Ashton

The lady in front of me gazed downwards as the words left my mouth. I guess she was probably embarrassed that I caught her drooling. It was nothing new, I was used to being the centre of attraction.

A smile embraced my lips as I size her up when she raised her head to look at me again recognition dawned on her face.

She tucked her long black curly hair which extended to her back behind her ears, she batted her long lashes revealing her rover-blue eyes.

"You are still holding on to my waist, " Her small plumpy lips pressed together.

"Right, " I gave a tight nod before my hands slowly unwrapped themselves from her waist.

"I'm Ashton Nikonov, " I introduced stretching my hand for her to shake but she doesn't take it rather her eyes are fixed on it. On the back of my palm like she was in search of something.

"Are you the guy?" She questioned meeting my gaze.

"Which guy?" I arched my brows.

"Never mind, thank you for saving me." She mumbled.

"Which of the saves?" A smirk marred the corner of my lips as I watched her brows snap together.

"How.. Are you..."

"Never mind, " I interrupted her withdrawing my hand before she could finish since her words were making no sense.

Her eyes narrowed in confusion and she pressed her lips together. I could say it was an expression she was fond of.

"I'm Alyona.."

"Alyona Vladivostok Konstantin Kostya, " I completed with a smile plastered on my face.

"How did you know?" Surprise took over her features.

"Are you serious? You are so popular around here. Look around, who doesn't know you?" I shrugged and she gazed downward.

She sauntered away when her bodyguards spoke to her after taking several glances at me.

I sauntered to the guy Alyona was speaking to earlier, he was still seated on the floor and the lady was standing beside him. Alyona did seem to have a lot of hatred for this guy and the lady too seeing her interaction with them.

"Hi, Ashton." The lady smiled flirtatiously stretching her hand to me for a handshake.

"Hi, " I muttered.

She withdrew her hand when she saw that I didn't take it, her cheeks glowed red in embarrassment as she stared at the guy who was still on the floor and glaring at her.

"Bro, let me help you up, " I smiled stretching my hand to the guy but he shoved it away.

"I don't need your fucking help, and I'm not your bro." His eyes flickered with rage and his jaw tightened as peered at me.

He got off the ground, pointing a finger at me he snarled, "Stay away from Alyona."

After his words, he stormed off with the lady running after him.

I chortled looking around, this college was filled with so much drama. Just my first day here, and I was loving it already. I noticed some ladies in groups muttering to themselves and then giggling like little kids and some of the guys staring at me with eyes glazed with disdain like I had done something wrong.

"Ashton, where have you been?" I heard Leo's voice behind me.

"Why? I'm not a kid, " I huffed and started to walk away.

"Wait up, " he hollered as he caught up with me and then he put a hand around my shoulder.

"Let go of me dude, " I grunted taking his hand off my shoulder, and he wore a sad expression.

"I've been looking all around for you and all I get is this from my so-called best friend."

I stared at Leo with raised brows, most times this guy acted more like a kid than an adult.

"Remind me again when did we become best friends."

"I'm never going to talk to you again, " he fumed before scooting away.

"I would love that bro, " I laughed running after him.

......

....

Later Day....

"Why have you been staring at Alyona ever since we got into this class?" Leo snapped his fingers in front of my face.

"Does she have a boyfriend?" I asked.

Leo chuckled, "Why are you asking?"

When I glared at him he made a serious face and cleared his throat to hide his mirth.

"Why are my even talking to you? How did I forget that I made up my mind never to talk to you again?"

"It is not my fault you forgot and I thought you were just kidding. Don't be a baby Leo, you are a grown man." I mumbled peering at him with a smirk tugging my lips.

Leo was my best friend no doubt but I loved to tease him. I had never acknowledged that we were best friends and it did make him furious.

Leo was acting like a child, well most of the time he acted like a child and it was quite a surprise because he was the first child of his parents. Whoever came up with the saying that firstborns were mature and sensible was rather going to be disappointed seeing Leo's case.

"Well, I'm only going to answer your question if you acknowledge me as your best friend, " Leo shrugged.

I huffed glaring at him, "Seriously. Fine, you are my best friend."

"I love you, bro, " Leo giggled like a kid who got their favourite candy hugging me out of the blue.

"Let go of me, " I groaned pulling out of his grip. I noticed others looking at us, just the first day of transferring to this college and Leo was already making me get bad attention.

"I'll tell you all you need to know about her. Alyona has a boyfriend, his name is Greg. They are the hottest couple in the college and also very popular. Greg is popular because of Alyona, no one was interested in associating themselves with him until he started dating. You know sometimes I can't help for wonder why she would choose to date a guy like that, " Leo frowned.

I folded my arms across my chest as I listened to Leo speak.

"Who should she be dating instead? You?" I arched my brows.

"That's not the point. Everyone in this college apart from Alyona knows that Greg is a womaniser and also he has been cheating on her with her best friend. News has it that she found out during the weekend, if it's true then I'm very happy for her. The poor lady deserves someone who would treat her better." Leo spoke with so much concern in his voice that got me gaping at him with raised brows.

"You seem to like Alyona so much don't you?"

Leo smiled, "Who doesn't? Alyona is an angel, she is really sweet. Only a few people don't like her and they consist of those who are either envious of her or just haters. Mostly the ladies in this college since they feel that almost every guy has his eyes on her."

"Who is the Greg guy? Her boyfriend, can you show him to me?"

Leo's eyes narrowed as they dorked on me, his nose crinkled and then he chortled.

"Why are you so interested in getting to know things about this Alyona girl?"

"Just show me the guy and stop answering my questions with questions, " I yelped shooting him a glare.

He scoffed, "That's Greg, " he muttered pointing to a guy who was sitting close to the window. I recognised the guy, he was the guy from this morning the one who asked me to stay away from Alyona. Oh! Now I could understand the reasons for his actions, he was the cheating ex-boyfriend and was probably trying to get back with her.

"And I guess he was cheating with that lady?" I inquired pointing to the girl who was with him this morning. She had just walked up to the Greg guy and all he did was ignore her. I had forgotten her name even though she told it me since I wasn't interested in getting to know her. Ladies who threw themselves at guys were a turn-off for me, they irked me to the core.

"Yeah. How did you know?" Leo's brows knitted?

"I saw them together this morning. Alyona's bodyguards bundled Greg up. Somehow she bumped into me and..."

"Woah.. Love at first sight, isn't it?" A mischievous smile grew on Leo's face as he teased me.

I ignored him my eyes were now focused on Alyona and two other girls who were with her and a guy as well.

I think one of the girls said something to her because she looked in my direction. We locked gazes and I smiled at her, then she averted her gaze from me immediately.

"Who is that guy?" I asked turning to Leo when I saw how the guy who was with Alyona stalked me with a fiercy glare.

"He is her cousin, Mason. And the girls are her cousins too. Sofia and Maya."

"Oh, I see. But it looks like the guy isn't a friendly one."

"No, Mason is very friendly. We are friends and he is jovial. Just that he is a bit hostile to guys who come close to his sisters. He is very protective of them." Leo explained.

"I can introduce you to them if you want. Mason won't mind and I think you two would be great friends..." Leo smiled getting on his feet and he waited for me to do the same.

I wasn't really interested in talking to the Mason guy, I just wanted to talk to Alyona, know more about her, and we could possibly become friends.