Chapter 172: Establishing Diplomatic Relations

One of the girls even dramatically flopped her head onto the table.

Another whispered loudly, "If that's not plot armor, I don't know what is."

Rex smiled, eyes flicking to Elara.

She hadn't noticed.

Or maybe… she had.

She shifted a little in her seat. Just a small, nearly imperceptible movement. Her fingers curled tighter around the edge of her tray. Her eyes didn't lift. Her posture stiffened.

Yeah. She'd noticed.

He softened slightly.

Most people would have loved this attention—even bathed in it. But her? She looked like she was one misplaced spoon away from curling into a ball and rolling under the table.

Rex took a long sip of his shake, thinking.

Why does she keep doing that? Acting like she doesn't belong here?

Didn't she get it? This wasn't some regular college. It was UCLA. One of the top.

Everyone here wasn't just somebody—they were going to be somebody.