Axel pov
We start moving again, the campus quiet except for the crunch of our boots on the pavement. My cheek still stings where she patched me up, and I can feel the warmth from the blood and the antiseptic lingering.
Ava keeps the jacket over her shoulders, but I notice the way she shifts slightly with every step — close enough that our arms brush occasionally. My pulse spikes every time, and I fight the urge to reach out, just to hold the jacket in place.
"You're awfully quiet," she says finally, breaking the silence. Her voice is soft, almost teasing, but there's an edge of caution too.
"I'm tired of arguing," I reply, keeping my tone even, though my fingers clench at my sides. "Besides, I think you're finally admitting I saved your night."
She snorts, rolling her eyes, but I catch the faintest twitch of a smirk. "Don't get used to it," she mutters.
I glance down at her, careful not to stare too long. Her hair falls into her eyes, catching the streetlight, and I swear for a moment I forget how to breathe. "Yeah? You're lucky I didn't get cut too," I say, voice low.
Her eyes snap up to mine, sharp and incredulous. "Lucky? You were being reckless, and I fixed you!"
I grin, stepping a fraction closer than necessary. "You don't seem mad anymore," I tease, letting the corner of my jacket brush hers.
Her cheeks flush. "I'm not mad. You're just… lucky I didn't leave you there bleeding like an idiot."
I can't help the laugh that escapes me. "Lucky me, huh?"
The corner of her lips twitches again, and our arms brush once more. Just a fleeting touch, but enough to send heat up my arm, tighten my chest. I glance at her, catching her looking back for the briefest second before she looks away, cheeks still pink.
The dorm looms ahead, quiet and empty. I stop just short of the steps, letting her go first — but only barely. The jacket slips slightly, my hand brushing against hers as she adjusts it.
"Thanks… for tonight," she says softly, almost too quiet to hear.
I swallow, my heart thudding in a way I haven't let her see. "Anytime," I murmur, voice rough. "Don't forget… you were the one who made me follow you into trouble in the first place."
She smirks, shaking her head. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever helps you sleep at night, hero."
Ava pov
I slam my dorm door behind me and immediately flop onto my bed, exhausted.
"Long night?" Emma's voice calls from across the room, clearly suspicious. She's perched on her chair with a book, eyes narrowing like she can see straight through me.
I groan, covering my face with a pillow. "You have no idea."
Emma tilts her head, smirking. "Try me. Spill. Did you survive the apocalypse or get kidnapped by a mysterious stranger?"
I peek out from under the pillow, cheeks already heating. "Something like… that."
Emma raises an eyebrow. "Something like that? Come on, Ava. You look like you ran a marathon and wrestled a bear."
I groan again. "Fine, fine. But you have to promise not to freak out."
Emma's grin widens. "No promises."
I sit up, hesitating. "Okay… so there was this guy — Axel. He… he actually fought a bunch of guys off for me."
Emma freezes, staring. "Wait… he fought guys for you?"
"Yes!" I snap, flopping back onto the bed. "And he… he got hurt, and I had to patch him up."
Emma's jaw drops. "You… patched him up? Alone?"
"Yes, alone!" I snap, though my cheeks betray me, pink and hot. "And he's… he's completely insane, and I—"
"Hold up," Emma interrupts, sitting forward, eyes sparkling with mischief. "You what? You what, Ava?"
"I don't know!" I groan, burying my face in the pillow again. "I just… he's… ugh! I don't hate him! Okay? There!"
Emma bursts into laughter, loud and teasing. "Ohhhhhh! So the big, scary Axel finally got under your skin!"
I groan again, muffled by the pillow. "He's annoying, Emma! And infuriating! And… and I don't know how to deal with it!"
Emma laughs harder, shaking her head. "Oh, Ava. This is going to be fun. You're falling for him, and you don't even realize it!"
I sit up, glaring at her, but the blush won't leave my cheeks. "I am not falling for him!"
"Uh-huh," Emma says, smirking. "Keep telling yourself that while you sleep with thoughts of him on your mind. Classic."
I groan again, grabbing the blanket to hide my face. "I hate you."
Emma laughs, leaning back in her chair, utterly satisfied. "Nope. You don't. And that's the best part."
The dorm common room buzzed with energy. Emily was standing at the center, clipboard in hand, clearly in full planning mode. Emma lounged on the couch, Kate was sprawled in a beanbag, and I sat cross-legged on the floor with a mug of coffee, trying to stay out of trouble.
"Alright, ladies," Emily announced, hands on her hips, "it's a holiday, and I've planned the perfect girls' day. Spa, brunch, shopping — nothing less. No excuses."
Kate clapped her hands excitedly. "Yes! Finally!"
Emma's eyes glinted with mischief as she leaned toward me. "But first… Ava, we need details about last night. You know, with… him."
I nearly choke on my coffee. "Emma! Stop!"
Kate laughs, nudging me. "Come on, spill! You can't just survive a night with Axel and keep quiet!"
Emily shoots them both a look. "Girls! Focus! This is about planning fun, not embarrassing Ava."
Emma smirks. "Relax, Emily. She'll survive a little harmless teasing. Right, Ava?"
