Chapter 1 “The Beginning Of Something Annoying”
The first thing Alexis Sinclair noticed about college was the noise.
Not normal noise either.
The overwhelming, skin-crawling kind.
Doors slammed down the hallway while music blasted through thin dorm walls loud enough to shake the ceiling. Parents shouted instructions nobody listened to, girls dragged overloaded suitcases across the floor, and somehow the entire building already smelled like cheap perfume and stress.
Alexis already had a headache.
“You could at least pretend to be excited,” her mom said while setting another bag on the bed.
“I am excited.”
Her mother paused. “You sound miserable.”
“Maybe I’m excited internally.”
“That’s concerning.”
Alexis ignored her and continued unpacking clothes into the tiny dresser shoved against the wall. The dorm room somehow looked even smaller now that all her stuff was inside it.
Too cramped.
Too warm.
Too temporary.
Her mom kept talking anyway — meal plans, orientation schedules, making friends.
Especially making friends.
“You should really try putting yourself out there this year.”
Alexis snorted softly. “That sounds horrifying.”
“Katelyn—”
“Alexis,” she corrected automatically.
Her mom sighed. “You know what I mean.”
Unfortunately, she did.
Alexis had spent most of high school keeping people at a distance. Easier that way. Less disappointing.
College wasn’t magically going to change her personality.
A few minutes later, after one too many reminders to “have fun,” her mom finally left.
The second the door shut behind her, silence filled the room.
Thank God.
Alexis dropped onto the edge of her bed and grabbed her phone, trying not to think about the weird sinking feeling sitting in her chest.
New place.
New people.
New start.
Terrifying.
A loud crash echoed somewhere down the hallway followed by someone yelling:
“Move your damn boxes!”
Alexis closed her eyes briefly.
Maybe prison would’ve been quieter.
Eventually, needing actual air before she lost her mind, she left the dorm building and headed across campus.
Students crowded everywhere.
Laughing.
Taking pictures.
Pretending they weren’t nervous.
Alexis shoved her hands deeper into the pockets of her hoodie and kept walking.
Then someone slammed directly into her shoulder.
“Oh shit — sorry.”
Alexis stumbled before catching herself.
The guy standing in front of her looked equally surprised.
Tall.
Brown hair.
Backwards hat.
Easy smile.
Definitely attractive.
More importantly?
He looked genuinely apologetic.
“That was partially my fault,” he admitted.
“Only partially?”
“Okay, mostly my fault.”
Alexis studied him for a second before nodding once.
“At least you’re self-aware.”
His grin widened immediately.
“Damn. You’re mean.”
“You ran into me.”
“True.” He held out a hand. “Mason.”
She hesitated briefly before shaking it.
“Alexis.”
“New here?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“You have the ‘I’m already reconsidering my life choices’ look.”
To her horror, a laugh escaped.
Small.
Quick.
But enough.
Mason noticed instantly.
“There it is,” he said proudly. “I knew you were secretly fun.”
“That feels like a reach.”
“Nah. I’m good at reading people.”
“That sounds made up.”
Mason placed a dramatic hand over his chest.
“You wound me.”
Alexis rolled her eyes, but something about him already felt easy.
Comfortable.
Which was unusual.
“You headed somewhere?” Mason asked.
“Nowhere specific.”
“Same. Wanna walk?”
Alexis should’ve said no.
Probably would’ve any other day.
But the idea of sitting alone in her dorm all night sounded significantly worse.
“Fine,” she said. “But if you turn out to be weird, I’m leaving.”
“Oh, I’m definitely weird.”
“Fantastic.”
Mason laughed before falling into step beside her.
For the next several minutes, conversation came easier than Alexis expected.
Mostly because Mason talked enough for both of them.
He pointed out different buildings across campus while Alexis pretended not to care.
“That’s the student center,” he said. “Avoid it around noon unless you enjoy suffering.”
“Noted.”
“And over there is the football field.”
Alexis followed his gaze automatically.
Players moved across the field in the distance while groups of students sat scattered through the bleachers watching practice like it was actual entertainment.
One person stood out immediately.
Tall.
Dark hoodie.
Tattooed forearms.
A girl practically hanging off his arm while he barely paid attention.
Something about him radiated arrogance even from across the field.
As if sensing it, the guy suddenly looked up.
Straight toward her.
Alexis froze.
Even from a distance, his stare felt sharp.
Intentional.
Then the girl beside him said something, pulling his attention away.
The strange tension snapped instantly.
Weird.
“You okay?” Mason asked beside her.
Alexis looked away from the field first.
“Who’s that?”
Mason followed her gaze before grinning slightly.
“Oh. That’s Malakai.”
The name fit him annoyingly well.
“Football player?” Alexis guessed.
“Unfortunately.”
She watched as another girl walked over to him laughing at something he said.
Yeah.
Definitely one of those guys.
“He looks annoying,” Alexis said flatly.
Mason burst out laughing.
“You have no idea.”
Alexis glanced toward the field again just in time to catch Malakai looking in her direction.
Her stomach tightened before she looked away.
Weird.
“So you know him?” she asked casually.
“Yeah,” Mason said. “We’re teammates.”
He grinned slightly after that.
“Unfortunately, he’s also my best friend.”
Alexis looked back toward the field where Malakai stood surrounded by noise, attention, and girls hanging off his arm like they belonged there.
Yeah.
She was definitely staying away from him.
