'Christian isn't always like that,' Rachel insists, trying to persuade me to let him show me around. 'He mistook you for someone else. A goddamn Italian woman stole his car. Like one moment she was in front of him and the next – Bam! – she was in his car and speeding off! He and his latest conquest Bitch #3 were left in the dust.'

'Bitch #3?'

'Yeah. Melanie Hopwall. Number 3 on the bitch list. She's hot and whatnot and was Christian's latest victory. And he was left hanging by a woman half his size. It was a hit to his Antarctica-size-ego. Let's say, he didn't take that well. Christian's fun and cool if you ignore his bratty playboy side. He'll help you with the missed notes and stuff.'

'Since when do you know him?'

Rachel picks up her backpack and throws it over her shoulder. 'We went to high school together. I was sort of the nerd kid who was always picked on. Christian and Jared took down a bully when he was using me as a punching bag and we became friends.'

It is hard to picture Rachel with nerd glasses and braces. She is gorgeous now, her brown hair freshly curled and her face dusted with light make-up, though she has her glasses stashed inside her bag.

'Jared's great though, right?' Her face lights up.

I raise my eyebrows.

Rachel blushes, and she stutters wildly. 'I mean, he is friendly, right? He was my first bestie.'

She sighs, as though she gave up. 'I am plain, boring. I still can't believe I have him as a best friend. And I ramble, a lot, just like I am rambling now.'

She shakes her head and grabs my forearm. 'Look, Coral. Whatever Christian says, just let him be. He'll get over it. And I trust you. That's all that matters.'

I feel uncomfortable looking back into her brown eyes. I desperately want to look away, but looking away means lying, it means I have something to hide.

Alessandra Fiorentino is a liar, a cheat, a mafia boss and a murderer.

But, Coral Collins has nothing to hide.

So, I smile back at her, and we saunter out of our room.

Jared's already eating with Christian as we approach them at the cafeteria. Christian fixes me with his steady glare and he scowls.

'Hey, Rach. Hey, Coral, wasn't it?' Jared smiles, showing off his straight teeth. 'It's a nice name, Coral. I had a cousin named Polyp.'

I raise my eyebrows not knowing how to respond to that. 'Uh..'

Rachel pulls back a chair and flops back on it. 'Seriously, Jared?'

'Nope. Just kidding. So, Rach tells us you took Law?'

'Yeah.'

'My bro, Christian, takes Law too. He'll get you to your class.'

Christian does not even bother to look up from his spaghetti. 'Not interested.'

I roll my eyes. Seriously, it has become a habit.

'It's okay. I'll manage.'

Jared is skeptical. 'NYU's huge. You'll get lost.'

I resist the urge to roll my eyes this time. 'Hey, I am not a toddler. I'll get to class just fine.'

And I ended up being thirty minutes late to my first class.

I glare back daggers at the scowling Professor and take up the only vacant seat which is ironically next to a smirking Christian.

Is the whole world against me?

I get my answer soon enough. I am so busy staring down Christian that I did not notice his leg. Long story short, I ended up face down on the floor, my ass sticking up in the air.

The class guffaws.

I scramble on to my seat, glaring at the Professor who continued to scowl, as if I was responsible for her class getting out of control.

Well, it was. But not really. Christian's leg was to blame too.

'Mind if you tone down that glare of yours? I think the old hag is wetting herself.'

I snap my glare to him.

Oh, man. He's my key to Arrigo, and I have no idea how to use him to my advantage. Why did I have to take his Mustang? Why did I ever have to meet him?

I don't answer. I pull at my hair in frustration. Arrigo's so close, so very close. The guy, who is scowling at my response, or lack thereof, probably knows where that piece of shit is hiding. I need to get to him, and now that Antonio's dead, I need to get to him fast, before Arrigo gets the wind of what is happening.

But I don't know what to do.

'Can you uh, let me borrow your notes? I can print them or something... and...'

'No.'

I stop. 'No?'

'No.'

'May I ask why?'

'I don't like you.'

