Gabrielle Serenity didn’t bother pretending she wasn’t the center of Westbridge High. She moved through the building like it belonged to her, long black hair reaching her lower back in clean waves that always drew attention, gray doe-like eyes that stood out without any makeup, and naturally full lips people copied with lip liners and still failed to match. She kept straight A’s effortlessly and ran her friend group like a quiet operation; they did her dirty work without her having to give more than a look. If she disliked someone, everyone knew. If she wanted someone to disappear for the day, it happened. She carried herself with calm, steady confidence, and her ability to intimidate without raising her voice was exactly why no one ever wanted to be on her bad side.

Dominic ruled the same school, just from a different angle. Loud, violent, unpredictable—he never pretended to be anything else. He could punch a kid into the ER before first period and have the cafeteria laughing with him by lunch. His knuckles were always cracked and bruised, his tie was always missing, and his uniform shirt rarely looked ironed. His laugh echoed down the hallway during every break, usually because he was mocking someone or arguing with a teacher. People followed him because the alternative meant dealing with him, and hardly anyone was brave enough for that. He wasn’t rich or polished, but he was the kind of guy everyone avoided crossing, even when he wasn’t looking for a fight.

Everyone assumed Gabrielle and Dominic hated each other on sight. They were two different types of trouble—hers quiet and calculated, his loud and reckless—and no one in their right mind would put them in the same room on purpose. That was why nobody would’ve believed the scene happening in Dominic’s dorm that night. The door was locked, the lights dim, and Gabrielle was in his bed, leaning into him with her hair falling everywhere as they kissed. Dominic’s hand was on her waist, her fingers hooked lightly in the fabric of his shirt as she pulled him closer. Neither of them rushed, neither of them acted awkward; it was familiar, something they’d done enough times that they didn’t think twice about it. They weren’t talking, weren’t joking, weren’t even paying attention to anything except each other.

They only pulled apart when the door suddenly swung open.

Dominic’s goon—Jay—stepped in mid-sentence, froze instantly, and went silent in the doorway. His face twisted into pure shock, like he genuinely believed he was hallucinating. Gabrielle was still close to Dominic, one of his hands still resting on her hip, their breathing uneven from kissing just seconds before. Jay blinked hard, stared, and looked like his brain had stopped working altogether. Gabrielle didn’t jerk away or scramble; she just turned her head slightly to give him a stare that made him visibly shrink. Dominic didn’t move either, just grinned like a predator and spoke in his usual clipped, teasing way. “Well, look who’s late.”

Jay tried to speak, but nothing came out except a garbled half-word as he pointed between them. Dominic leaned back slightly, smirk twisting his face. “Door closed. Now.”

Jay reacted instantly, stumbling backward so quickly he nearly tripped, then slamming the door shut behind him like someone was chasing him.

Gabrielle adjusted her hair without a word. Dominic dragged a hand through his hair, still grinning. “Idiots,” he muttered, shaking his head. Then he leaned back down, putting his arm back around her as if nothing had happened. Neither of them treated the interruption like it changed anything, and both knew Jay wouldn’t breathe a word unless he wanted trouble.