(𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄)

In a world where selfishness and greed reign supreme, I had chosen to fit into the puzzle and bury my feelings just like everyone else. I didn't seem to have much of a choice in the matter.

I live in Greendale, which is surrounded by numerous trees and is extremely different from the tourist destinations. This section of Greendale is a residential area where many people who own businesses in the city live and send their children to school.

Tactical Enterprises, the tallest skyscraper in Greendale, is owned by my parents. They offer nearly all of Greendale's technology, and it all started with five thousand dollars that quickly turned into five hundred thousand.

My parents' pride and joy is the business, after my sister and I obviously. I glance down at my watch, scanning it. I need to get going before my father climbs up the stairs and scolds me for not being downstairs already.

I spritz a mist of my perfume on my outfit then I finally grab my bag and walk downstairs where my father serves me a few pieces of diminished bacon and burnt toast.

"Dad, the toast basically cooks itself, how did you even burn it," I mutter, chuckling under my breath softly.

"I might have forgotten to lower the heat," he jokes and I shake my head.

"I can just pick up some food from the cafe on my way to school," I say, pushing the plate back towards him before picking up my bag once again.

"Pick up proper meal and not a muffin," he mutters. I nod and place a small kiss on his cheek.

"I will,"

── ·✩· ──

I did indeed just get a muffin, it's just breakfast I have more important things to do, like getting on campus.

Joshua, Tristan, and Chase are among the numerous students that have attended Greendale University.

At any school, there's usually that one group of friends, and they were precisely what you'd expect at a university.

Joshua, the smarts-kinda, and Chase, the athlete. Then there's Tristan, the ruthless one.

Law is the first district, Art is the second, English is the third, and Fashion is the fourth.

I'm certain. I have English with Tristan, but I'll probably never see him.

Chase's major is music technology but he occasionally slips into every other class for whatever reason.

And, if my memory serves me well, Joshua is all over the place, switching majors as quickly as I can blink.

"My class is on the second floor," I say, finally zoning back into reality as Chase begins to laugh.

"You're actually going to your classes,"

"Of course, it's the first day," I groan looking over at my blonde-haired boyfriend, his eyes are blue a bright blue, the typical dreamy college boy in the books where all girls wish to have a chance with.

I've gotten at least ten stares walking around with his arm around my waist.

"You should also get to your class," I say. He shakes his head before tapping his watch.

"You should get to class, it's nine-thirty," he mutters before kissing my cheek.

"Enjoy your first day," he says, before disappearing behind the corner.

He's not going to his classes, he'll probably go smoke a joint or two to "destress"

I shake my head before walking up the flight of stairs. After strolling around for at least four minutes, I come to a halt in front of a blue door with the number 31. The numbers on the door match the one on the paper for my first lesson, so I pull open the door and enter the room.

Since this class had started at least four minutes ago, all eyes were on me.

"You're late, please take a seat and settle down," the professor mutters. I take a look around the class and since I know nobody in this university, I'm happy to see Joshua sitting at the top.

Joshua has light brown hair that is now buzzed short instead of his typical medium length. He has bright green eyes and sometimes goes pale when he's near me.

I make my way over to him before flipping my bag onto the desk.

"Hey," I say and he gives me a small smile before speaking.

"What's up brunette," he asks, causing me to roll my eyes at the nickname he had created for me.

"You were late," he says strictly as I take a seat next to him.

"Chase was supposed to help me but I didn't so I got lost," I say and he nods.

"You should ask for a guide then, Chase isn't all that reliable," he expresses. I chuckle at his remarks before grabbing my notebook.

── ·✩· ──

"Practice is at three so I could probably get to your place at six," Chase says as his arm casually flows around my shoulders.

"Doesn't practice take like two hours?" I question.

"But I need an hour to get there baby,"

'Baby', I hate when he uses that word and he knows it, I hate it more than Joshua's 'Brunette'.

He pulls me closer to his side as the two boys join us on the bleachers.

Tristan rarely ever speaks to me, he's either quiet, shy or just rude. I think the latter.

Except for his eyes, his features are pretty dark; he has wavy dark brown hair that pretty much completely conceals his bright blue-almost grey eyes. I've never gone near enough to notice how pretty they are. He also has nice tan skin and a small stubble, which he'll most likely cut shortly.

I've noticed that he seldom, if ever, changes his attire; he normally wears a hoodie and some pants.

He places his bag onto the table before running his fingers through his hair letting out a low sigh.

"Don't ask him anything if you don't want to get barked at," Joshua jokes. I laugh softly before resting my head on Chase's shoulder.

"Tristan, can you show Olivia to her next class since it's closer to you?"Chase questions.

"Can't you ask Candice, I'm not going to that class," Tristan says, earning an irritated look from Chase.

"Who's Candice?" I question. Chase shrugs before tossing a grape into his mouth.

"Just a friend," he says.

"You should get some friends other than us, it's your first year here, maybe explore the place instead of looking like our little sister," Joshua says.

