“POV:Sophia”

My mascara ran down my face like war paint as I crouched beneath the old streetlight, with my knees bruised and a hollow heart. I should have tried going back to my dorm, but I could barely move. I felt weak. I wiped at my eyes fast with a shaky hand, smearing the mascara across my face.

I looked again to see a man in black hoodie and ripped jeans with tattoos sprawling down both arms like shadows. A silver chain hung from his neck shimmering in the dark, I noticed a strange emblem etched into the pendant.

He lifted a joint between his two fingers to his lips, puffing slowly, the smoke curling. His face was half lit by the glow, until our eyes met.

His eyes locked to mine with a cold. Sharp glare.

For a second, I thought I was hallucinating.

I made a step closer, recognizing the face.

Lucian Black.

I scrambled back a little, my heart pounding.

“What—what are you—” My voice cracked.

He remained silent. Didn't answer right away. Instead he just exhaled a cloud of smoke, his gaze still fixed on me..

He raised a brow. Then, finally, he spoke.

“Are you done crying?” His voice is low and calm.

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“What the hell are you doing here?” I pressed, straightening up a little.

He gave a lazy shrug. “Smoking and Watching.”

“Watching what?”

He gestured with his cigarette. “You. Crying.

“I’ve been standing here for like…..forty minutes, watching you sob” he said, flicking ash onto the ground. “Figured I’d check if you were gonna pass out or something”. He shrugged slightly.

My cheeks began to hurt badly. Shame twisting in my gut.

I quickly wiped my face again. “Were you spying on me?”

“ No,” he said with a sharp tone. This is my spot. I came to smoke. Didn’t expect some weeping girl with mascara tattoos.”

He flicked ash to the ground, his eyes studying me without a blink. “You kinda killed the vibe.”

“Sorry for ruining your high,” I snapped, trying to stand.

But my knees buckled. I sank back down.

Lucian stepped forward. Reaching to help. Then hesitated, when I’d managed to steady myself.

For a second, his eyes lingered studying me like I was fragile.

Then he smirked, twisting his face like something clicked. “Wait a second…” with a low. cruel laugh. “Oh, damn. You’re the pincher girl!”

“What?” I shot back.

“The one who got dumped in HD. You made the school gossip page lit up in under five minutes. That’s record-breaking.”

“You’re trending, sweetheart.” he said. Slapped his hand against his knee, laughing uncontrollably.

I stared at him. Stunned. Feeling more humiliated, like I'd been slapped.

Lucian laughed harder, shaking his head. “Damn, love really turns people into jokes these days. I mean, he didn’t even say it nicely. Just—bam. Public execution.”

My face burned with shame. “You think this is funny?”

He met my glare completely unbothered. “Kind of. It’s pathetic the way people think love’s supposed to save them. One wrong guy and you’re crying in corners like life’s over.”

“I mean, he dumped you like it was an event. That was some savage performance.”

I stood up with rage burning in me. “You’re an asshole, you know that?”

He raised an eyebrow, still smirking.

“And for the record, I don’t blame you for being so heartless,” I spat.

“I guess you’ve never been in love,”I said bitterly.

“Probably never had anyone love you enough to break your heart.”

His smile faltered for a second.

“Take one to know one.” he finally said. He said quietly.

I turned to leave, ignoring the stinging pain in my limbs, I felt the ground shift, as if the world was whirling as my vision spun. My legs wobbled. I stumbled sideways, trying to grab the wall. Before I hit the pavement, Lucian swiftly reached out his strong arms steadying me. “Whoa. Hey—easy,” he muttered, holding me upright.

“You alright?” he asked.

I clutched my stomach, dizzy. “I—I skipped dinner. I whispered. “I’m fine…. I just need to go…”

“You’re clearly not walking anywhere,” he said flatly.

I felt myself being guided as he pulled me gently toward the street. His touch is firm but gentle.

“What are you doing?” I mumbled.

“Getting you home.”

His motorcycle sat at the curb. A matte black with crimson trim. He swung a leg over the seat, twisting in the key, the low growl of the engine echoed.

He handed me a helmet. “Put it on,” he ordered.

“I—I can walk—”

“Yeah? Try it.”

I tried to take a step. But I couldn't.

Lucian sighed, then lifted me onto the back of the bike like I weighed nothing . My head was foggy and my body weak. I clung to the edge of his hoodie, my heart thudding. I could feel the solid warmth of his back as he revved the engine.

I hated the way I felt safer with him, just like I had felt with Tyler in weeks.

The ride blurred by. Wind hitting against my face, city lights streaked past us. I held onto the edge of his hoodie, hoping I wouldn’t fall off.

Minutes later, we pulled up outside my dorm.

Lucian didn’t say a word. He just grabbed my phone from my hand, unlocked it with my shaky thumb, and scrolled through my recent calls.

I was too dazed to stop him.

“Kylie,” he muttered. “Perfect.”

He dialed the number, holding the phone to his ear.

“Yeah, your girl’s not doing great. he said when she answered.

“Come get her, I’m outside.” Then he hung up.

I stared at him, confused. “You didn’t have to—”

“Shut up,” he said, his tone concerned

“Just sit still.”

Moments later, footsteps pounded down the dorm stairs. Then—

“Sophia?!”

Kylie called out to me. Her voice is chill and sweet.

She rushed toward us, then froze at a spot, her eyes widened.

Her gaze locked on me… then slid to Lucian.

Lucian, still holding me up.

She gawked like she’d just walked into a crime scene.

“Wait… is that… is that L-Lu—Lucian Black?!”

Lucian looked unfazed. Barely glancing her way. “Hi.”

Kylie’s mouth dropped open, her face morphing to shock.

“What the hell is going on?!”