Tangled love

Collision Course

DAISY’S POV

The bass thumped so hard I felt it in my ribs before I even stepped inside the house. Welcome-back bash was crammed into a sprawling off-campus Victorian—three stories of peeling white paint, wrap-around porch , overflowing with red Solo cups, and fairy lights strung like someone had tried to make chaos look pretty.

I scanned the crowded doorway for any sign of Maya. Then I spotted her inside the kitchen, standing with four other people, laughing at something one of them said. Her bright campus T-shirt had been swapped for a cropped tank top, but the same warm energy radiated off her.

She spotted me immediately, her eyes lighting up. She excused herself from the group and pushed through the crowd toward me.

“Daisy!” she screamed over the music the second she reached me, pulling me into a tight,

enthusiastic hug like we’d been friends for years instead of hours.

“You’re here! Thanks for not changing your mind!”

“Your offer was too good to reject” I said jokingly and hugged her back.

She chuckled, then grabbed my hand. “Come on!”and tugged my hand,weaving us through bodies packed shoulder-to-shoulder.

“Relax!” she shouted over the music. “One drink and you’ll love it!”

I highly doubted that. Parties weren’t my scene. Back home, my version of a wild night was rereading Pride and Prejudice with a cup of tea while Mom slept off her second shift. But Maya had practically begged, promising she’d stick by me, and I didn’t want to be the antisocial friend on the first day of friendship.

We squeezed into the kitchen, where the counter looked like a liquor store explosion. Maya handed me something pink and fizzy.

“Light on the alcohol, I Promise.”

I took a cautious sip—sweet, barely any burn. Safe enough. We leaned against the fridge, watching people pour in. Maya waved at half the room, introducing me to her other friends. one of the guys tried flirting immediately but I smiled politely. I was getting bored of the party. My eyes scanning for the nearest exit that’s when I spotted something interesting.

Maya’s brother appeared, slinging an arm around her shoulders. “Little sis! You actually brought the new girl!” Luke grinned at me, dimples flashing.

“Daisy, right? Welcome to the madness.”

“Thanks for the invite,” I said, managing a smile. Luke seemed harmless—too energetic to be dangerous.

Two more guys trailed behind him like they were a package deal. One was massive, built like a football player, flexing dramatically as a group of girls cheered him on by the keg. The other…

I didn’t mean to stare, but he made it hard not to.

He leaned against the doorway to the living room, leather jacket over a black tee, dark hair tousled like he’d just rolled out of someone’s bed. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a lazy confidence that filled the space around him. His eyes—sharp blue even in the dim party lights—scanned the crowd slowly, like he owned every inch of it. Then those eyes landed on me.He didn’t look away. Just tilted his head slightly, a slow smirk curling one corner of his mouth as he lifted his cup in a silent, mocking toast.

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I glared back on pure instinct.

“Who’s the guy in the leather?” I asked maya, pretending casual.

Maya followed my gaze and groaned. “Oh. That’s Mike. My brother’s best friend since freshman year. Total heartbreaker. Stay far away—apparently he’s on a break from his usual… activities.”

“Activities?”

“Sleeping with half the campus and ghosting them the next morning,” she said bluntly.“Good to know my instincts were spot-on.

George, was holding court by the keg, flexing dramatically as girls cheered. Luke bounced around like a golden retriever on espresso, slapping backs and refilling cups. And then there was him.

I was about to suggest we find a quieter corner when Luke waved the guys over.

“Mike, George—meet Daisy, maya’s new freshman friend.

The big one—George—grinned wide and raised his cup. “Nice to meet you.”

Mike stepped closer, and suddenly the kitchen felt smaller. Up close, he smelled like expensive cologne and something warmer—wood and smoke. His voice was low, smooth, with a hint of amusement that made my skin prickle.

“So you’re the new friend,” he said, eyes locked on mine like we were the only two people in the room.

I lifted my chin. “And you’re…?”

“Mike Harrington.” The smirk deepened. “ Apparently the campus heartbreaker, according to your friend here.”

Emma elbowed him. “Don’t scare her off on night one.”

“Too late,” I muttered.

He laughed—short, surprised, genuine—and something about the sound threw me off balance.

Maya tugged my sleeve.

“Dance floor? Come on.” I nodded gratefully, ready to escape whatever that weird spark was. But as I turned, someone jostled me hard from behind. I stumbled forward and my drink sloshed wildly. The pink drink flew from my hand in a perfect arc—splashing all over the front of my favorite dress. The only nice thing I owned— a soft blue sundress I’d saved up for months to buy secondhand, the one that made me feel pretty and put-together at my first real college party.

Sticky liquid soaked through the fabric instantly, cold and shocking against my skin, running down in bright streaks.

I froze, staring down at the ruin in horror.

The drunk guy who’d bumped me mumbled “sorry” and vanished into the crowd.

And then Mike laughed low, like he couldn’t help it.

“Damn,” he said, smirking wider. “Looks like you’re wearing the party now.”

Something inside me exploded. I shoved away from him, hands clenched. “You think this is funny?”

His smirk faltered for half a second. “Hey, I didn’t spill it—”

“No, but you’re standing there laughing like a complete spoiled asshole.” I didn’t let him complete his words.

My voice shook with fury and embarrassment. “This is my favorite dress. Some of us don’t have a closet full of replacements, you know.”

The kitchen quieted around us—people turning to watch. Mike’s eyes narrowed, the amusement draining fast.

“You don’t know anything about me, princess.”

“And I don’t want to,” I snapped. “Just stay the hell away from me.

I pushed past him, ignoring Maya calling my name, and stormed through the crowd until I burst out onto the porch. Cool night air hit my tear-stung eyes, my chest heaving.

The dress clung cold and wet against me, ruined. Just like every time I tried to fit into a world that wasn’t mine.

The distance between the party to my dorm room was not far so I walked back to my dorm with regret and completely disappointed. Luckily Lena was no where to be found and I was low-key glad.

My phone buzzed and I didn't bother to answer it. I just wanted to sleep and hope it's all a dream. It buzzed again, this time around I opened it out of frustration

“Hey, it’s Mike. Got your number from maya”.

The f**k!!!