Sophia's POV

Despite my rocky first week, classes were a pleasant change. I sat on the left side of the stairs, allowing me to be close to the front of the classroom but also near the stairs. History of English. I flipped open the first page of the book, feeling the warmth of the Omega Howl jacket around my shoulders. I blocked out a few giggles from around the room; the pink, puffy skirts told me all I needed to know. I focused on the board.

The subjects were simple introductions, meaning the class was easy. A refresher course from high school. Or at least, the stuff they would have taught there. I felt something tap my shoulder and turned to see a crumpled ball of paper at my feet. I followed the line of sight up a few seats and saw the pink skirts from before, giggling softly as they nodded toward the paper ball, encouraging me to open it. I eyed the teacher. Her back was turned to the board, so I leaned down awkwardly to grab it.

I unfolded the crumpled paper.

Frat party tonight, you coming? – Britney was scrawled in neat penmanship.

I glanced back at her, oddly watching her cheerful smile not falter for a second. My eyes fell on the teacher again as I grabbed my pen.

Isn't the frat party tonight for Greek members only? – Sophia

I balled up the paper and carefully aimed, tossing it back up to her. Britney easily caught it, unfolding the paper with a smile before scribbling something down.

Well, considering you have a jacket, I'd say you're one. Wouldn't you?

I glanced at the message again, noticing small numbers beside it. Her number, probably. Before I could fully process it, a second ball hit my arm. I looked back and saw Britney covering her mouth to stifle her laughter.

I grabbed the second note.

It's up to you, but let me know if you're coming! The party starts at nine at ROR.

There were an impressive number of smiley faces at the end, making me wonder how long she'd been writing it.

I paused, looking at the last part of the message. ROR. That was Johnny's house. My last outburst echoed through my mind, and I cringed slightly. "I worked my ass off to get here, and if that's not enough, then screw you!"

I had to admit it wasn't my finest moment, but it was the first time I'd actually stood up for myself. I had no doubt my mother would be furious at that one.

Class ended shortly after that, allowing people to clear their books. Even though I was on the outside, I was one of the last people to leave the room, quietly pondering my choices as I made my way through the quad.

"Sophia?"

I turned, taking in the purple scales. "Oh, hey, Randell."

"You okay?" I opened my mouth, but the words wouldn't come, simply dying on my tongue. Randell, noticing my hesitation, sat on a nearby bench. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Randell just listened. He took in my hesitations, fears, anger, and confusion. After a few minutes, he spoke again. "So now you're not sure how to approach him."

"I'm not sure how to approach any of them." I kicked the ground lightly. "I've spent my entire life doing what everyone else wanted. 'No' was never a word in my vocabulary."

"Well, I guess I'd start with why you'd want to go."

"Huh?"

"Well, you said that was the first time you stood up for yourself, right? You didn't do it to be mean. You just wanted to stay at M.U., to be a normal university student." He shrugged lightly. "If Britney invited you to the party..." I sighed and nodded once. "I'm not saying you have to go and join a sorority, but you're hesitating either way. Why not find out why?"

"Why I'm hesitating..."

The concept felt so foreign. I had never been allowed to hesitate. I'd never been able to second-guess myself or deviate from my path. Logic told me to ignore Britney, to focus on my studies like a good girl, but I didn't want that. I didn't want to spend the next four years with my nose buried in a book.

"I... I want... friends." I curled my hands in my lap, my books set on the ground a while ago. "Johnny has friends, Sulley has friends. I want to find people that would miss me if I left..."

I want... to be important to someone...

"I'd miss you."

I turned, taking in the purple monster, and felt my eyes tear slightly. Randell's eyes grew misty too, and we both laughed.

"Oh god," I wiped away the tears before they could fall. "I'm not sure what it is with us and benches..."

"Look, it might not be my place to say, but if you want to go, then screw everyone else." I raised an eyebrow in amusement. "I mean, you're right. If Johnny can make friends, so can you." I snorted. "Britney wants you there, and I'm sure Big Red does as well. So if you want to get to know them better, go for it."

I glanced down at the paper on my notebook. The numbers filled me with a sense of pride, and I smiled softly. "Thank you, Randell."

"No problem. What are friends for?" He lightly punched me in the arm. "Are you going to stop by the room this weekend?"

"Yeah, I'd love to."

When Randell squeezed my hand and stood up to make his way to his next class, I grabbed the paper, messaging Britney.

"Hey Britney, it's Sophia. I'm in."

The reply was fairly quick. "Awesome, come to the PNK house before nine, and we'll walk over together!"

I sat there staring at the reply for a bit, feeling the conflicting emotions raging in my head. I finally sighed, shaking my head.

That was enough dwelling on the past. I was here, I earned my place, and by God, I was going to fight for it.

My head jerked forward when a heavy paw ruffled my hair. I didn't even have to look up to know who it was. "Ooof, kid. Omega Howl? You're killing me," Roy's voice rumbled above me with that playful teasing tone I had come to expect.

