Elaris College of Fine Arts – First Semester, Day One
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The sun was too bright for a Monday.
Leon Ashford stepped out of the sleek black car, one foot hitting the pavement like he was stepping onto a runway instead of college grounds. His sunglasses caught the morning light, hair casually tousled, and a sketchbook tucked under one arm.
"Back to chaos and coffee," he said, grinning.
Beside him, Vale Draeven moved silently, tall and cold in all black. He didn't speak. He never did—unless it was to Leon. And even then, his words were few and sharp like the brushstrokes in his haunting art.
Three others followed behind them—Callen, Iris, and Jay, their friends since prep school. All born into money and status. Callen was cocky, Iris was the queen bee of sarcasm, and Jay flirted with anything that had a pulse.
But none of them dared cross Vale.
And all of them knew—without being told—not to speak to Leon too warmly when Vale was around.
Because what they didn't know—but felt—was this:
Vale Draeven would destroy anyone who tried to take Leon from him.
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Across the campus gate, a beat-up scooter came to a shaky stop.
"Itold you it was left from the bookstore, not right,"Noel Thomas said, hopping off and pulling his bag higher. His curls were a mess, his shirt untucked, and his smile unbothered.
His two best friends, Sienna and Theo, followed behind him—one rolling her eyes, the other munching on chips like it was their personal movie.
"Your version of left is whatever direction we crash in,"Sienna muttered.
"How is this place even a college? It looks like an art museum with way too many windows," Theo said, still chewing.
Noel didn't respond. His attention had been grabbed—completely—by a certain tall, sharp-featured guy in all black, standing near the courtyard fountain.
The guy barely moved, barely looked at anyone—yet something about him stood out.
Not just because he was striking, but because he didn't blend in with the four glamorous, expensive-looking people around him.
Vale Draeven
Noel didn't know his name. He didn't care. But his presence?
He looked like he belonged to a different story altogether.
And the one next to him—Leon Ashford—seemed to glow like the opposite.
"They'rehot,"Theo said, already noticing where Noel's eyes were.
"Dangerous,"Sienna warned. "That one in black looks like he eats feelings for breakfast."
"I'm going to be friends with them,"Noel announced with complete confidence.
"You're going to get wrecked," Theo said.
"And I'm going to enjoy watching,"Sienna added with a sigh.
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Inside the Mixed Media & Expression studio, first-year students were settling in, whispering about professors and praying their supplies weren't wrong.
The room smelled like acrylic paint, wood shavings, and way too much coffee.
Leon leaned on a table by the window, flipping through his sketchbook while Vale sat beside him—not drawing, just watching.
Noel entered a few minutes later and scanned the room.
And just like that, fate decided to make things interesting.
The only empty seat?
Right next to Leon.
"Mind if I—?" Noel asked.
Leon looked up and grinned. "Sure. I'm Leon."
"Noel."
They shook hands.
Vale didn't say a word, but his fingers dug slightly into the wooden table.
His world was already delicate.
He wouldn't let anyone—especially someone who didn't belong in Leon's world—get too close.
To be continued…