Next Morning — Campus Garden Path
The morning air was crisp, still wet with dew. Carter sat alone on a stone bench, sipping her coffee, headphones in but no music playing. Her mind was elsewhere.
Ferrin appeared, eyes shadowed with guilt, a slow and hesitant step as she approached.
"Carter," she said quietly.
Carter looked up — unreadable.
"I'm sorry," Ferrin said. "About last night. About everything."
Carter said nothing, just waited.
Ferrin exhaled. "I didn't know how to tell you. My life is a mess. I don't have parents to look after me. I do everything alone. And… I guess I wanted to feel wanted, even if I had to lie."
Her voice cracked — tears barely held back.
Carter's chest tightened.
"You should've told me the truth," Carter said, eyes softening. "You used me. That's not okay."
Ferrin nodded, eyes glistening. "I just wanted to feel something. Anything. But I crossed a line. I'm sorry."
There was a long pause.
Then Carter spoke, gentler this time. "I won't hate you, Ferrin. But if we stay friends, there are rules. No more tricks. No more manipulation."
Ferrin stepped closer, lowering her gaze. "So… we're still friends?"
Carter gave a faint nod. "Friends. But don't mistake that for anything else."
Ferrin bit her lip, hiding a smile. "I won't."
But as Carter turned to leave, Ferrin's eyes followed her — dark and hungry. She whispered, "You'll be mine someday."
---
Meanwhile — Elsa's House, That Evening
The Avery mansion was grand — cold white marble floors and echoing halls. Elsa stood stiffly in the center of the living room as her parents sipped wine and spoke with grave certainty.
"You'll meet the Park family's son this weekend," her father said. "They're serious about a merger. And we need this."
Elsa's stomach turned. "I'm not marrying someone for your business."
Her mother sighed, annoyed. "Elsa, this is how the world works."
"I'm not a pawn!"
Her father's voice rose. "You're our daughter. You'll do what's best for this family."
Elsa glared, trembling. "I won't marry a stranger."
His hand flew before she could react.
Slap.
The sting bloomed across her cheek. Her breath caught.
Her mother gasped softly but said nothing.
"Enough," her father growled. "You're embarrassing yourself."
Elsa's eyes welled up, voice shaking. "You never loved me. You just want to sell me off."
She turned and ran upstairs, locking her door behind her.
Inside the silence of her room, she collapsed onto the floor, sobbing into her hands. Her phone buzzed — she picked it up, stared at Carter's contact.
Her thumb hovered over call.
But she didn't press it.
She turned the screen off and curled up on the floor, whispering, "Why didn't you pick me…"
---
Later That Night — Ferrin's Apartment
Ferrin's bedroom pulsed with low music and red light. Her back arched beneath another girl — a slender, fierce-looking woman with piercings and short-cropped hair.
Their bodies tangled in heat and breath.
But Ferrin's eyes were distant.
"Hey," the girl whispered. "You're not here tonight. What's wrong?"
Ferrin didn't answer.
The girl kissed her neck. "Someone got you messed up?"
Ferrin exhaled — thinking only of Carter's lips, Carter's voice, Carter's rejection.
She rolled the girl underneath her and whispered against her ear, "She doesn't even want me."
The girl blinked. "So I'm just a replacement?"
Ferrin smiled darkly, licking the girl's lips. "Tonight, that's all I need."
Later That Weekend — Carter's Dorm
Carter leaned back in her desk chair, tossing a stress ball in her hand. She hadn't heard from Elsa since the ballet practice. Her messages were left on "read." The distance between them was starting to ache in her chest.
Ferrin had messaged her earlier:
"Wanna hang out today? Just as friends."
Carter ignored it.
She scrolled through social media absently — until she stopped.
A blurry photo. Elsa. With a man in a formal suit. Her parents beside her. A luxury hotel backdrop.
The caption: "Avery-Park families finally meet for exclusive union talk. Possible engagement?"
Carter's heart dropped.
She zoomed in. Elsa's face was unreadable — her smile forced.
"…No way," Carter whispered.
Without hesitation, she grabbed her jacket and left her dorm.
---
Elsa's Mansion — Same Night
Elsa sat in front of her vanity, makeup smudged, her earrings still in from the formal lunch she was forced to attend. She stared at herself like a stranger.
Knock knock.
She didn't answer.
Her mother peeked in. "The Park family said you looked stunning today. You impressed them."
"I don't care," Elsa said flatly.
"You will," her mother said, voice like ice. "You'll learn to love him. He's handsome, and rich, and polite. What more do you want?"
Elsa stood suddenly, rage bubbling in her voice. "I want to choose!"
Her mother blinked.
"I want love," Elsa said, tears forming. "Real love. Not this… business transaction."
Her mother's smile faded. "You're dreaming, Elsa."
Elsa grabbed her phone again — Carter's contact staring back at her. Her thumb hovered, trembling.
She pressed call.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
No answer.
But then, a message arrived:
Carter: "I saw the article. Is it true?"
Elsa stared at it, frozen.
Then she typed:
Elsa: "I didn't choose this. They're forcing me."
Carter: "Do you want me to come?"
Elsa paused. Her fingers shook.
She didn't reply but she waits for her..
---
Elsewhere — Ferrin's Rooftop
Ferrin sat alone with a cigarette between her fingers, wearing nothing but a robe. Her hookup had left. The sex hadn't helped. The emptiness only grew.
She called Carter and she didn't attend the phone so she called Carter's friend Amanda and asked where she is ? Amanda replied she ran from our dorm room . I think she went to see Elsa ..
Ferrin's smile faded.
"She still runs to her…" she muttered bitterly.
She crushed the cigarette under her heel and stared into the night.
"She'll come back to me. She has to."
---
Elsa's Room — A Few Minutes Later
A soft knock came at the balcony window.
Elsa turned quickly, startled.
Carter stood outside in the dark, hoodie pulled over her head, hands in her pockets.
Elsa rushed over and slid the glass open.
Carter climbed in and stood still, staring.
Neither said anything.
Then Carter gently reached up and touched Elsa's bruised cheek. "They hit you?"
Elsa looked away, ashamed.
"fuck," Carter muttered.
Elsa shook her head, whispering, "why are you here? I didn't said you need to come here" Her eyes are pouring ..
Carter pulled her into a hug. Elsa gripped the fabric of her hoodie, burying her face in Carter's chest.
"I hate them," Elsa cried. "I hate them so much."
Carter didn't say a word — just held her tighter.
To be continued ..
***