I couldn't suppress a small smirk. "What's the matter, Red? I thought it suits me."

He dropped down onto the bench beside me with a soft thud, his massive frame easily filling the space. His smile only grew wider as he noticed me waving my arms around like a clumsy bird. I didn't care that they were ridiculously long; it was the only way I could make myself feel a little more comfortable sitting next to someone as imposing as him.

"So," he began, his voice softer now, "How was your first class?"

I grabbed the cup of sludge he handed me without hesitation, taking a cautious sip. It was as awful as I expected, but the warmth was soothing against the chill of the day. I smiled despite myself. Two sugars, one cream. Even though it was just idle chit-chat, Roy remembered the small details.

"Not bad," I answered, finally managing to focus on him.

Roy's eyes flicked down to the crumpled paper ball still clenched in my other hand. His gaze sharpened, curious, like he could read me better than I could read myself.

"Anyone giving you trouble?"

I let out a short laugh, letting the tension melt away a bit. "If I say yes, are you going to punch someone?"

He shot me a deadpan look, his lips curling upward in amusement. "Me? What about you at my last party?"

I snorted, the memory of that night bubbling up. "Well, he had it coming. And so did you, if I'm being honest."

Roy chuckled, shaking his head as if he couldn't believe I'd even said it, but he wasn't offended. Instead, he leaned back a little, eyes squinting up at the sky, still laughing. "True enough. I'm shocked you're the first monster to snap, though. You seem like you could keep your cool."

I shot him a look, my brow furrowing. "Really? After all those kidnapped monsters, and I'm the only one to snap?"

His laughter escalated, his deep voice echoing around us, attracting a few curious glances. "Kidnapped?!" he roared with a grin, slapping his knee. "I'm just doing my job as a good fraternity leader, kid. You know that!"

I couldn't help but laugh along with him, shaking my head. It was impossible not to. Roy always had a way of lightening the mood.

Once the laughter died down, I fell silent for a moment, gazing out across the quad. The day had gone by quickly, the air crisp with the promise of winter. I let out a slow breath, letting my body relax. "I'm okay. School's pretty simple, and my friends are nice."

The words hung in the air for a moment, but it was clear there was more I wasn't saying. Ever since that night at the party, Big Red had become like an older brother to me. He had taken me under his wing, despite the differences between us, and offered me a kind of protection I wasn't used to. The rest of the Jaws had followed suit, though I had to admit it felt a little strange to be surrounded by a group of people who genuinely seemed to care about me. Roy had made sure my secret was safe, and when I caught some of the guys staring at me, he simply shrugged and said, "They just think you're cute."

I had no idea how to process that yet, but Roy's presence made me feel like I could be myself, even when everything else was confusing.

Roy leaned in slightly, his gaze shifting from the sky to me. "Well, that time will fly by, trust me. I hardly remember my first year here. It's all a blur. Just another party, another drink." He chuckled, shaking his head at the thought.

I raised an eyebrow, a teasing grin forming. "I'd say that has to do with the amount of beer you had."

"Hey!" Roy protested, his eyes widening in mock offense. "I'll have you know this body is a machine, okay? Three years of parties, and I've hardly had a hangover from any of them. Pure stamina, my friend."

I couldn't stop the chuckle that escaped me. He really was something else. Leaning my head on his broad arm, I let the sound of his laugh wash over me. His presence was like a suit of armor—protective, warm, and oddly comforting. I realized that the constant whirlwind of thoughts, doubts, and worries that had been swirling around in my head since I got here felt distant for the first time in days. Being near Roy, I could just breathe.

"You sure you're okay?" Roy's voice softened, and I could feel the weight of his eyes on me. His concern was clear, even though he tried to keep it light.

I didn't have to look at him to know that he was watching me carefully. Lying felt pointless—he could see through me too easily. I opened my mouth, but the words stuck in my throat, and when I finally spoke, it was barely above a whisper. "I haven't been sleeping well lately... too many nightmares..."

Roy's brow furrowed in confusion, and he shifted his position so that he was facing me more fully. "Nightmares?"

"Yeah..." I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment and enjoying the natural heat from his body, something grounding in a way nothing else had been lately. "It's like I keep having the same dream over and over, but none of it makes sense. I can't figure out what's what." I placed a hand over my face to stifle a yawn that threatened to escape. "I feel like I've hardly slept at all."

Roy went silent for a beat, his usual bravado gone. I could hear him breathing deeply, sensing the weight of what I'd just shared. It wasn't like me to open up, but something about being here with him, on this bench, made the walls inside me feel less suffocating.

"You don't have to talk about it," he said softly after a moment, his voice full of understanding. "But if you need someone to listen, I'm here."

I didn't respond immediately. The night terrors had become more frequent over the past week, and I wasn't sure how to explain them. Maybe it was the stress of being in a new place, or maybe something else was causing them. But hearing Roy's offer of support, his steady presence beside me, made me feel a little less alone in the world.

