The wind felt good against my skin. I didn't realize how badly I needed to breathe until Drey rolled the windows down and let the outside in. The sun was still climbing, but the breeze had that early-day softness to it—the kind that made you forget about deadlines, pressure, and annoying lecturers.
We didn't speak for the first few minutes. Just music, road, and the occasional sound of him shifting gears. But I could feel him. That easy confidence he always carried. The kind of energy that made you want to look twice.
His fingers drummed against the wheel in rhythm with the beat, and every now and then, he'd glance at me—quickly, like he didn't want to be obvious. But I noticed. I always noticed Drey.
I mean… I've watched him for a long time.
No, not like that. I'm not a creep. Just… observant. Thank you.
Drey glanced over, one hand loosely on the wheel, the other resting casually on his thigh. "You good?" he asked eventually, his voice low and warm.
"Yeah," I muttered, rubbing a hand down my face. "Just… overwhelmed."
"I saw you storm out," he said, calm and steady, like he wasn't prying—just… noticing.
I sighed. "Did I look that dramatic?"
He chuckled. "You looked… intense. Like if someone said one wrong word, the earth would split open."
I laughed despite myself and turned to look out the window. The sky looked way too calm for how messy everything felt.
"Guess I've had a day," I said, shaking my head with a soft sigh, "and it's not even noon yet."
He turned off the main road onto a quiet path lined with tall trees—the kind of place you didn't find unless you already knew it existed. A minute later, we pulled into a secluded overlook, where the campus disappeared behind a line of hills. Peaceful. Private.
He parked, cut the engine, and leaned back. "Figured you could use a breather."
I looked at him—really looked. Tousled hair that made him look like he'd just stepped out of bed. Strong jawline. Sharp cheekbones softened by the curve of his lips. Effortlessly hot. The kind of hot that didn't even know it was hot. Or maybe he did and just didn't care.
"You always come here?" I asked.
"Sometimes. When I'm avoiding life." He glanced at me. "You?"
"I usually just yell into a pillow."
He smiled genuinely, and something in that look made my stomach flip. The fluttery, ridiculous kind of flip I hated admitting to.
"That explains why you were out there yelling like a crazy person."
I narrowed my eyes. "I wasn't yelling like a crazy person."
"Oh no, you totally were." His grin widened, teasing but soft. "You literally screamed 'fuck you' into the sky."
I groaned. "Okay, dramatic. I get it."
He let the silence hang a beat before adding—casually,
"You know, if you're gonna keep yelling 'fuck you' in parking lots… you might as well direct it at someone who'd say yes."
My head snapped toward him. "What?" I chuckled
Drey looked at me, one brow raised slightly. His smile deepened—slow, smug, and entirely too sexy.
"I'm just saying," he added with a shrug, "you've got good aim, but it's wasted on the clouds."
I laughed. Drey had always seemed cool from a distance, but being near him was a whole different level.
"So what," I said finally, voice returning, "you're volunteering?"
Drey didn't miss a beat. "Depends. Is this a one-time thing, or are we talking a full course?"
I laughed harder, shaking my head and looking away, trying—and failing—to hide the blush crawling up my neck. "You're impossible."
"I've been called worse," he laughed
I bit my bottom lip—half from amusement, half from the fact that he looked so damn good sitting there, all confidence and tousled hair.
"And that's your game plan?" I asked. "Flirt until I forget I have responsibilities?"
"It's working, isn't it?"
We both laughed. Okay, I love him already.
I stepped out of the car, leaning against it, feeling the breeze tug gently at my hair.
The view stretched out before me, vast green fields that led down to a serene lake, its surface shimmering softly in the sunlight. The water reflected the sky's soft blue, while the distant hills framed the scene, giving it a sense of peaceful isolation. I'm more at home in a world of thrills and horrors, but I loved how calm and comforting this place was.
Drey joined me, standing close—but not too close.
"So," he said, voice a little softer now, "what did he do?"
"Who?"
"Dr. Lucian."
I blinked. Of course he knew. Everyone knew Lucian had asked me to come to his office.
I took a breath. "He basically said if I don't fix my GPA, I'll lose access to the labs… and probably any shot at grad school recommendations. Then he tried to assign me a tutor."
Drey let out a low whistle. "That's… intense."
"I know, right?"
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from Lily:
Where are you? Lucian just walked into the lab looking for the course rep.
My stomach dropped.
Drey must've noticed the shift in my expression. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah," I lied, sliding the phone back into my pocket. "Just… real life reminding me it still exists."
He smiled, but I could tell he wanted to ask more.
Instead, his eyes lingered on me. And for a moment, everything else just disappeared. Lucian. GPA. Pressure. All of it.
I turned away, pretending to watch a bird hop along the curb like it was the most fascinating thing I'd ever seen. Really, I was just trying to ignore the heat creeping up my neck, and the boy standing way too close beside me.
"Let's head back," he said. "You'll probably want to catch up with your lab."
I turned to him dramatically. "How do you know everything?" I found myself standing so close to him, looking up at him, his strong frame resting against the car.
"My friend is your department," he chuckled. God, that smile. It was so unfair. Effortless, confident. Like he wasn't just casually dismantling every defense I had left.
Then he straightened up and his hand lifted—slow, deliberate—and for a second, I thought he was reaching past me. Until I felt it.
His fingers brushed my temple, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His knuckles grazed my cheek, and my whole body froze. He didn't pull away—not right away.
His hand lingered, hovering just over my jaw like he wasn't sure if he should touch me.
And I wasn't sure if I wanted him to stop.
"You've got really nice blue eyes," he murmured. Soft. Thoughtful. Barely more than a whisper.
My heart stuttered. "Uh—"
His gaze flicked downward. To my lips.
For half a second. Maybe less. But I saw it. I felt it.
Every part of me wanted to close the distance between us. Just lean in. Just try.
And suddenly, the breeze a strange but familiar wind and everywhere became so cold, like it was about to rain
I let out a slow breath I didn't realize I'd been holding, arms folding around myself.
"Let's get in," he said, opening the door.
As we got back in the car, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted.
Like the world had tilted slightly…
And I had no idea which way it would fall next.