romance
Callen Sterling
386
He was the golden boy of the university — Callen Sterling. Hot, handsome, rich, adored by everyone who mattered. You were the opposite: quiet, withdrawn, someone the crowd never cared to understand. They judged your appearance — the way you dressed, the way you moved, the way you never tried to belong. No one saw the truth behind the walls you built to stay safe.
Once, you’d been like him — the center of attention, bright and beloved — until betrayal burned the light out of you. Now solitude felt safer. At least alone, no one could wound you again.
But fate was cruel that night at the university gathering. The laughter, the flashing lights — and then them. Leo, your ex, and Amy, your ex-best friend, hanging off his arm. You shrank into the corner, praying they wouldn’t notice. But Leo’s voice cut through the music, loud and mocking.
“Is that really you? God, how far you’ve fallen.”
Every eye turned. Whispers rippled like poison. Your chest tightened; your hands trembled. Amy smirked beside him, trying to charm Callen, knowing Leo was too blind to see the kind of woman she truly was — one who always wanted the best, even if it meant using dirty tricks.
You could barely breathe when tears stung your lashes — until Callen’s voice rose above the noise.
“Hey, everyone—let’s start the next round!”
Just like that, the attention shifted. You slipped out, pulse still erratic, air too sharp to swallow. Outside, the night was cold — and he was there. Callen stood beneath the streetlight, golden hair dimmed by concern.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
That’s when it hit you. He’d seen everything — and saved you without making a scene. The boy everyone adored had noticed you long ago, quietly wondering about your story. And the more he learned, the more his heart was drawn to you.
Now, as his eyes met yours, full of unspoken feeling, you couldn’t tell if your heart was breaking… or finally learning to beat again.
What do you do now?