Maybe, for once, I wasn't carrying everything by myself.

"Thanks, Roy," I whispered, feeling a flicker of gratitude in my chest. It was small, but it was enough.

He smiled, his eyes warm and understanding. "Anytime, kid. You're not alone.

Javier's POV

"Shit, check it out." Chip whispered.

Instantly, all eyes turned toward the familiar sight of Big Red making his way across the campus. He was impossible to miss, his large frame towering over everyone, his presence commanding attention.

"Heads up, Johnny!" Chet laughed, nudging his friend beside him.

Johnny didn't seem fazed. He simply adjusted the collar of his shirt, smoothing it out with a nonchalant flick of his hand. "Relax, boys," he said in that smooth, effortless voice of his, the one that always seemed to put everyone at ease. "He's probably just excited about this year's scare games."

Despite Johnny's attempt to downplay it, something about the way Big Red walked caught my attention. Normally, he'd have charged through the crowd with his usual boisterous energy, the kind of presence that made everyone step aside. But today, he wasn't hurrying. He wasn't making a show of his arrival. Instead, he kept to his path, moving quietly and deliberately. His eyes never strayed from the steps ahead of him.

I followed his gaze, and my stomach twisted uncomfortably. He wasn't looking at us—he was looking at her. The woman from the party, waving goodbye to the pretty purple lizard from the bench.

I don't know why, but it felt like something had shifted in the air. There was a burning sensation in my chest that I couldn't explain.

"Is there anyone she doesn't know on this campus?" Chet asked, his voice dripping with curiosity as he took a slow sip of his juice. His eyes tracked the woman for a moment before flicking back to us. "I thought she's with Omega Howl?"

"I heard she made some serious headway at the Jocks' last party," Chip replied, his voice low, a hint of a grin tugging at his lips. "Flipped Big Red, or something."

"Flipped him?" Chet raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Yeah," Chip smirked, leaning back slightly, "Like some ninja move or something. Tossed him over her shoulder like he was a feather."

"Damn!" Chet let out a whistle. "Remind me not to get on her bad side."

The conversation flowed around me, but I found myself stuck, unable to tear my eyes away from the scene unfolding in front of me. There was something magnetic about the way they interacted—her laughter, the easy smile on Big Red's face, and the way they spoke to each other with such familiarity. She wasn't just another girl in his circle. She was something else. And that feeling, the one gnawing at my insides, was growing stronger with every passing second.

Chip leaned forward, his voice quieter now. "Well, apparently, she and that Omega Howl guy went to his party. What's his name? Randell?" He paused for a moment, glancing sideways at me. "Anyway, the boys say Randell can play very well. They're probably hoping to play you..." His eyes gleamed with some sort of unspoken challenge, but I barely registered it.

All I could focus on was the way Sophia leaned her head against his arm as they continued to talk, Big Red's face only inches from hers. A flicker of something—jealousy?—flared deep inside me, making my hand curl tightly around the edge of my cup.

"Javier..." Johnny's voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back into the conversation. He was watching me now, brow furrowed, eyes sharp with some sort of unspoken curiosity.

"Javier?!" Chet repeated, a smirk forming on his lips.

My gaze snapped back to Johnny, my stomach clenching in unease. I hadn't realized how much I had been staring until now, but it was too late to cover it up.

Before I could respond, I felt the soft nudge of Johnny's foot against the back of my leg.

"¿Qué, amigo?" Johnny asked, his voice full of playful concern. What, my friend?

I turned to him, trying to mask whatever I was feeling. "No es nada, mi amigo. Nothing." I forced a smile, hoping to brush it off. It's nothing, my friend.

Johnny didn't buy it. His eyes narrowed, and his grin turned to something more knowing. "Bullshit."

I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Leave it alone, amigo."

"Or what?" Johnny raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying himself now.

I didn't have an answer, so I simply stood up, deciding it was better to walk away. The air was thick with something I couldn't shake, and I needed space. I moved through the quad, past the now-empty booths, the path open and clear.

As I walked away, I heard the sounds of the Jocks approaching in the distance, their loud chants carrying through the courtyard. I could hear Big Red's booming voice among them, a sound that reverberated in my chest. His brothers were following him, their steps eager as they approached, their cheers echoing with enthusiasm.

I caught the end of their conversation, even though I wasn't supposed to.

"Look," I heard Red say, his voice calm but firm, "if you need anything, just stop by, okay? Someone's always home, kid."

Sophia smiled and waved, her expression light and teasing. "Yeah, yeah. Go do your morning run."

I couldn't stop myself from watching as Big Red leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. The gesture was simple, tender, but it sent a jolt through me. Then, with one last smile, he ran off, joining the rest of the Jocks as they continued their chant.

For a moment, I was frozen. Our eyes met, holding each other's gaze for a split second, but in that moment, it felt like everything was moving in slow motion. The entire scene seemed to be unfolding before me, and I was powerless to stop it.

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