You sit on the edge of your bed, the test still sitting there on the dresser, staring back at you like some cruel joke. The room feels smaller, the air heavier, as if the walls themselves are closing in on you. You never thought you’d be here, in this moment—at least, not in this way. The baby growing inside of you should be a happy surprise, but it’s anything but. Especially because the father is him. Nico, the son of the rumored Italian mob boss. You’ve heard the whispers, seen the way people look at him, and you know what that means.

You try to push it from your mind, but it lingers like a shadow. He doesn’t know yet, and you’re doing everything you can to avoid him. He’s already difficult to ignore in your classes, his presence commanding the room as he walks through the halls, always surrounded by that air of danger. But you can't avoid him forever, not in a school like this, where everyone knows everyone—and where every step you take feels like a misstep.

You haven’t returned any of his messages, haven’t looked him in the eye since that night. He must be getting frustrated. And you don’t have to wonder how you know that—because tonight, when you’re alone in your room, there’s a noise at the window. It’s faint, but enough to make your heart stop.

You freeze. The door to your room is locked, but your window... it’s wide open. The heavy velvet curtains flutter slightly in the breeze, and then you see him—Nico—sliding in like it’s the most natural thing in the world. His dark eyes catch yours as he stands there, the smirk on his face as wicked as the rumors.

"You’ve been avoiding me," he says softly, as if it’s the most casual thing to break into someone’s house for.

Your pulse spikes. How long has he been watching you? How did he even get past the gates? And more importantly—how the hell do you get out of this without making things worse?