Zara was the kind of girl who liked plans. Timetables. Highlighted notes. Color-coded sticky tabs.
She did not like surprises—especially the kind that involved mysterious hoodie-wearing boys with celebrity-level confidence.
And yet, somehow, she was stuck with one.
"Excuse me?" she blinked at her Literature lecturer.
"You'll be paired with Adrian Ryder," Professor Bello said, glancing over his reading glasses. "He's new. You'll help him catch up on coursework."
Zara turned slowly to see who this "Adrian Ryder" was.
Of course.
It was him.
Mr. Hoodie. Mr. Sunglasses. Mr. "We'll see each other again."
He gave her a lazy grin, hand propped under his chin like he was posing for a photoshoot. "Hey, study buddy."
She stared at him, deadpan. "There has to be a mistake."
Professor Bello glanced at her. "Ms. Adewale, you're top of the class. He's at the bottom. You'll balance each other out."
Zara pinched the bridge of her nose. "Like academic yin and yang."
Ace leaned toward her. "So… when's our first session?"
She turned to him and whispered through clenched teeth, "If you so much as hum one more word, I'll staple your lips shut."
He chuckled. "Spicy. I like it."
---
Later that day…
Zara sat at their assigned table in the library, tapping her pen against her notebook. She'd arrived fifteen minutes early—because punctuality was a virtue. He was already ten minutes late—because arrogance was clearly a lifestyle.
When he finally strolled in, Zara didn't look up.
"You're late."
"You're early."
"That's called being responsible."
He dropped into the chair opposite her. "That's called being a control freak."
Zara finally looked at him. He wore a casual white tee, fitted jeans, and a smirk that was probably insured. He didn't look like he'd brought any books.
She arched a brow. "Where's your textbook?"
He tapped his head. "I prefer to store knowledge up here."
She blinked slowly. "So it's just empty shelves."
Ace chuckled again, then reached into his bag and pulled out a dog-eared novel. "Relax. I read. Occasionally."
Zara stared at the book. "That's Twilight."
"I like vampires," he said. "And sparkles."
She groaned. "Okay. Ground rules. One—no distractions. Two—no flirting. Three—show up on time. Four—"
"Wait, wait. Did you say no flirting?" He looked offended. "You think I was flirting?"
"Weren't you?"
"Would it work if I was?"
Zara stared at him. "Rule five—never speak again."
---
Meanwhile...
Mimi was losing her mind.
"Zara," she whispered fiercely later that night, pacing the dorm, "you're tutoring Adrian Ryder. Do you know what that means?"
"That I'm in academic hell?"
"No! That you are one of the only girls on this campus with his actual attention!"
Zara flopped on her bed. "He's not even that charming. He's like… if sarcasm and a Spotify playlist had a baby."
Mimi gasped. "You're attracted to him."
"I am not."
"You are."
"I'm not!"
Mimi grinned. "You keep talking about him."
"That's because I'm trying to survive being paired with a human distraction!"
Mimi squealed and threw a pillow at her. "I'm making a fan page for your future wedding."