'What are you? A five-year-old?'

'Scratch that. I hate you. I don't want to help you out. Ever.'

'What do you mean?'

'I just told you to eff off in a dignified way.'

I feel pretty angry myself. 'Okay, man. I get that you are a jerk. You just don't have to be too blunt about it.'

I stay silent the entire class which is highly unusual. I feel the urge to hit something, and I want to badly. I grab my books once the class is over, and I begin to head out, when Christian grabs my hand.

'Let go,' I mutter.

'Nope,' he says, popping the p. He pulls me to him and leans into me, his mouth level with my ear. 'Who was the guy who dropped you off yesterday?'

'And who are you?' I retort. 'FBI?'

'The red Mustang. The one that belongs to your mother? What's her name?'

I narrow my eyes. He's scrounging for dirt on me.

'Camila Collins.' Thank Lord. Blade had thought of that shit. 'Do you want her address too?'

Christian looks behind me and lets go of my hand. I turn around and spot a bunch of girls caked in makeup staring me down.

Oh, boy. Don't tell me I got a free ticket into the hate list of Bitches&Co.

'Don't start a war you can't win,' Christian smirks, his eyes trained on the skimpy girls. 'I warned you before: I can ruin you before you even say hello.'

Blood roars in my ears.

'Hello.' I bite out.

'Very well.' Christian looks amused now, but he still doesn't look at me. 'I love to play with my food, Coral. It's in my genes.'

Oh, yes, of course.

Christian pulls off an earth-shattering smile, and trudges out of the classroom, leaving a bunch of swooning girls in his wake. Of course, Christian did give off the hot, bad boy vibe with his freakishly green eyes, dark brown hair and the toned body and the Italian heritage. And I am pretty sure he got abs.

Why do I always find myself in midst of arrogant, hot men?

I grab my stuff and walk out. I barely made two steps before someone calls out.

'Hey, new girl.'

I shut my eyes and count to three.

Relax, Alex.

I am so grateful for Jay's voice. He's like the Natasha to my Hulk.

I halt in my steps and turn around, plastering a fake smile onto my face.

It is the head of the Bitches&Co, by the looks of it. She's got it all, a face full of concealer, fake hair, fake teeth, fake... well, fake everything and she is flaunted by her employee – look alikes.

Man, is this university or a rerun of the Mean Girls?

Oh well.

Welcome to Girl World.

She eyes me like I was something she pulled out of the dumpster.

'So, new girl.' Her smile disturbingly reminds me of the Cheshire cat. 'Stay away from Christian.'

Ouch. Blunt much?

'Uh, my name is Coral Collins.'

Fake hair raises an eyebrow, which is perfectly plucked in an arc. Such a girl.

'So? Darling, I don't care who you are. I don't care where you are from. I don't care whether you are a little goody two shoes. I don't care because you are a nobody.'

Really? Oh my god, that was downright pathetic. Even though the little goody two shoes was awesome – no one ever quite called me that.

'Just stay away from Christian. He is mine.'

O-o-kay. So mama bear was staking her claim on a chunk of meat.

I raise my hands in mock surrender. 'He's all yours.'

'Good. See, Lana,' she turns to one of her minions. 'I told you, she is a little doll.' Fake hair raises a finger and pokes me on the cheek. 'Such.' Poke. 'An'. Poke. 'Innocent.' Poke. 'Baby.'

And there goes my self -control. I need to let off steam before I erupt like a freaking volcano.

I lean forward till I am level with her ear. 'If you don't shut your mouth, Barbie, the next shit coming out of it would be your teeth.'

She gasps in horror.

I pull back and wave at her minions, before raising two fingers to my forehead in a salute.

'Hasta la vista, babies.'

I leave them dumbfounded, Alex-style.    

//////

Two chapters in one day? I must be possessed.

Hope you like this one.

Chapter dedicated to UnsinkableShips. All of her books are unique and exciting. I absolutely love her writing style. 

Hasta la vista, babies. Will update soon, hopefully.