Amber

Chapter 11: The Problem With Adrian Blackwood (Amber's POV )

Adrian Blackwood was a problem.

A tall, arrogant, smirking nightmare of a problem.

And the worst part?

I couldn't stop thinking about him.

—

I shoved my keys into the door, stepping inside and kicking off my shoes with more force than necessary.

I needed a break. A reset.

I needed one moment of peace where I wasn't thinking about him.

But no.

Even now, as I threw my bag onto the couch and walked into the kitchen, my brain was still replaying everything that had happened today.

The teasing. The way he always leaned in just enough to make me nervous. The way his fingers had brushed against my wrist when he handed me my pen, his skin cold like marble.

I shivered.

And then, the hallway.

The way he cut me off, stepping into my path with that stupid, infuriating smirk.

"Tell me you don't like this."

I groaned, running a hand over my face. "I hate him."

"Who do you hate?"

I jumped, nearly knocking over a glass of water.

My best friend, Mia, was standing in the doorway, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.

"I—" I stammered. "What are you doing here?"

Mia rolled her eyes. "Your mom let me in. Now answer the question. who do u hate ?"

I hesitated.

Mia's gaze sharpened. "Oh my God, it's him, isn't it?"

I scowled. "Who?"

She smirked. "Your seatmate."

I groaned, flopping onto a chair. "I hate you."

"You love me," she said smugly, grabbing a bag of chips from my counter and plopping down beside me. "Now spill. What did he do

this time?"

I buried my face in my hands. "He's just… ugh."

"That's not an answer," Mia pointed out.

I sighed, pulling my hands away. "He's just so annoying. And he thinks he's—he thinks he's so charm and clever and—"

"And you think he's hot."

I choked. "What—NO."

Mia grinned. "Amber."

I pointed at her. "Don't. Even. Start."

She wiggled her eyebrows. "Oh, I'm starting."

I groaned again. "Mia, I swear to God—"

She threw a chip at me. "Admit it."

"Admit what?"

"That he's hot," she said, grinning. "And that you like the attention."

I grabbed a pillow and threw it at her face.

Mia cackled. "YOU'RE BLUSHING."

"I AM NOT."

"YOU ARE SO BLUSHING."

I groaned, shoving my face into another pillow.

Mia poked my arm. "So… what did he do today?"

I hesitated.

Because I didn't know how to explain it.

I didn't know how to explain how his presence sank beneath my skin like ink, how his voice wrapped around me like something I shouldn't want .

I didn't know how to explain the hallway, the way he had blocked my path like he had every right to, how he leaned in way too close just to watch me react.

I didn't know how to explain the way his golden eyes felt like a warning and a promise all at once .

I exhaled slowly. "He just… gets on my nerves."

Mia snorted. "Understatement of the year."

I hesitated.

Then, quietly, I murmured, "But there's something… off about him."

Mia raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

I shook my head. "I don't know. It's just a feeling. Like he's hiding something."

Mia hummed. "Mysterious hot guy with a dark secret? Sounds like your type."

I threw another pillow at her.

She dodged it. "I'm just saying! Maybe he's a vampire."

I froze .

Because for one stupid second, I remembered—

His cold skin .

His inhuman stillness.

The way people whispered his name like a warning.

I shook the thought away. Ridiculous.

Mia was watching me now, suspicious. "Amber…?"

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please. He's not a vampire."

Mia gasped dramatically. "Are you saying you've touched him?"

I blinked.

Then I realized my mistake.

And before I could stop her—

Mia screamed.

"AMBER ROSE LIKES ADRIAN BLACKWOOD!"

"OH MY GOD, SHUT UP!" I tackled her onto the couch, both of us dying of laughter.

And for a moment?

I forgot about him.

But later that night, when I lay awake staring at the ceiling…

I couldn't stop thinking about the way Adrian had looked at me.

Like he already knew something I didn't.

—