Chapter 5 – Oliver
Most people worry about their classes on the first day.
I’m worried about seeing the girl I can’t get out of my mind.
My stomach’s been in knots since I woke up, and even the drive to campus feels heavier than it should.
Every red light gives me too much time to think, and every mile pulls me closer to something I’m not sure I’m ready for.
As I pull into the parking lot, I spot Josh heading toward my car, his backpack slung over one shoulder like he’s actually excited for this. He taps on the window before I even have the chance to breathe.
“What’s up, man. You ready?”
“Not really, man,” I say, my voice tighter than I want it to be.
Josh raises an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth already pulling into that annoying knowing grin.
“You’re still thinking about her, huh?” he adds with a laugh.
“Let’s go. We’re going to be late,” I mutter, pretending I didn’t hear the question at all.
Josh snorts, because he knows exactly what I’m doing — but thankfully, he lets it go… for now.
As we walk down the aisle, I’m trying to focus on anything else — the chatter, the squeak of sneakers, the smell of new textbooks — but then I see her.
That face.
That beautiful face I haven’t stopped thinking about.
It’s Ellie.
I can feel my heart beating faster. My hands start sweating. Shit. Why am I so nervous?
“Yo, man. Look who’s walking over there?” Josh raises his voice like he’s announcing it to the whole damn hallway.
“Shut up,” I snap, louder than I meant to.
A couple of people turn their heads. Great. Perfect. Exactly what I needed — attention.
Josh lifts his hands in surrender, smirking. “Relax, dude. I’m just saying—”
“I said shut up.”
My voice cracks a little, and that only pisses me off more.
Ellie’s still walking, completely unaware of the chaos happening inside my chest. She’s holding her books close, hair tucked behind her ear, eyes scanning the hallway like she’s trying to figure out where she fits in.
And for some reason, that makes my stomach twist.
I look away before she gets too close. Before she sees me staring. Before she sees right through me.
Josh nudges my shoulder. “Bro, you’re acting weird.”
Yeah. I know.
“Let’s go talk to her. Maybe she’s lost,” I say, trying to sound confident even though my voice feels like it’s shaking inside my chest.
Josh raises an eyebrow. “You sure, man?”
No.
Not even a little.
But I nod anyway.
We start walking toward Ellie, and that’s when I see him.
Tyler.
Of course.
He’s cutting through the hallway like he owns it, shoulders squared, that stupid smirk already forming like he’s rehearsed it in the mirror.
Throughout the years I’ve known him, I’ve never felt good about him.
There’s something off — something in the way he looks at people like they’re smaller than him, like he’s already decided what he wants from them.
It’s like he enjoys making others uncomfortable.
And right now, he’s heading straight for Ellie.
My stomach drops.
My steps slow.
Josh notices.
“Dude… you okay?”
No.
Because I know Tyler.
And I know that look on his face.
And I hate it.
“Let’s just… stay right here and see what Tyler does,” I say, trying to sound casual — like we’re in some crime movie staking out a suspect.
Josh snorts. “Bro, you’re not FBI.”
“Yeah, well,” I mutter, eyes locked on Tyler, “someone has to keep an eye on him.”
Because the way he’s walking toward Ellie? I know that walk. I’ve seen it too many times.
And every instinct in me is already tightening, bracing, waiting.
Tyler reaches her.
He steps in front of Ellie, blocking her path. She stops short, clutching her books tighter to her chest.
I know that look on his face. That smug, slow smile he gets when he thinks he’s charming someone.
Ellie shifts her weight, trying to step around him, but he mirrors her movement, cutting her off again.
My jaw tightens.
Tyler leans in a little too close. Ellie takes a small step back, her shoulders tensing, eyes darting toward the floor like she’s trying to stay polite.
Josh mutters under his breath, “Dude… he’s cornering her.”
No shit.
Tyler says something that makes Ellie’s eyebrows pinch together. She shakes her head — small, quick, uncomfortable. He laughs like she’s joking.
She’s not.
He steps closer.
She steps back.
And that’s it.
That’s the moment something in my chest snaps.
I’m already moving before I even realize it — feet carrying me forward, pulse hammering in my ears, every instinct screaming the same thing:
Get him away from her.
“Ellie. Long time no see. How you doing?” I say confidently — or at least pretending to be. Like we’ve known each other for years. Like this is normal. Like I’m not stepping into a situation that’s making my pulse slam against my ribs.
Ellie’s head snaps up.
Her eyes widen just a little — pupils dilating, breath catching — like she wasn’t expecting anyone to step in, least of all me.
Tyler turns around slowly, annoyance already twisting his face. “Bro, we’re talking.”
“No,” I say, stepping closer, “you’re cornering her.”
Ellie shifts behind me, just enough that I can feel her presence at my back. It does something to me — something sharp, protective, instinctive.
Tyler scoffs. “Relax, man. I’m just asking her a question.”
“She said no,” I say, voice lower than I meant. “You heard her.”
For a second, nobody moves. The hallway noise fades. It’s just me, Tyler, and the heat of Ellie’s breath behind my shoulder.
Tyler’s jaw ticks. He looks at Ellie, then at me, then back at Ellie again — like he’s deciding whether she’s worth the trouble.
Finally, he steps back with a muttered, “Whatever.”
He walks off, shoulders tense, ego bruised.
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
Then I turn to Ellie — slowly, carefully — like she might disappear if I move too fast.
“Are you okay?” I ask, softer now.
Her eyes meet mine.
And for a second, everything else goes quiet.
“Thank you, Oliver,” Ellie says, her voice soft in a way that makes something in my chest tighten.
“Of course. If you need any—” I start, trying to sound calm, collected, like I didn’t just almost fight Tyler in the middle of the hallway.
But Josh cuts in before I can finish.
“Hello. I’m Josh!” he says, smiling so hard it looks painful.
Ellie blinks, surprised by the sudden enthusiasm. “Oh—hi,” she says politely.
I shoot Josh a look that basically screams bro, seriously? He ignores it completely.
Josh sticks out his hand like we’re in some kind of business meeting. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard—”
I elbow him before he can finish that sentence.
He coughs. “—uh, that you’re new here.”
Ellie gives a small smile, the kind that’s shy but genuine. “Yeah. Still trying to figure everything out.”
“Yeah, well,” Josh says, still grinning, “Oliver here is great at showing people around.”
I glare at him so hard I’m surprised he doesn’t burst into flames.
Ellie looks at me again — really looks — and her pupils widen just a little.
And suddenly I forget how to breathe.
“Yeah. I can show you around if you need,” I say, trying to sound casual even though my voice comes out a little too soft, a little too hopeful.
Ellie gives a tiny smile. “Thank you. Though my class is over there.” She points toward the corner classroom — barely ten steps away.
Oh. Cool. Great. I want to disappear into the floor.
“Oh—yeah, right,” I say, nodding like an idiot. “I knew that.”
Josh snorts behind me. I elbow him without looking.
Ellie hugs her books a little closer. “But… thank you. Really.”
The way she says it — gentle, sincere — makes my chest feel too tight.
“Anytime,” I manage.
She gives us one last small smile before heading toward her class, her hair swaying behind her as she walks. I watch her go for a second too long, then force myself to look away before Josh says something stupid.
Too late.
“Dude,” he whispers, “you need to try harder… before someone else does.”
I roll my eyes, but he’s not wrong.