THE FACE THAT STARTED IT ALL

As Christine stepped out of the car, the crisp autumn air whispered promises of a new beginning. The golden afternoon light bathed the campus, making everything seem warm and hopeful — but inside, Christine felt like a storm was brewing. Excitement and anxiety twisted in her stomach, and despite the thrill of this new chapter, her face was tight with frustration.

"This wasn't the plan," she muttered, adjusting the strap of her bag as she turned toward her mom. "You promised not to drive me here. You said I was going to be free, like a bird. Remember?"

Her mom's face softened, but there was a flicker of guilt behind her smile. "I did what every mother does — I worried. That's normal, Christine."

Christine sighed, the familiar tug of exasperation rising in her chest. "Sure, but you never let me be free. Not once. Good thing I'm finally off the hook."

Her mom took a step closer, eyes already brimming with the advice Christine had heard a thousand times. "And since you're finally leaving the nest, remember — sex is a choice and—"

"Mom!" Christine hissed, her face flushing as she glanced around the parking lot. "Not here. You're embarrassing me."

Her mom raised her hands in defense, smiling sheepishly. "I'm just saying what you should know."

"And you've been saying it since I was ten." Christine shook her head, but her lips twitched in a reluctant smile.

Her mom's expression turned serious. "Fine, I'll go. Unless you need help finding your room?"

Christine squared her shoulders, a quiet sense of independence washing over her. "I've got it. You should get going."

After one last tight hug and a few more parting words of caution, Christine watched her mom drive off. The car disappeared around the bend, leaving her standing there alone — and for the first time, the reality of this new chapter hit her.

*_*

The campus buzzed with life as Christine wandered through the crowd, her nerves calming just a little with every step. The warm sunlight cast long shadows on the green lawns, and laughter rippled through the air like music. After a few wrong turns, she finally found her dorm building and pushed open the door to her room.

"Hello?" she called out softly, her eyes adjusting to the cozy space.

"Hey, roomie!" A bright, cheerful voice answered, and Christine turned to see a girl about her age perched on the bed, phone in hand. Jessie's long, curly brown hair bounced as she jumped up, her hazel eyes sparkling.

"You must be Jessie," Christine said, her smile cautious but hopeful. "I'm Chris."

"Finally!" Jessie grabbed Christine's hand in an enthusiastic shake. "They brought me a roommate! We're gonna be besties — I can feel it."

Christine chuckled, warmth creeping into her chest. "Sure. Besties."

Jessie's eyes gleamed mischievously. "So, there's a freshman party tonight. You in? It's gonna be epic."

Christine hesitated. The idea of diving into a crowd of strangers made her stomach twist. "I'd love to, but I'm still settling in. I'm not really the party type."

Jessie pouted dramatically. "Come on, don't kill the vibe, bitch! It's the first night. You can't miss this."

Christine sighed, feeling her resolve crack. "Fine. But we're not staying late."

Jessie whooped, pumping her fist in the air. "You won't regret it!"

*_*

The party was chaos.

Christine stood at the edge of the room, her pulse beating in time with the thumping bass. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and cheap perfume, and the flashing lights made everything seem surreal. Jessie had dragged her into this, and now she'd disappeared into the crowd, leaving Christine adrift in a sea of unfamiliar faces.

"I can't believe you talked me into this," Christine muttered under her breath.

"Relax!" Jessie's voice floated back from somewhere in the crowd. "I'm getting us drinks!"

Christine crossed her arms, scanning the room. That's when she saw him.

He sat off to the side, utterly detached from the chaos around him. A sketchpad rested on his knee, and his pencil moved swiftly, his focus razor-sharp. Everything about him — the messy dark hair falling over his forehead, the sharp line of his jaw, the ease with which he ignored the world — made him stand out.

Her eyes lingered a second too long.

One of his friends nudged him and whispered something, and the guy looked up. Their eyes met — and Christine felt it like a jolt of electricity. A slow, knowing smile curved his lips as he rose and walked toward her, moving with the kind of confidence that set her on edge.

"Hey, baby girl," he said, his voice smooth and low, like a secret meant only for her. "My friends say you were checking me out. You like what you see?"

Christine blinked, heat rushing to her face. "First of all, I wasn't staring. And second, your friends must be blind because there's nothing to see here."

He laughed, and the sound was warm and rough all at once. "Feisty. I like that."

"Good for you," she shot back, folding her arms tighter.

He tilted his head, those piercing blue eyes dancing with amusement. "So, what's your name, baby girl?"

"Not your business."

"That's a shame. A pretty face like yours deserves some attention."

Christine opened her mouth, but before she could deliver a scathing reply, Jessie reappeared with two drinks in hand. She took one look at the guy and rolled her eyes. "Oh, hell no. I leave my best friend for five minutes, and you're already flirting with her?"

He grinned, completely unfazed. "What can I say? I'm irresistible."

"Ugh. Go away, Peter." Jessie's tone was playful, but there was an edge to it.

Peter winked at Christine. "Catch you later, baby girl."

Christine watched him walk away, her heart still hammering in her chest. She turned to Jessie, her voice low. "Who was that?"

"That's Peter," Jessie said with a sigh. "And trust me — he's the worst thing that could happen at this party."

Christine's eyebrows shot up. "Worst thing?"

Jessie nodded, eyes wide. "He's the hottest guy in the whole freshman class. Too bad he's also a total psycho."

Christine's lips quirked into a smirk. "Obviously."

As they made their way to the dance floor, Christine couldn't help but glance back. Across the room, Peter was still watching her — and the way his eyes held hers made her feel both thrilled and

terrified.

Little did she know, their encounter was only the beginning of a very dangerous game.