I lowered my gaze and searched for an empty seat.
There was one near the window.
Perfect.
I hurried toward it.
Before I could sit down, someone touched my arm.
“Are you new?”
I turned.
A girl with a bright smile was looking at me.
“Yes.”
“I knew it.”
I smiled awkwardly.
“How?”
“Because I know everyone here.”
She pointed toward the seat beside mine.
“I'm Kate.”
“Rose.”
“Nice to meet you, Rose.”
“You too.”
She sat down beside me.
“So, where are you from?”
I told her.
She nodded.
“First day?”
“Yes.”
“Don't worry. You'll get used to this place.”
“I hope so.”
She smiled.
“You'll be fine.”
The lecturer walked into the room before I could respond.
The class began.
For the next hour, I tried my best to concentrate.
But every few minutes, I found myself looking around the room.
There was something strange about being surrounded by so many unfamiliar faces.
Then the classroom door opened.
Everyone became quiet.
I looked toward the entrance.
A boy walked in.
He wasn't rushing.
He wasn't apologizing for being late.
He simply walked into the room as though everyone else should wait for him.
He was dressed simply, but there was something about him that immediately caught my attention.
His expression was calm.
Almost too calm.
The lecturer stopped speaking.
“Mr. Joshua.”
The boy looked at him.
“Sorry I'm late.”
His voice was low.
The lecturer stared at him for a moment before continuing.
“Take your seat.”
He walked toward the back of the classroom.
As he passed my row, our eyes met.
Only for a second.
But somehow, I noticed.
His eyes were different.
Cold.
Unreadable.
Then he looked away.
I turned back toward my notebook.
“That's Hardin.”
Kate whispered beside me.
I looked at her.
“Who?”
She raised an eyebrow.
“The guy who just walked in.”
“Oh.”
“You don't know him?”
I shook my head.
“Should I?”
Kate hesitated.
Then she lowered her voice.
“Everyone knows Hardin Joshua.”
I glanced toward the back of the room.
He was already looking at his phone.
“What makes him so special?”
Kate shrugged.
“It's complicated.”
“That sounds suspicious.”
She smiled.
“Maybe you'll understand eventually.”
I wanted to ask more, but the lecturer continued speaking.
I tried to focus.
Still, I couldn't help noticing Hardin.
He barely spoke.
He didn't laugh with the other students.
He didn't participate in the conversations around him.
He simply sat there, looking completely detached from everyone.
When the class finally ended, students immediately began gathering their things.
I packed my notebook into my bag.
Kate stood.
“Come on.”
“Where?”
“I'm showing you around.”
I smiled.
“Thank you.”
We left the classroom together.
The hallway was crowded now.
Kate pointed toward different buildings and explained where everything was.
As we walked, several students greeted her.
She seemed to know everyone.
Then she suddenly stopped.
I nearly walked into her.
“What happened?”
She looked ahead.
I followed her gaze.
A group of girls was standing near the stairs.
One of them was watching us.
Especially me.
She was beautiful, confident and perfectly dressed.
“Who's that?” I asked.
Kate sighed.
“Violet.”
“She looks friendly.”
Kate laughed.
“She isn't.”
I looked at her again.
Violet whispered something to the two girls beside her.
Then all three looked toward me.
I frowned.
“Why are they staring?”
“Because you're new.”
“That doesn't explain it.”
Kate shrugged.
“Just ignore them.”
I nodded.
“Okay.”
We continued walking.
I tried not to look back.
But something told me Violet was still watching.
---
By lunchtime, I had already learned one important thing about Westbridge University.
Everyone had a story.
Some students came from wealthy families.
Others were here because of scholarships.
Some were popular.
Others stayed invisible.
And then there was Hardin Joshua.
Nobody seemed to know exactly what his story was.
Kate and I sat outside near the cafeteria.
“So,” she said, opening her drink, “what do you think of your first day?”
I smiled.
“It's not as bad as I expected.”
“Good.”
“Except for the staring.”
She laughed.
“You'll get used to it.”
“Especially Violet?”
Kate rolled her eyes.
“Especially Violet.”
I shook my head.
“I don't understand why she cares about me.”
“She doesn't.”
“Then why does she keep looking at me?”
Kate became quiet.
Before I could ask again, someone walked past our table.
I looked up.
Hardin.
He didn't stop.
But as he passed, his eyes briefly met mine.
Then he continued walking.
I watched him disappear through the cafeteria doors.
Kate noticed.
“Don't.”
I looked at her.
“Don't what?”
“Get curious.”
I laughed.
“About what?”
“Hardin.”
I frowned.
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
“Okay, maybe a little.”
She leaned closer.
“Trust me, Rose. Some people are better left alone.”
I looked toward the doors.
“Why?”
Kate didn't answer immediately.
When she finally spoke, her voice was quieter.
“Because you never know what someone is hiding.”
Her words stayed with me long after she left.
---
Classes ended in the afternoon.
I walked back toward the entrance, checking my phone for a message from my father.
Nothing yet.
I decided to wait outside.
As I stood near the gate, I noticed Hardin again.
He was standing beside a black car.
A tall boy stood beside him.
They were talking quietly.
I couldn't hear what they were saying.
Then Hardin looked up.
Straight at me.
My heart skipped.
I quickly looked away.
Why was I suddenly nervous?
I heard footsteps approaching.
Kate.
“You're still here?”
“My father is picking me up.”
She looked toward Hardin.
Then back at me.
“You should go inside.”
“Why?”
“Just because.”
I laughed.
“You're acting strange.”
Before she could answer, Hardin started walking toward us.
Kate immediately became serious.
He stopped a few feet away.
His eyes moved from Kate to me.
“Rose.”
I swallowed.
“Yes?”
“You're new here.”
It wasn't a question.
“Yes.”
He nodded once.
Then his expression changed slightly.
“You should be careful.”
I frowned.
“Careful of what?”
He looked toward the university gates.
“Everything.”
I stared at him.
“That doesn't make sense.”
“It doesn't have to.”
He turned to leave.
I watched him walk away.
“Wait.”
He stopped.
I wanted to ask why he had warned me.
Instead, the words that came out were different.
“Why are you telling me this?”
He looked back at me.
For a moment, his expression softened.
Then it disappeared.
“Because you don't know this place yet.”
He walked away.
I stood there watching him disappear into the crowd.
Kate came beside me.
“What did he say?”
I looked at her.
“He told me to be careful.”
Her smile faded.
“Did he say anything else?”
“No.”
She stared after him.
“That's strange.”
“What is?”
She shook her head.
“Nothing.”
A car horn sounded.
My father had arrived.
I picked up my bag.
“See you tomorrow.”
Kate smiled.
“See you.”
I walked toward the car.
But before I got inside, I looked back at the university.
Hardin was nowhere in sight.
Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me.
I had come to Westbridge University expecting a fresh start.
I didn't know then that meeting Hardin Joshua would change everything.
And I certainly didn't know that his warning wasn't meant to protect me from everyone else.
It was meant to protect me from him.
