The Collision
Aria’s POV
The first day of university was supposed to feel exciting.
New campus.
New people.
New life.
Instead, I was late.
“Move, move, move…” I muttered to myself as I rushed through the crowded courtyard, my backpack sliding off my shoulder while I tried to balance a cup of coffee and my phone at the same time.
The campus of Westbridge University was enormous. Tall modern buildings stretched toward the sky while groups of students gathered everywhere—some laughing, some checking schedules, others already looking completely lost.
Just like me.
I glanced at my phone again.
Economics 101 – 9:00 AM
And it was 8:57.
Great.
“Perfect start, Aria,” I sighed under my breath.
I hurried past the fountain in the center of the courtyard, trying to squeeze through the crowd of students when—
BAM.
My body collided with someone solid.
The coffee cup slipped from my hand instantly, splashing everywhere.
“Oh my—!”
Warm liquid spilled across a black shirt.
For a moment, everything froze.
Then I slowly lifted my head.
And saw him.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Dark hair slightly messy like he had just run his fingers through it.
Sharp jawline.
And the most annoyingly calm expression I had ever seen.
His dark eyes dropped to the coffee soaking into his shirt.
Then back to me.
“Well,” he said slowly, voice deep and dangerously smooth, “that’s one way to start a conversation.”
My face burned with embarrassment.
“I’m so sorry!” I blurted out quickly. “I didn’t see you and I was late and—”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Clearly.”
I grabbed napkins from my bag and tried to wipe his shirt, immediately realizing how ridiculous that looked.
“Sorry, sorry, sorry—”
He gently caught my wrist.
My breath caught.
“Relax,” he said.
His hand was warm.
Firm.
And suddenly I became painfully aware of how close we were standing.
“It’s just coffee,” he continued, a faint smile touching his lips.
I frowned slightly.
“Just coffee? I literally ruined your shirt.”
He glanced down again.
“Black hides stains well.”
I blinked.
This guy was… oddly calm.
Too calm.
“You should be more careful,” he added casually.
My embarrassment instantly turned into annoyance.
“Excuse me?”
He crossed his arms, clearly amused.
“You ran into me.”
“Well maybe if you weren’t standing in the middle of the path like a statue—”
He laughed.
Actually laughed.
The sound was low and confident, like he found the whole situation entertaining.
“Interesting,” he said.
“What?”
“You’re the first girl who has ever spilled coffee on me and then blamed me for it.”
My eyes narrowed.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Should I faint dramatically and apologize for the rest of the semester?”
His smirk widened.
Now he looked genuinely entertained.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Why?”
“Because I want to remember the girl brave enough to argue with me five seconds after attacking me with caffeine.”
I hesitated.
“…Aria.”
He nodded slightly.
“Lucas.”
Something about the way he said it felt… important.
But before I could respond, someone behind him called out.
“Yo, Lucas! Practice starts in ten!”
Two guys walked toward us, both grinning like they had just watched something amusing.
One of them looked at Lucas’s shirt.
“Man… did a bird attack you or something?”
Lucas gestured toward me.
“Coffee.”
Both guys looked at me with surprise.
“You spilled coffee on Lucas Knight?” one asked.
I frowned.
“Is that supposed to mean something?”
They exchanged looks.
Lucas chuckled softly.
“Don’t worry about it.”
Then he looked back at me, eyes glinting with something mischievous.
“I’m sure we’ll run into each other again.”
“Hopefully not,” I muttered.
His smirk deepened.
“Careful what you wish for, Aria.”
Then he turned and walked away with his friends.
I watched him go, confused by the strange flutter in my chest.
I didn’t know who Lucas Knight was.
I didn’t know why everyone seemed to know him.
And I definitely didn’t know why his voice was still echoing in my mind.
But one thing was certain.
My first day at Westbridge University had just become a lot more complicated.
