The commotion in the halls distracted more than a few students. That day, everyone was presenting their final projects, eager to wrap things up and enjoy the last days of winter break.
Isaac locked the classroom door before starting his presentation with Kegan, determined that no red-haired lunatic would interrupt again. Their project went smoothly: solid grade, good feedback. When it was over, they headed to the campus café for some coffee.
Outside, the cold air bit at their skin. Isaac lit a cigarette and looped a gray scarf around his neck, exhaling a thin stream of smoke that disappeared into the winter breeze. The campus felt eerily empty. In three years at MTM, he had never stayed for the holidays—turns out it wasn't such a bad idea after all. His golden eyes stared blankly ahead while he waited for Kegan to return.
"Only cappuccinos left," Kegan said, handing him a cup with a crooked grin. "Sorry for sweetening your bitter life."
Isaac offered the faintest smile in thanks. Their silence was comfortable, almost routine: Kegan scrolling through his phone, sipping his coffee, while Isaac smoked, gaze lost in the distance.
"So… how do you know that chaotic guy from earlier?" Isaac asked suddenly, his voice steady as ever.
Kegan blinked, trying to tell if he was serious."That's Dante. Dante Black," he said, like it was the most obvious answer in the world.
Isaac's blank expression made it clear he had no idea who that was.
"Aaah, why am I even surprised with you…" Kegan sighed, shaking his head with a smirk. "He's a second-year. You saw it yourself—he's ridiculously good-looking, filthy rich, and when he first got here? A total nightmare. Point is, everyone knows who he is."
"Everyone here is the child of someone important," Isaac replied calmly, unimpressed.
"Fair point," Kegan admitted. "But not everyone's family practically owns the entire city. Name a big company in Westwood—any of them. The Blacks probably run it."
"The glass palace-looking hotel across town?" Isaac asked, his voice quiet, almost casual.
"That one too." Kegan smirked.
Isaac gave a slow nod. His face betrayed little, but Kegan knew him well enough to recognize the flicker of surprise.
Meanwhile, in his dorm, Dante was celebrating like he'd just won a prize. On video call, Ethan showed him his grandparents' farm, promising to take him there someday. Dante always agreed, but never set a date.
"Now that I found your model, what's next? Should I walk up and pitch it to him, or do you want to do it yourself?"
"Wait till I get there," Ethan said. "I'll be back tomorrow to spend the last days of break with you. Let's hit that club again."
"Ha! I knew it. You liked that girl way too much. Shame you scared her off rambling about 'yellow eyes.'" Dante burst out laughing.
"Shut up! I don't even know what you're talking about!" Ethan snapped, embarrassed.
Dante's laughter echoed through the room. But once the call ended, silence crept back in. He'd never admit it, but without Ethan and Claire, the dorm felt painfully empty. He curled under his blankets earlier than usual, wishing the night away.
Morning came with the faint sensation of fingers in his hair. Dante blinked awake to see Ethan grinning down at him, hands messing with his red strands.
"Don't wanna wake up, huh?"
"Hey! Hey!" Dante groaned, sitting up, rubbing his eyes.
"You look like a pufferfish when you sleep," Ethan teased. "Come on, breakfast."
The restaurant was simple yet elegant, perched high with glass windows overlooking the entire city. Dante wore a loose white shirt, black slacks, and for once, his usually wild red hair looked a little more tamed. That carefree smile, though, was the same as ever.
"Is this a date? Hate to break it to you, but you're not my type," he teased.
Ethan pulled a face and waved the waiter over."How are you, Dante?" he asked more seriously this time.
Dante narrowed his eyes—he knew exactly what Ethan was fishing for."I'm excited about your RickTentation project. What about you?" he deflected with a sly grin.
"Oh, come on. I heard the coordinator chewed you out. Did something happen?"
Dante's smirk faltered. He sighed, staring at the table."My mom texted. Wants me to come home. I told her no, but the silence since then… it's unsettling. She's planning something."
"Shit…" Ethan muttered. "What if she forces you back?"
"I'll leave the country." Dante said it like a joke, but with him, you could never tell.
The waiter arrived with their plates, and the tension dissolved into light banter about the food.
Back on campus, they decided to use the last three days of break to find Isaac. And then—by sheer luck—he walked right past them outside the dorms.
Dante nudged Ethan forward, leaning casually against a column to watch.
Ethan stopped in front of the tall boy, flashing a nervous smile. For a second, he forgot they were strangers.
"Can I help you?" Isaac asked, confused. His height made Ethan tilt his chin up.
"Uh… hi. I'm Ethan. I've been looking for you."
Isaac raised a brow."For me?"
"Yes. See, I—" Ethan stumbled through his explanation, detailing the project, the magazine, how important it was for him as a film student. His nerves slipped away as he spoke, surprised by how easy it felt to talk to Isaac, despite the intimidating aura he carried. Isaac listened quietly, nodding now and then, his golden eyes calm but unreadable.
"So… what do you say? Would you be my model?"
