"Hey, watch where you're going!" Someone calls after me and I shout out a brief apology before nearly knocking into another bypassing student. 

It doesn't help that my backpack is filled with books and a large stack of cheerleader tryout pamphlets that I helped Stacy print out. I have to carry some in my arms and it feels like they're about to tip over at any second. I can barely keep myself afloat much less bother about other students rushing through the campus corridors. 

A group of baseball players in uniform walk towards me in a line, forming an impenetrable wall. I have to turn to the side to be able to squeeze past them.  

"Why the hell is it so crowded today," I grumble under my breath and then breathe a sigh of relief when I catch the familiar glass dome that forms the ceiling of the Daltech library. I rush down a set of stairs and then walk across the garden, choosing to stay under the canopy of trees lining the side walk.  

There are students sitting in groups, lounging on the grass as they sun bathe whilst others sit on benches under the trees. I catch quite a few heads buried deep in their books and immediately think about the upcoming mid terms. 

My heart plummets when I recall Mr Puma giving me a 'C' on my last paper, the words you can do better  written in deep red ink on the underside of the last sheet. I can't afford a 'C' on my midterms, I can't afford anything less than a 'B' unless I want to kiss my scholarship goodbye. 

I spent a good thirty six hours of uninterrupted research and studying for that damn paper, the fact that he gave me that grade still boggles my mind. Sometimes I think Mr Puma has it out for me but then again the rest of the class didn't fair so well either. 

So maybe he has it out for all of us. 

Now I have to submit a paper on the subprime mortgage crisis that lead to a global financial crisis in 2008 and even though Ms Leigh grades much better, that doesn't make this assignment any less difficult because the topic is a heavy one. 

I'm so caught up in my thoughts that I don't realise there are a group of girls waiting around by the tree just a few feet away from the library entrance. One of them puts out her leg before stepping forward to block my path and I reel back, some of the cheerleader pamphlets falling to the ground. 

I quickly bend down to pick them up when the girl stamps her foot down on the one I'm holding, her coral coloured pumps leaving a large imprint of dirt over the word 'try outs'. I frown and stand up, glaring at her. 

The girl doesn't look apologetic at all. She's staring at me with blatant animosity as if it was my fault for being here. She has glossy light brown hair that has been tucked back with a clip and a beautiful smattering of freckles that highlight her cheeks, surrounding her small button nose. 

I try to rake my brain but fall short. For the life of me I don't know who she is. 

I tuck the pamphlets to my chest and widen my stance defensively when her group of friends walk over to join her. 

"You're Danielle Nio, right? It's hard to tell since you look so different online." The rude girl takes a step forward and her friends move closer, like a pack of hyenas drawing in for the kill. 

I square my shoulders and lift my chin. "So what if I am."

"It's her," Another girl says, holding up her phone. The others quickly shift their attention to her phone screen and  my eyes dart between them and the steps to the library. I might be able to beat them to it if I bolt now. 

Just then the rude girl looks at me and laughs. "You're such a liar. You don't look like that at all. That editing app must be expensive."

"Maybe it's a filter." Another girl suggests and they all snicker.  

"What are you-" I'm about to ask when the girl with the phone shows me the image they were all looking at. I grimace at the sight of the thread Stacy created. She was supposed to take it down by now. 

"It's just a silly thread. It doesn't mean anything." I scoff and then attempt to move to the left, trying to bypass them but the rude girl steps in my path. 

"So stealing people's boyfriends doesn't mean a thing to you?" Her gaze drips with venom, it makes me wonder what I did to deserve such hate. 

"I didn't steal anyone. Look, I would love to stand here and argue over imaginary boyfriend stealing but I really need to study. So if you'd please excuse me." 

I step to the side again but this girl is relentless and so are her friends. They move in tandem with her, honestly I should hand them these cheerleader tryout pamphlets because their team work is impeccable. 

"It's one thing to steal someone's man." Another girl admonishes, crossing her arms over her chest. "But to have the audacity to lie about it? Totally classless." 

"I didn't steal anyone!" I raise my voice in anger. These girls are wasting my precious time, I want to chuck the stack of papers at them and run away. 

"Then what's this?" The blonde girl with the phone holds out her screen for me to look at again. 

My mouth sets into a grim line when I see Zander's comment again. The one stating that I'm his. 

"So what? It's just a comment, maybe someone else posted it under his name." I state impatiently. Who knew a single comment could cause such conflict? 