If words could kill, everyone who speaks to this boy would be dead, yet he has no idea how mean he sounds.

Chase looks at him sternly before removing his arm from my shoulder.

"I didn't mean it like that," he says and I shake my head. I give him a small smile before speaking.

"I know," I utter. Tristan chuckles gently, and I notice his smile, which I don't see very often, probably because he doesn't like me very much.

"Josh is right, I can't be around you guys like you're my bodyguards," I mutter. I get up from my seat before standing in front of the three boys.

"Do you guys know any people?" I question causing Tristan to roll his eyes.

"People we don't know please," he says as if he's annoyed by my question.

"No need to be rude," I mutter under my breath, but somehow he hears.

"I wasn't trying to be,"

He looks up from his phone and stares into my eyes, I take a deep breath before looking away. I place a quick kiss on Chase's cheek before heading into the school.

I make my way over to the restroom and open the door. I walk over to the sink after using the restroom and gaze up at myself in the mirror.

Most people wouldn't acknowledge it, but I was wearing a lot of makeup. I've always worn it to conceal my pimples, but it may be making them worse.

Chase didn't care about cosmetics when we first started dating, but after a year, he appears to care.

Now he warns me not to wear his shirts because they could get makeup on them. That's understandable. But even when I take it off, he refuses.

I don't want to since the last time he scolded me for looking like a skeleton in his shirt last year when I reverted to old habits after he cheated.

Yes, I took him back after he cheated, I prefer to persuade myself that he didn't mean to and that it was a mistake; after all, nothing good comes easily.

Joshua attempts to boost my self-esteem, but everyone knows how he has a . . . unique way with words; nevertheless, he is an excellent listener.

I swiftly wash my hands before wiping them dry with paper towels. Before leaving the restroom, I dump the paper towels into the garbage then a question gets directed to me.

"Hey, do you know where room twenty-one is?"

I look up to see a girl with brown hair, her eyes are also brown and she has a bronze to her skin.

"I saw it upstairs across from the boy's bathroom," I tell her.

"Thanks," she says. A small smile is visible on her face before she walks away.

Thankfully that was one of the many rooms that caught my attention.

This university is way too big, you could get lost on campus so easily. Not only do they have a football field, but they also have a soccer field and a tennis court.

A university for the wealthy as I said before only people of money live in these parts of Greendale. The tuition is costly, and most individuals don't show up looking like they just rolled out of bed.

I never liked dressing up for school, but Chase asked me to give it a try, so I did that's how my addiction to clothes started.

I make my way back over to the group of boys before sitting next to Chase.

"Made any friends?" Joshua questions and I shake my head.

"I went to the bathroom," I express. I hear a soft laugh come from Tristan which causes me to roll my eyes.

"Better luck next time," Chase says just before he kisses my forehead.

── ·✩· ──

Chase enters the house with his phone to his ear and a bag of in and out.

I had changed out of my clothes and taken off the makeup, so I was now wearing an oversized hoodie and some leggings, my comfort clothes.

"Hey, sorry I'm so late, I got sidetracked, " he says, hanging up the phone. He places a kiss at the side of my head before looking at my book.

"Journaling again?" He questions.

"It's a daily thing," I tell him, I hear a low hum before he sits in the seat next to me.

"Your parents aren't home?" He asks and I nod.

"They went out five minutes ago to get us some dinner," I say, referring to my little sister.

"And is Grace sleeping?" He questions before taking a bite out of his burger.

"Yeah, I helped her with her homework then she went to take a quick nap before dinner," I tell him and he nods.

"She's such a weirdo sometimes," He says.

I've told him not to call her that almost eight thousand times now.

"She's not a weirdo and even if she was being basic is boring," I say defensively.

"She pokes everyone's cheeks,"

"Okay and she's four?" I tell him, placing my pen down before looking over at him.

"I didn't mean it like that," he speaks causing me to look away before rolling my eyes.

"Sure you didn't, " I mumble.

Before he can say anything else I hear a soft voice.

"Ollie,"

A nickname I so very much detest, but it's my little sister. I let her get away with it not only because she's cute but because she doesn't know how to say my full name yet.

I look over at the staircase to see my sister rubbing her eyes. I get up from my seat before walking over to her.

I lift her before placing her on my hip. She yawns before nuzzling her head into my neck.

"Back to bed, mom and dad aren't back just yet," I say, as I walk up the stairs and into her room.

I place her on the bed before tucking her in gently. "I don't like him," she mutters, earning my attention.

"Don't like who?" I question as she yawns, wiping her small face.

"You know who, the boy downstairs," she says cutely, mispronouncing the word downstairs. I chuckle before kissing her forehead.

"Go to sleep Grace," I smile at her before flicking on her night light.

── ·✩· ──

𝗼𝗼. ⁞ 𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐒 !

Hey guys, just wanted to tell you that I appreciate you giving this book a chance, I greatly do hope that you liked this chapter. Chapter two coming soon.

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