The first day of university had finally come to an end. Grace and Leila walked together to the front entrance, where Grace's dad would be waiting to pick her up. The two friends shared their thoughts on the day, the excitement still buzzing between them as they talked about their classes and the people they'd met.

"You sure you don't want a ride home?" Grace asked, already pulling out her phone to text her dad.

Leila shook her head with a soft smile. "I'm good. I feel like walking. It's such a nice day, and I want to take my time to soak it all in."

Grace nodded, understanding. "Alright, but message me when you get home. Just in case."

"Of course," Leila said, pulling her friend in for a quick hug before watching her leave.

As Leila waved goodbye, she felt the warmth of the sun on her skin, the soft summer breeze rustling her hair. It was the perfect weather for a walk, and after the excitement of the day, she craved the quiet time to herself. She wanted to reflect on everything that had happened—the new faces, the classes that had already sparked her curiosity, and the slight thrill that came from knowing she was embarking on something bigger than she had ever imagined.

With each step, Leila thought about her classes, already mentally organizing how she would tackle the readings and assignments. The excitement of diving into her psychology coursework was thrilling. She loved learning—loved how knowledge expanded her view of the world—and she was eager to get home and start working on her papers. There was something so satisfying about cracking open her laptop and immersing herself in new concepts. The fresh possibilities that awaited her made her chest swell with anticipation.

Just as she was about to put in her AirPods, a voice called out from behind her. "Leila!"

She turned, recognizing Wayde from lunch, his casual confidence evident as he jogged to catch up with her. A small smile tugged at her lips as she watched him approach.

"Where are you off to?" he asked, his tone easygoing but curious.

Leila tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Just walking home. It's about forty-five minutes from here."

Wayde raised an eyebrow, a playful grin on his face. "That's quite the walk. You want some company? No lady should be walking alone, after all."

Leila hesitated for a moment. She wasn't used to someone offering to walk her home, and she enjoyed her solitude. But something about Wayde's offer felt genuine. Besides, having someone to talk to for a bit might be nice.

"Okay," she said, her smile widening."Why not?"

Wayde glanced over at Leila, the sunlight filtering through the trees casting shadows on the sidewalk as they walked together. "So, how was your first day?" he asked, his tone light but genuinely curious.

Leila's face lit up with excitement as she smiled, her earlier nerves replaced by the thrill of the day's events. "I loved it," she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "It was everything I imagined and more. I can't wait to get home and start working on my essay. There's something about diving into new subjects, expanding my knowledge... it just excites me."

Wayde raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "You actually enjoy studying? Most people would rather do anything but that."

Leila laughed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I know, I know. I'm weird like that. But learning is the one thing that's always made sense to me. There's nothing like the feeling of figuring out something new or finally grasping a difficult concept."

Wayde nodded, clearly impressed by her enthusiasm. "It's refreshing, honestly. Most people I know can't stand it. It's cool that you're that passionate about it."

Leila shrugged, smiling as she continued to walk beside him. "Thanks. I'm just glad the day went as well as it did. I wasn't sure what to expect."

Wayde chuckled softly, hands stuffed in his pockets. "Yeah, first days can be pretty overwhelming. But you seem like you've got it all under control. You'll probably crush this semester."

Leila's smile widened, her confidence building a little more. "So, how was your day? I didn't even ask."

Wayde let out a small sigh, glancing ahead at the path they were walking. "It was fine, nothing too exciting though. I've been going here for over a year now, so the whole razzle-dazzle of university has kind of worn off. It's just another day, another lecture."

Leila tilted her head, intrigued. "Really? I can't imagine this place ever getting boring."

Wayde grinned. "Trust me, it can. But I guess that's just what happens when you've been doing it for a while. Don't get me wrong, it's a good place, and I'm still learning a lot. It's just... different when you're not new to it anymore."

Leila nodded, understanding his point. "I guess that makes sense. But still, there's always something new to discover, right?"

