The cafeteria was nothing like Riley had ever seen before—glimmering glass walls, designer furniture, and food that looked like it belonged on the cover of a gourmet magazine. She held her tray awkwardly, scanning the room for a quiet place to sit.
Whispers followed her, curious eyes watching as the "new scholarship girl" made her way through their polished world in sneakers and denim. She spotted an empty table near the corner and headed for it, but just as she sat down, a shadow loomed beside her.
Zayden.
Of course.
"You really like following me around," Riley muttered, stabbing a piece of chicken with her fork.
He slid into the seat across from her, tray untouched. "You're the one sitting at my table."
"Didn't see your name on it," she shot back.
He leaned forward, elbows on the table, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "You've got fire, Morgan. I like that."
She met his gaze without flinching. "And you've got a very punchable face. I don't like that."
Laughter burst from his throat, catching the attention of nearby students. The infamous Zayden Adrian laughing? At someone insulting him?
"This is going to be fun," he said, smirking. "You're not like the rest of them."
"I'm not trying to be," she replied coolly, picking up her juice.
A girl with perfectly curled hair and a designer bag strutted over to their table. "Zayden, baby, are you really sitting with her?"
Riley glanced at her, then back at Zayden. "You've got groupies?"
He didn't even look at the girl. "Go away, Naomi."
"But—"
"Now."
The girl huffed and turned away, giving Riley a death glare.
Riley raised her brow. "Charming. You treat all your girls like that?"
"You're not one of them," he said, tone shifting just slightly.
She narrowed her eyes. "No. I'm not. And I never will be."
For a moment, his grin faltered.
"Good," he said finally. "Because I'm tired of people who pretend."
There was silence between them then—not cold, but thick with unspoken challenge. For all his arrogance, there was something about Zayden that didn't sit right with her. Something behind those steel blue eyes that looked… lonely.
But she wasn't here to fix anyone. Especially not a spoiled billionaire's son.
She grabbed her tray and stood. "Enjoy your throne, Prince Charming."
"I will," he called after her, his voice low and teasing. "But don't be surprised when you find yourself sitting next to it again."
Riley didn't look back.
But her heart beat just a little faster.