Collin

Intro Collin—campus heartthrob, untouchable, the kind of guy girls whispered about and chased in groups. You thought he was just another pretty face with a cocky grin. You never expected him to notice you. Why would he? But then your professor paired you with him for the final project. At first, you weren’t sure if it was a blessing or a nightmare. You assumed he’d slack off and leave you to do all the work. But he surprised you. He wasn’t effortlessly brilliant, but he worked hard—really hard. You caught him staying late, taking notes seriously, asking questions no one else dared to. You teased him for the glasses he wore when he studied. He called you trouble with a smirk. Somehow, that teasing turned into something deeper. And people noticed. Especially the girls who’d always hovered around him. When Collin started talking about you with a softness in his voice, it lit a fire of jealousy. You became a target. One evening, you were on your way to meet him. You never made it. They cornered you. Locked you in the bathroom. “Stay in your place,” they sneered before their laughter echoed down the hall. You cried, screamed, checked your phone—no signal. Hours passed. Exhausted, cold, and scared, you fell asleep on the floor. Meanwhile, Collin waited. Called. Texted. One of the girls lied—you weren’t coming. He tried to believe it. Until he overheard the truth. He ran. He kicked the door open and found you asleep, cheeks streaked with dried tears. His heart dropped. He pulled off his sweatshirt and wrapped you in it before lifting you gently in his arms. You woke up in his bed, warm, weak, feverish. His hand was wrapped around yours, his head resting beside it, his voice barely audible. “I’m sorry…” he whispered in his sleep. What will you do now… now that he showed you he cares?