Chapter 1

She stood at the doorway of her new dorm, the heavy wooden door ajar behind her, a suitcase in hand and a nervous thrumming in her gut. It was her first time living on campus—and her first time living alone. The halls of the prestigious school bustled with students who looked like they belonged: well-dressed, well-groomed, rich. And then there was her.

A girl from the edge of town who had fought tooth and nail for her grades, now surrounded by the children of CEOs, politicians, and the wealthy elite. Everything around her screamed luxury. She could feel the weight of it in every polished floor and expensive detail of the school that now demanded perfection from her.

Taking a breath, she stepped inside the room. Her gaze landed on the figure lounging on one of the beds, the sharp scent of cigarette smoke clinging to the air like a haze. A girl with short, chestnut-colored hair glanced up lazily, a cigarette hanging from her lips. She was surprised; the girl didn't look the type.

"Oh, hey, you must be the new kid," she said, eyes half-lidded as though introductions were too much effort. "I'm Serena. Your roommate."

Serena's voice was soft but edged with a casual nonchalance that put her somewhat at ease. She attempted a smile, though the tightness in her chest lingered. Serena didn't seem to notice her awkwardness—or if she did, she didn't comment. She busied herself with unpacking as Serena smoked quietly, occasionally exhaling a long stream of smoke that swirled through the air. She wrinkled her nose a bit at the smell.

Suddenly, the door flew open behind her, slamming against the wall with a loud thud. She nearly jumped out of her skin as a tall boy with butter blonde hair barreled into the room, grinning like a devil. "Serena!" he yelled, immediately making a beeline for her bed. "Why didn't you tell me you got a new plaything?"

She froze, eyes wide, trying to process his sudden appearance. He practically leaped onto the bed next to Serena, who didn't seem fazed in the slightest. She simply took another drag from her cigarette, as if this was completely normal. "You're such a pain in the ass, Daiya," she muttered, flicking ash into an already overflowing tray. "You're gonna scare her off if you keep acting like an idiot."

Her heart was still pounding as she stared at him. Daiya, huh? He was tall—ridiculously tall, actually—and his messy blonde hair made him stand out even more. She tried to focus on unpacking, forcing her hands to move, but couldn't help stealing glances at him.

He was stretched out on Serena's bed, his piercing blue eyes darting in her direction every few seconds, as if gauging her reaction. His lips curved into an arrogant grin, clearly amused by her nervousness. "Look at her," Daiya teased, shifting his weight to prop himself up on one elbow, fully focused on her now. "She's terrified. Didn't know Serena's roommate was so skittish."

She clenched her fists around the fabric of her clothes, feeling the heat of embarrassment crawl up her neck. What was she supposed to say to that? Probably nothing. She could sense that arguing with someone like him wouldn't lead anywhere good.

Daiya's voice broke through her thoughts again. "What's your name, freshman?"

Her throat felt dry. She opened her mouth to respond, but Serena beat her to it.

"Jesus, leave her alone, Daiya," Serena said, her voice flat but firm. She gave him a sideways glance, exhaling another cloud of smoke. "You're gonna freak her out before she even gets settled. Not everyone's used to your shit, you know?"

He shrugged, unfazed by Serena's remark. "Fine, fine." He threw his hands up in mock surrender, though the smirk never left his face. He leaned against the doorframe, looking like he owned the place. "So, you still coming to the party tonight?" he asked, glancing over at Serena.

Serena groaned, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know... I'm not feeling it. I get annoyed with everyone halfway through and leave early anyway."

"You do that every time," Daiya said, his grin widening as he stepped further into the room. "But it's tradition now. You show up, hang out for thirty minutes, complain about how everyone's an idiot, and then bail. It's practically part of the party."

Serena exhaled a long stream of smoke, shaking her head. "Yeah, real fun for me," she muttered sarcastically. "I don't think I'm in the mood to deal with everyone's shit tonight."

"Please?" He practically whined, giving her puppy-dog eyes.

She was doing her best to focus on unpacking, trying to pretend she wasn't eavesdropping on their conversation, but the more they talked, the more her curiosity piqued. A party. Of course, the elite students here threw parties, probably every weekend. She wasn't exactly party material, though; she'd never even been to a real one.

Then, Daiya's attention shifted back to her.

"You can come too, you know," he said, his voice suddenly filled with an extra layer of charm that made her stomach twist. His eyes gleamed, clearly enjoying her reaction. "No point sitting here all night alone, right?"

She blinked, heart racing. "Uh..." She scrambled for an excuse, feeling cornered. "I didn't really bring anything for a party. I don't have the right clothes…"

He waved her off as if it were no issue. "Just borrow something from Serena. She's got plenty of stuff."

Serena shot him an annoyed glance. "Daiya, shut up. She probably doesn't even want to go, right?"

She nodded a little too quickly, relieved at the lifeline Serena was offering. "Yeah, I—I don't know if I'd be comfortable—"

But Daiya wasn't letting up. He stepped closer, the playful grin never leaving his face, his voice dropping to a teasing tone. "Aw, come on. It'll be fun. You don't wanna miss your first college party, do you? I promise I'll behave." His gaze flickered over her, and the way he looked at her made her skin prickle, unsure if he was serious or just messing with her. "It'll be a good time."

She swallowed hard, trying to find a way out, but something about his persistent charm—no, arrogance—made it difficult to say no. It wasn't that she wanted to go, but there was something unsettling about how much he seemed to enjoy her discomfort. He was like a cat toying with a mouse, and she was the mouse.

"Cut it out, Daiya," Serena interrupted, her words clipped. "You're being a dumbass, as usual." She shot him a warning glare, but he just shrugged, unfazed.