Isaac's response was quiet, steady."I don't think so. But thank you for the offer."
It wasn't harsh, just disinterested. He gave a polite smile, then walked away.
Dante's jaw clenched as he straightened from the column."What the hell…?" he muttered, eyes narrowing.
Ethan stood frozen, stunned. He'd been so consumed with the idea of finding the perfect model that he'd forgotten one crucial thing: the model could say no.
Dante marched up to him, fire burning in his green eyes."Repeat that. What did that asshole just say?"
"He just… said no," Ethan answered, voice low, defeated.
"Exactly. He just brushed you off without even explaining. Who does he think he is?" Dante scanned the crowd, half ready to chase after him.
"Forget it, Dante. He's in his right to refuse. I was stupid for putting all my hopes on him."
But Dante wasn't ready to let it go. His jaw tightened, his usual grin gone, replaced by raw defiance. The green in his eyes burned brighter, a dangerous promise Ethan recognized all too well.
For Dante, "no" wasn't an ending.It was the start of a fight.
-----
With only two weeks left to deliver the photos, Ethan was a wreck. The model he'd found was a nightmare—unreliable, always late, and when he did show up, the pictures were terrible. Every time Ethan complained, Dante's dislike for Isaac only grew stronger.
Everything went back to normal. Well… almost. Helena Black had gotten what she wanted and dragged Dante home, leaving him hardly ever available. And when he finally returned to campus, he tried to act cheerful, carrying his usual playful air, but his friends quickly noticed how drained he looked.
"Do you really think Ethan can pull this off with that model?" Claire asked as they stood in line at the cafeteria.
Dante scoffed, his expression twisting."Not a chance. That idiot doesn't even have that great of a face, and he acts like he's some kind of VIP. He makes me sick."
Claire smiled softly. It was kind of endearing, but it worried her too. Dante had refused to say a word about what happened back home. Every time she asked, he'd laugh it off or change the subject, and she suspected he was burying all those emotions under the excuse of Ethan's photoshoot.
"Well, at least Ethan has a model," she tried to say optimistically.
Dante rolled his eyes."He never should've given up on Isaac Collins. I wouldn't have. Attitude problem or not, that guy's face is perfect for the shoot. Even I can see it."
"Then why don't you go after him?" Claire challenged with a raised brow.
Dante huffed."You think I didn't try? I went back to the last classroom I saw him in, but he doesn't even take classes there. It's like he vanished."
From the next line over, someone perked up. Kegan had caught enough of the conversation to be intrigued. Dante Black, of all people, was looking for Isaac? That was interesting. To most people, Dante was like a celebrity at MTM. The thought of him chasing after his best friend was too good to ignore.
Without hesitation, Kegan strolled over with his usual easy confidence. He hadn't even reached them when Dante shot him a look of pure disdain, one brow raised like he was already regretting the interruption.
"Hey. I'm Kegan." He extended his hand with a bright smile.
Dante didn't take it."Hi, Kegan." His voice was flat, bored.
Kegan's grin only widened. Dante was exactly what the rumors said: handsome, arrogant, and impossible to approach. Claire, watching from the side, had to bite her lip to hold back laughter.
"I heard you're looking for Isaac Collins," Kegan said, his confident tone grating on Dante's nerves.
"You know him?" Dante asked, his indifference cutting like a knife.
"Did I forget to mention he's my best friend?" Kegan puffed out his chest with pride.
Dante blinked slowly, clearly running out of patience."Do you know where he is?"
Claire was practically shaking, seconds away from bursting into laughter. She knew Dante too well—his tolerance for people like this was nonexistent.
"Of course I do," Kegan said, tilting his head with a playful grin. "But why are you looking for him?"
Dante's lips curved into a smile—fake, tight, a smile that never reached his eyes."That's personal. Just tell me where to find him."
Instead of answering, Kegan threw an arm around Dante's shoulders like they were old buddies. Dante's body went rigid instantly, his jaw clenching so hard it looked painful. Claire couldn't hold it in anymore and broke into laughter.
"Come on, Black," Kegan teased, pretending to sound serious though the glint in his eyes gave him away. "I can't just hand over my best friend's location like that. What if you're dangerous?"
Dante shoved him off with a sharp move, reclaiming his space. His smile stayed plastered in place, but it was sharp, cynical—barely containing the urge to tell him off."It's for work. I'll pay him well. But that's all I can say."
"Ohhh, lots of money involved, huh?" Kegan whistled, amused. "Alright. Meet me later in the third hallway of the Medicine building. I'll introduce you."
Dante stared him down, eyes narrowing with a mix of suspicion and challenge. Then he shut his eyes briefly and faked a smile."Fine."
Kegan walked off, cheerful and carefree, as if the exchange had been nothing. Dante finally exhaled, tension easing from his shoulders.
"He's unbearable," he muttered under his breath, turning to Claire.
She was doubled over in laughter, tears at the corners of her eyes.
"Every face you made was priceless. I swear, Ethan's gonna love you if you actually manage to catch Isaac."