Thankfully, the girl with the phone puts down her hand, looking like she's considering my point. Sadly, the others don't. 

"Zander belongs to Brooklyn. Stay away, bitch. Find your own man. There are so many others on campus, you don't have to steal someone else's." The rude girl warns me and just then it clicks when I recognise the girl standing next to her. 

She's been silent the entire time, I barely noticed her until rude girl gestured her way. This must be Brooklyn, the English Lit major who's supposedly dating Zander. She cowers under the sudden attention, shying away and trying to hide behind the rude girl. 

I sigh loudly and put up my palms. "For the last time, I'm not dating Zander or anyone else for that matter. Not that it's any of your business." 

Just then my phone pings loudly and all of them stare at my jeans pocket, making me regret not switching it to silent. 

I've been anticipating Luke's texts all day, which is why I want them loud and clear so that I don't miss them. He must have just finished class. 

"It's him, isn't it?" The brunette puts out her hand, looking like she wants to grab my phone. 

"For the love of God. Leave me alone." I raise my voice another notch which catches the attention of a few guys exiting the library. They stare at us curiously making the girls back up a few steps. 

"Listen, I'm not in the habit of stealing men. If I were to date Zander it would be after he's done with you." I smile at Brooklyn sweetly who pales while her group of friends let out a collective gasp. 

I take the opportunity to slip past them and jog up the dozen or so steps that lead to the library. The cool atmosphere inside greets me instantaneously and I inhale deeply, letting the smell of books fill my nostrils. 

The lowest floor is usually the most crowded and I don't want to stick around in case Brooklyn and her friends follow suit so I head up the stairs. The third floor is relatively empty today so I settle here.

I catch a few tables already occupied so I head to one by the banister, giving me a view of the floors below. I dump my back pack down on the chair next to me and sink to my seat, thankful for the silence. 

Light filters through the glass dome above, casting an ethereal glow over the warm oak coloured bookshelves around on every floor. Down below students hurry about to borrow and return items or use the computers. I catch Brooklyn and her friends walking inside and briefly consider getting a private room. 

No, I'm not a coward and this is a public space. They won't be able to cause a scene here. I quickly whip out my phone to text Stacy when I catch another text from Luke. 

"Just finished with Mr K's math quiz. Brains overloaded and grateful for sports science next period. Hope your day is going better." 

He follows up with a series of burnt out student gifs and I smile as I text back, telling him my day has been equally as draining. I then let Stacy know where I am and keep my eyes glued to my books when Brooklyn and her friends walk up the stairs to the third floor. 

They spot me, and then make their way over, occupying a table by the bookshelf to my right. The atmosphere grows tense, despite us not exchanging a word and I put on my EarPods, playing classical music as I start with my research. 

It feels like an hour has past when I spot Stacy walking over. She looks fresh and energised as she plops down next to me in her cheerleader outfit. She then grabs the pile of papers I'd set out on the table. 

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." She hugs them to her chest. "You're a life saviour, Danielle." 

My mouth sets into a grim line. "You need to delete that thread. A.S.A.P." 

She chuckles making it look like I'm over reacting. I have yet to tell her about the ambush outside the library. 

"Girl, chill. I'll do it after practice today." 

I lean in to whisper because the girls on Brooklyn's table have been sneaking looks our way ever since Stacy joined me. 

"That's Zander's girlfriend over there." I murmur. "Don't look." I quickly warn just as she's about to turn around. 

"The group next to us? At 3 o'clock?" She asks quietly. 

I nod tersely. "They cornered me outside the library just now, demanding that I stay away from Zander." 

Just then Stacy's face changes, her expression full of guilt. "That's going to be a problem." 

My eyebrows raise in question and just then Zander walks up the stairs, looking as dashing as ever in his off white shirt and slacks. 

There are no books in his hands as he heads to our table, spotting me immediately. 

"I bumped into him outside and told him I was coming here to meet you. He was heading somewhere else but suddenly changed his mind, telling me he needed to come here as well. Said he had a book he had to look for." She rolls her eyes at the last sentence. 

"Stacy, this is the worst possible timing." I whisper frantically. 

Zander walks past his girlfriend's table obliviously, his eyes zeroed in on me. He doesn't notice her or anyone else.  I catch a few heads turning, not just from Brooklyn's side and my pulse quickens when he pulls out a chair and sits down facing me. 

He still hasn't noticed his girlfriend and he sits down with his back to her table, giving me a full view of their horrified expressions. 

"Hello, Danielle."