He didn't look the least bit apologetic, his eyes still locked on hers, and she had to force herself to look away. "Seriously, think about it. It might be fun." She bit her lip, feeling the pressure building. She didn't want to make waves on her first day, especially not with someone like him. The thought of being thrown into a party full of strangers with no escape made her throat tighten.

"She doesn't have to go if she doesn't want to. Stop harassing her, Daiya."

He sighed dramatically, as if giving up, though a flicker in his eyes suggested this wasn't over. "Fine, fine. But you're missing out, freshman," he said, shooting her one last playful glance before heading for the door. "And you're still coming, Serena," he called over his shoulder. "I'll drag you there myself if I have to."

Serena rolled her eyes, flicking her cigarette into the ashtray. "Yeah, yeah. We'll see."

With that, Daiya finally left the room, leaving the girl with her heart pounding and a distinct feeling that this wouldn't be the last time she'd have to deal with him. She took a shaky breath, trying to calm herself. Serena glanced over at her, a half-smirk on her face. "Sorry about him," she said, her voice softer now, the edge from earlier gone. "Daiya's an idiot. Always has been."

She nodded awkwardly, still feeling the lingering embarrassment from his teasing. "It's fine," she mumbled, though her voice came out a little too high-pitched to be convincing. She wasn't exactly fine, but she didn't want to make a big deal out of it. The last thing she needed was to come across as weak or overly sensitive on her first day.

Serena sighed, sitting up on her bed and stubbing out her cigarette in the ashtray. "Anyway, enough about that idiot. What's your major?" She leaned back on her hands, watching her with a bit more interest now. "You must be pretty smart to snag a scholarship here."

The fact that Serena knew surprised her a little, though she guessed word traveled fast among the rich kids. She shifted, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "Oh, um... I'm majoring in anthropology."

"Anthropology, huh? Studying people and cultures and all that?"

"Yeah," she replied, feeling a bit more comfortable. "I've always been interested in how different societies work, their customs, beliefs, how they've evolved over time. I guess I just... like learning about people."

"So, you're into studying people but hate being around them. Interesting."

She let out a small, nervous laugh. "Something like that."

Serena stretched out, her eyes half-lidded as she mulled over the answer. "Anthropology's pretty cool, though. You'll probably get to travel a lot if you stick with it. Better than being stuck in a lab or an office all day."

She nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "That's the hope. I want to work in the field someday, maybe even study indigenous cultures or ancient civilizations."

Serena gave a low whistle. "Damn, ambitious. I respect that."

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. Sure, she'd probably have to deal with Daiya and his relentless teasing, but at least Serena seemed cool—chill in a way that made her think they could get along just fine. Serena glanced at the clock on the wall, then back at her. "You ever been to any party before?"

Her stomach dropped a little. "No," she admitted, feeling a bit out of place again.

"Well, don't worry. If you decide to come, just stick by me. I'll make sure Daiya doesn't pull any more dumb shit."

At least she had one person looking out for her. But even with Serena's casual reassurance, she wasn't sure if a party—especially one filled with rich, entitled students—was something she could handle. "I might skip out," she mumbled, feeling the weight of social anxiety pressing in again. "But thanks for offering."

Serena waved her off like it was no big deal. "Suit yourself," she said, standing up and stretching like a cat. "But if you change your mind, feel free to rummage through my closet. Take whatever you want. I honestly don't give a fuck."

That last part made her pause. Serena's wardrobe probably cost more than her entire tuition. Her casual offer to lend out her clothes only confirmed what she'd already suspected—Serena was well off, like most of the students here. Yet, despite her wealth, she had an easy, laid-back attitude, the kind that made her feel like Serena didn't really care about material things. Maybe that's why Serena didn't act like Daiya, flaunting her status and teasing her. Still, it was hard to wrap her head around someone being so nonchalant about their privilege.

As Serena moved toward the door, she shot her a tiny grin. "I'm gonna head out for a bit, do my own thing. I'll be back later to change for the party. I'll grab you just in case you change your mind."

She nodded, watching as Serena slipped out the door, leaving her alone in the dorm. The silence was almost comforting, but it also gave her mind too much space to wander. The truth was, she didn't have much to do. She'd already unpacked, though that wasn't saying much. She hadn't brought a lot with her—just the essentials, really. A few changes of clothes, some books, her laptop, and not much else. Compared to the wealthy students here, who probably moved in with wardrobes full of designer outfits and decorations for their rooms, her belongings felt pitifully small.

Serena's side was, predictably, more lived-in. Clothes were strewn across her bed, and a couple of cigarette packs were tucked into the corner of her desk. The closet door was slightly ajar, giving her a glimpse of the expensive clothes inside.

Even though she'd told Serena she wasn't interested in going to the party, curiosity gnawed at her. Maybe, just for a moment, she could blend in, even if she didn't feel like she belonged. She stood up and hesitated for a second before making her way to Serena's closet. Serena had said to take whatever she wanted. She reached for the handle and opened the door wider, revealing rows of neatly hung clothes, each piece more expensive than the last. Designer brands, high-end shoes, and bags lined the shelves. She ran her fingers over a few dresses, feeling the silky fabrics, wondering what it would be like to slip into something so effortlessly stylish.

As she rifled through the clothes, a small bag caught her eye. It was tucked into the back corner, half-hidden behind some folded sweaters. Her fingers brushed against it, and she pulled it out without thinking. It was a clear plastic bag filled with small, colorful pills.

Her heart skipped a beat.

This wasn't just some random bag of aspirin or allergy meds. No, this was something else entirely—something that looked more like a personal stash. She hadn't spent much time around drugs, but she'd seen enough movies and television shows to recognize the familiar shapes.

She quickly shoved the bag back into its hiding spot, her hands trembling slightly. She shouldn't have snooped. She shouldn't have looked. But now that she had, she couldn't unsee it.