I groan, hiding behind my mug. "It was nothing! Totally normal! Just… school stuff, okay? Nothing to talk about!"
Emma rolls her eyes. "Uh-huh. Sure, 'nothing.' That heroic act of yours, the bandage, the adrenaline… super casual, right?"
Kate giggles. "Yeah, totally normal. Definitely no blushing, heart racing, staring-at-each-other moments. Nope."
I throw my hands up. "I said nothing happened!"
Emily sighs, hiding a smile but clearly amused. "Fine. We'll stick to planning. Spa first, then brunch at Café Lumière — ridiculous pancakes, pictures mandatory. Shopping after that, and we regroup at the dorm for snacks and optional movies. Everyone happy?"
Emma leans back, smirk still in place. "Happy enough. But just so you know, Ava… girls' day doesn't erase last night from my memory."
I groan again, hiding my face. "I hate you both."
Kate laughs, pointing at me. "Nope. You don't. Admit it."
Emily shakes her head, clearly plotting the perfect day despite the chaos. "Alright, let's stick to the plan before you two drive Ava insane."
The spa day had been bliss — massages, facials, and a lot of squeals from Kate over scented candles. I was finally feeling relaxed, the stress of the last few days melting away… until we stepped out into the sunlight and froze.
"Uh… guys?" I whispered, my stomach doing a slow flip.
Ahead of us, standing by the café across the street, was Axel. And not just him — a couple of his friends were with him, laughing and joking.
Emma's eyes lit up immediately. "Well, well, well… look who it is."
Axel pov
We were outside the café, laughing at some dumb story about last week's training session. My friends were in full jolly mode, joking, nudging each other, tossing playful insults back and forth.
Then I saw her.
Ava.
The wind caught her hair, the jacket draped perfectly over her shoulders, and my chest tightened. She looked… impossibly like her, calm but radiant.
"Dude…" one of my friends said, nudging the other with a grin. "That girl? Total knockout."
Another laughed, clapping his hands. "Yeah, man! She's hot! Definitely notice-worthy."
I froze mid-breath, jaw tightening. "Seriously?" I shot them a sharp look.
They laughed, oblivious to my tension. "C'mon, man, lighten up! We're just admiring scenery."
"Admiring scenery?" I growled, my voice low, dangerous. "She's not scenery. She's… not your topic for commentary."
They chuckled nervously, glancing at me, but still smirking. "Whoa, okay, okay! Didn't know you were that protective!"
I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay calm. "Keep it together, Axel" said luca
But honestly? My pulse was racing. The thought of my friends talking about her like that made my stomach tighten.
And every detail hit me harder — the jacket over her shoulders, the way she stood slightly tense, her hair falling just right. My hand twitched at my side, itching to step forward.
"You're lucky I like you, otherwise…" I muttered under my breath, more to myself than them.
My friends, still laughing and jolly, shrugged. "Chill, man. We're just having fun."
Yeah, fun. My foot itched to move forward, to be the one between her and anyone else who dared.Emily spotted us first, waving cheerfully. "Axel! Hey!"
I gave a nod, trying to keep my tone casual. "Hey, Emily."
Ava froze slightly beside the girls, and I felt my chest tighten. Her eyes flicked to me, then down at the sidewalk. I noticed the faint blush on her cheeks — predictable, but I couldn't stop myself from enjoying it… just a little.
Emma smirked at her. "Exciting day, huh?"
Kate nudged Ava, whispering, "Look who's here."
I stepped forward, keeping my posture casual but subtly positioning myself between her and my friends. My friends were jolly, joking about random stuff, but I could tell they sensed the tension and were holding back on teasing.
"Coffee?" I asked, nodding toward the nearby café.
Ava stammered slightly. "Uh… sure."
The girls followed, and my friends trailed behind, still laughing and nudging each other, but noticeably quieter around Ava. I could feel her glancing at me nervously — and I decided I wasn't letting her deal with anyone else today.
As we all settled at a table, my friends pulled up chairs next to me, still teasing each other, still jolly, but I kept my attention firmly on Ava. Every slight movement, every brush of her hand near the cup, made my stomach tighten.
Sitting across from her, I couldn't help noticing the way my friends leaned in, trying to engage her in conversation. They were jolly, laughing, nudging each other, playful as always — but every smile, every subtle comment aimed at her made my chest tighten.
A strange heat coiled in my stomach, a mix of irritation and possessiveness I hadn't expected. They were just friends, just teasing — but the way she responded, even politely, made me feel… tense, almost raw.
I could see the slight flinch when their attention lingered a fraction too long. That tiny, unconscious gesture of caution made me want to lean across the table and block them out entirely, to keep her safe from even harmless chatter.
Every laugh, every playful nudge, set my nerves on edge. The jolly energy around her felt like a storm I didn't want her to face, and I hated myself for being so bothered by it.
And yet, I couldn't stop noticing her, couldn't stop the way my chest tightened every time she shifted or looked up at me. My fingers itched to reach for hers, just to remind her she wasn't alone.
I had to keep my control — calm, casual, collected — but inside, a sharp, almost fierce jealousy burned. I didn't want anyone else stealing even a second of her attention today.
Because she was mine — at least in that moment, in a way I refused to share.