Wayde smiled softly at her optimism. "Yeah, you've got a point there. Maybe I need to start looking at it from your perspective. You know, fresh eyes and all that."

Leila chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'll try to keep the excitement going as long as I can, but who knows? Maybe in a year, I'll be saying the same thing you are."

They both laughed, the conversation easing into a comfortable rhythm as they continued down the sidewalk.

Wayde got one word out before the thunderous roar of an engine and the blast of music came from a passing car.

A black convertible whipped around the corner, its hood down, pulsing music that echoed off the buildings. Leila froze, instinctively glancing up just as the car zoomed past. There they were: Dane hanging out of the back window, tongue out like a dog as he screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Fuck yeah! First day over! Woooooo!" Dane howled, shaking his head back and forth wildly, his voice a mix of triumph and chaos.

Luka, in the front passenger seat, joined in, his laughter infectious as he mirrored Dane's antics, leaning halfway out of the car and howling at the sky. Both of them were a blur of reckless energy, clearly riding the high of surviving the first day of university.

Leila's eyes widened as she caught sight of Jesci, casually driving the car with one hand on the steering wheel. His black sunglasses shielded his eyes, but the smirk on his lips was unmistakable. The sun glinted off his dark hair, messy in that perfect way she had noticed before. Her heart skipped a beat, that familiar knot tightening in her stomach as her gaze lingered on him. There was something magnetic about Jesci behind the wheel—something she couldn't ignore, no matter how hard she tried. He looked effortlessly cool.

Wayde let out a loud scoff, pulling Leila's attention back to him. She glanced at him curiously, noting the obvious distaste in his expression as he watched the convertible speed off into the distance. The fun, easygoing demeanor Wayde had carried during their conversation was replaced by a look of disgust, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"By the look on your face, I take it you don't like them very much?" Leila asked cautiously, testing the waters.

Wayde sighed heavily, rolling his eyes. "Not much to like, really," he muttered, his voice dripping with disdain.

Leila tilted her head, sensing there was more to this. "What do you mean?"

Wayde stopped walking, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as he turned to face her. "Those three—Jesci, Dane, and Luka—they're just... dickheads, Leila. Plain and simple. They think they're untouchable. Self-obsessed, reckless, and constantly trying to act like they're cooler than everyone else." He shook his head, the frustration evident in his voice.

Leila blinked, her mind reeling from the sharpness in Wayde's tone. She hadn't expected such an intense reaction. "Jesci seemed... nice, I met him at a party that Grace and I went too." she ventured, her voice soft, unsure.

Wayde's eyes darkened slightly at her words, and he let out a bitter laugh. "Nice? Leila, that guy is the last person you should be getting involved with. I don't care what he seemed like at some party—Jesci Crooks is bad news." His gaze met hers, serious now. "He's trouble. And if you're smart, you'll keep your distance."

Leila hesitated, taken aback by Wayde's bluntness. She didn't know what to say. Yes, she had met Jesci at a party, and he had been... intriguing. But there was something about the way Wayde spoke, the warning in his voice, that made her second-guess her own instincts.

"Why do you care so much?" Leila asked, her voice quieter now, as if she wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer.

Wayde sighed again, his frustration softening just a little as he looked at her. "I've seen guys like him before. I've been friend's with guys like him before. They reel people in, make you think they're something special, and then leave you in pieces. I just don't want to see you get hurt."

Leila looked away, her mind swirling with conflicting thoughts. She didn't know Jesci well enough to make any judgments, but the way her heart had fluttered when she saw him... it scared her. She didn't want to admit that, even to herself.

Wayde's words hung in the air, heavy and serious, as they continued walking, but the tension between them had shifted. Leila was left wondering if Wayde was right—if Jesci was trouble, and if she should take his advice. But deep down, there was something about Jesci that called to her, something that made it hard to turn away.

As they walked in silence, Leila couldn't help but glance back over her shoulder, hoping to catch one last glimpse of that black convertible before it disappeared entirely.