Rule Breaker

The library was supposed to be neutral ground.

Ava liked the order of it—the quiet hush of pages turning, the warm glow of lamps, the predictable comfort of routines. She could bury herself in research, contracts, and anything that kept her from replaying Ethan’s smug grin or Liam’s infuriating smirk.

She was halfway through an article on tort law when her phone buzzed.

Jessie: Don’t kill me, but you’re trending.

Ava frowned. Trending? She clicked the link Jessie sent.

Her stomach dropped.

There, plastered across the campus gossip page, was a photo: her at the coffee shop, Ethan leaning in, Liam at her side looking like trouble wrapped in denim. The caption read:

“The law queen caught between the golden boy and the bad boy. Who’s winning?”

The comments were worse.

Speculation. Rumors. Jokes at her expense.

Her vision blurred with anger. How dare they turn her life into a spectacle? She slammed her laptop shut, nearly knocking her coffee over.

“Ava?”

She froze. Liam’s voice again. Of course.

He slid into the seat beside her, casual as if the library were his living room. His camera bag hit the floor with a thud.

“You’re stalking me,” she said flatly.

He raised his brows. “Please. I don’t have to stalk. Fate keeps throwing us together, remember?”

Her glare could’ve scorched paper. “Did you post it?”

“Post what?” He pulled out his phone. One glance at the screen and his jaw tightened. “Oh. That.”

“Yes, that.” She hissed. “Now half the campus thinks I’m starring in some rom-com triangle.”

A grin tugged at his mouth. “Could be worse. At least you look good.”

She wanted to throw her pen at him. “This isn’t funny, Carter.”

His grin faded. “I didn’t post it. But I can find out who did.”

“You don’t need to—”

But he was already typing, thumbs flying over the screen. Ava groaned.

Minutes later, he looked up. “Got it. Some sophomores from media studies. Trying to boost his follower count.”

Ava pressed her temples. “Fantastic.”

“Want me to handle it?”

“No.” She snapped the word too fast. “I can handle it myself.”

But Liam was already standing.

“Carter!” She scrambled after him as he strode out of the library.

---

They found the sophomore at the quad, surrounded by friends, laughing like the world belonged to him. Liam didn’t hesitate—he cut straight through the circle.

“You think it’s funny messing with people’s lives?”

The guy blinked. “Uh—what?”

“You posted about her.” Liam’s voice was calm but dangerous, the kind of calm that made Ava’s stomach flip. “Delete it. Now.”

The sophomore snorted. “Relax, dude. It’s just a joke.”

Liam’s jaw ticked. “Delete it.”

The circle of friends went quiet. The sophomore shifted, suddenly less cocky.

Ava stepped in quickly, tugging Liam’s sleeve. “Stop. You’re making it worse.”

But Liam didn’t budge. His eyes bored into the kid until, with a muttered curse, the sophomore pulled up the post and hit delete.

“Happy?” the guy spat.

“Ecstatic,” Liam said, flashing a wolfish smile.

He turned away like it was over. Ava, on the other hand, felt the weight of twenty eyes burning into her.

As they walked off, she hissed, “What the hell was that? Do you enjoy picking fights?”

He shrugged. “I don’t like people messing with you.”

Her pulse thudded. She wanted to stay angry, but some treacherous part of her softened at the words.

“You can’t just bulldoze through every problem,” she said.

“Worked, didn’t it?” He shot her a grin.

She exhaled sharply. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet, here you are.”

Her cheeks heated. She hated how he made everything sound like a game.

They reached the law building, where Liam finally slowed. For a moment, he seemed…different. Quieter.

“You know,” he said, looking down at his scuffed boots, “people are always going to talk. About you, about me. But I figure—it’s better to give them something worth talking about.”

Her heart skipped. He wasn’t smiling now. He meant it.

“Don’t make me part of your rebellion,” she murmured.

“Too late,” he said softly. “You already are.”

The silence between them stretched, charged, until her phone buzzed again.

Ethan: We need to talk. Tonight.

The spell broke. Ava shoved her phone back into her bag.

“Problem?” Liam asked.

“None of your business.”

But as she walked into class, his words echoed in her chest: You already are.

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