Welcome to Bridgeport City!

Chapter One

Ashley Sky's POV

"For the fifth time, please refrain from causing any trouble on this campus." My father sighed, narrowing his eyes at me as he looked up from his newspaper.

I leaned against the kitchen counter, tapping a finger against my chin. "I'll try to keep a low profile...but trouble always seems to find me."

His lips pressed into a firm line as he removed his glasses. "Ashley, I'm being serious."

"I know, Dad," I said, holding back a grin. "But I swear, it's like karma."

His sharp gaze followed me as I placed a quick kiss on his cheek and grabbed my bag. Before Charlotte—my dear, overbearing stepmother—could corner me for one of her morning lectures, I hurried out of the house.

She had always insisted that I should be chauffeured everywhere, claiming it was more "befitting" of my father's reputation. But I didn't care. I loved driving myself.

Jogging across the driveway, I reached my sleek black Audi. Slipping into the driver's seat, I started the engine, the low hum filling the otherwise quiet morning air.

As I approached the estate's towering iron gates, the security guard hesitated for a moment before finally opening them.

I wasted no time speeding onto the main road, ignoring the traffic light that had just turned red—I was already running late, anyway.

After a few minutes of weaving through the streets, I finally pulled into the private college’s parking lot—one of the most prestigious schools in Northgate District.

As soon as I stepped out of my car, I could feel the weight of countless curious stares.

I took a moment to glance around, smoothing down my fitted blue blouse and adjusting the hem of my black pleated skirt.

With a quick sweep of my fingers, I tucked a loose strand behind my ear, letting the rest of my wavy hair cascade naturally over my shoulders.

I tossed my bag over my shoulder and strode forward.

"Hey, blonde!"

I turned at the sound of a male voice.

My gaze locked onto a pair of striking blue eyes—intense and annoyed, yet somehow intriguing. Their owner strode toward me.

He had a dark silky fade mullet, his wavy fringe slightly tousled as if he had just run his fingers through it. A black leather jacket draped over his t-shirt.

Two other guys flanked him, both just as tall and radiating the same confident energy. Sons of Olympus?

"You parked in my spot." He stated flatly, gesturing toward my car.

I arched a brow, glancing at the empty spaces nearby. "Didn't see a name on it."

His jaw clenched. "You must be new here, but that's my spot. So move your car."

I let out a short laugh, crossing my arms. "Yeah...not happening. I got here first."

He took a step closer, standing toe-to-toe with me. "Move it, or I'll move it for you."

I met his challenge head-on, poking my index finger against his chest. "Touch my car and you'll regret it. Consider that a warning."

He smirked, clearly unfazed. "You'll be the one with regrets, blonde."

I spun on my heel, throwing a smug glance over my shoulder. "We'll see about that, jerk."

Hours had passed and the moment the professor finally wrapped up his lecture, I let out an exhausted groan as students bolted for the door like their lives depended on it.

Dragging myself up from my seat, I sluggishly made my way into the hallway, my energy levels barely above zero.

It was only my first day back in college, but Monday mornings were the worst.

Weaving my way through the crowded hallway, I had one goal—reach my locker, but I didn't even realize I collided into someone, until the impact knocked me back a step.

"You should watch where you're going, blonde." A familiar, annoyingly smug voice said.

I glanced up and, just my luck, it was him—the same arrogant jerk from this morning, blocking my path like he owned the damn hallway, too.

"Hey, sassy-ass dude with parking lot issues." I shot back with a sickly sweet smile. His jaw twitched and I knew I'd hit a nerve.

"Keep running your mouth like that and maybe one day you'll actually say something worth listening to." He retorted smoothly, his lips curving into a smirk.

"Or you could just stop listening," I said, stepping around him. "But we both know you love the sound of my voice too much for that."

I didn't bother waiting for his comeback as I strode toward my locker. I was barely halfway through shoving my books inside when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye.

There he was again, leaning lazily against the lockers beside mine, hands in his pockets, eyes locked on me like he had nothing better to do.

"You wanna know what I would love?" He mused, tilting his head slightly.

"Let me guess." I said without looking up, already unimpressed. "To be taller? Smarter? Less of a pain in my ass?"

His smirk widened. "Cute. But no."

I slammed my locker shut and turned to face him. "Then enlighten me, oh great and mighty parking space prince."

"I'd love to draw you a map," He said smoothly. "So you can find your way out of my school and out of my parking spot."

I let out a sharp laugh. "Oh, that's funny, because I was just about to draw you one too—so when I tell you to fuck off, you'll know exactly where to go."

A few students passing by slowed down, clearly entertained by the exchange.

His brows lifted slightly, amusement flickering in those piercing blue eyes. "And where's that, in your bed?"

I let out a sharp laugh, shaking my head. "Wow. Delusional and cocky. Must be exhausting carrying all that ego around."

His smirk widened. "Only when I have to deal with stubborn blondes who think they run this place."

I leaned in just slightly, meeting his gaze head-on. "And yet, here you are, chasing after me. Again. So tell me, who's really running things here?"

A muscle twitched in his jaw, but before he could respond, the murmurs of students around us caught my attention. People had definitely started paying attention to our back-and-forth.

Not wanting to give him the last word, I patted his chest mockingly as I walked past him, tossing over my shoulder, "So, keep dreaming, loser. But don't get too hard thinking about me."

The sound of his low chuckle followed me down the hallway with the hushed murmurs of our audience, but I didn't look back.

I had already won this round.

As I hurried through the halls, I clutched my schedule and muttered under my breath.

My last class of the day was supposed to be International Business—an elective I'd chosen to expand my marketing knowledge.

But for the life of me, I couldn't find the damn room.

With a frustrated sigh, I ran a hand through my hair, glancing around for anything that might point me in the right direction.

No luck.

I was about two minutes away from giving up and heading toward the administration office when movement caught my eye.

One of the guys from this morning—the ones who had been hanging around Mr. Parking Lot Entitlement—was strolling into the hallway.

I didn't even know his name, but I recognized him instantly. He must have felt my gaze because his own flickered toward me.

For a brief moment, he scanned the hall as if checking to see if I was looking at someone else before making his way over.

"Are you lost?" He asked, stopping in front of me.

Up close, I noticed his tousled undercut hair and his dark green eyes held something close to amusement—though there was a hint of genuine curiosity there too.

"A little." I admitted.

He gave a slight smile. "I'm Chase. And you are...?"

"Ashley."

"Okay, which room are you looking for?" His voice was friendlier than I expected—not at all like the arrogant jerk from earlier.

I glanced at my schedule again. "Room 214."

"International Business?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

I nodded.

"Same here. I could show you the way if you want." He said, checking his phone briefly. Then, with a smug look, he added, "Or would you rather wander around like a headless chicken?"

I let out a chuckle. "Tempting, but I think I'll take the help."

He simply nodded and we started walking.

The silence between us wasn't awkward, more like the kind that comes when two people are just getting a feel for each other's presence.

Before long, we stopped in front of a door, Room 214.

As we stepped inside, the lecturer paused mid-sentence and suddenly, I became very aware of the eyes now trained on us.

But only one pair held my gaze.

I didn't need to look twice to know who they belonged to—those sharp blue eyes practically dared me to look away first.

At that moment, I knew one thing for sure. This year at my new campus was going to be far from ordinary.

Well, I might as well make the best of it.

Right?