Chapter 59 New Beginnings
Danielle’s POV
The loudspeaker crackled to life above my head, right as I stepped out of my morning Ethics class.
“Danielle Wilton, please report to the campus clinic immediately.”
My heart dropped.
Half of the hallway turned their heads to look at me like I’d been caught stealing lab chemicals.
I swallowed hard, my fingers curling around the strap of my backpack.
Great. First week and I’m already being summoned like a problematic freshman.
I tried to laugh it off, but my palms were sweating as I walked across campus.
The breeze was warm, students sprawled on the lawns, music playing from someone’s speaker, it all felt so alive.
Sometimes I still couldn’t believe I was here… a real university.
A new beginning. My new beginning.
All because of Mark’s sponsorship. Becca literally met one of the angels living on earth.
I blinked back the sudden sting in my eyes and pushed open the clinic doors.
“Danielle?” I nodded.
“Good, come in,” the head nurse called from her office. She had gentle eyes that made me feel like I wasn’t in trouble, which helped my heart rate calm down about 2%.
I sat. She shuffled through a folder with my name on it.
“We received the results from the private physician Mr. Simmons contacted,” she said. “He informed us that you were exposed to a stimulant… disguised as a candy.”
Heat crawled up my neck. Of course Mark made it sound fancy.
In truth it had been one of his stupidly expensive, stress-relief candies.
I mean that's what the doctor told me.
“I’m fine,” I murmured.
“You seem fine,” the nurse replied, sliding a small pack of medication toward me, “but we need to prevent any delayed reactions. Lightheadedness, jitters, insomnia.”
“Insomnia?” I groaned. “I already can’t sleep normally.”
She chuckled. “Then take one pill tonight. Only one.”
Her voice was warm and patient with me, taking her time to walk me through the instructions.
I tucked the meds into my bag and headed out.
The campus glowed under noon sunlight, and I let myself breathe in the freedom I hadn’t tasted in years.
Everything felt new, the trees, the laughter, the fact that no one here knew what I’d survived.
I was still smiling when someone suddenly blocked my path.
“Whoa, look who’s about to run me over,” a smooth voice teased.
A guy stood there; tall, warm brown skin, curly hair that framed his forehead perfectly.
His smile was unfairly charming. He held two textbooks and a half-eaten granola bar.
“I’m so sorry,” I breathed, stepping back.
He grinned. “Don’t be. I’ll only forgive you… if you tell me your name.”
Whoa!! easy , cute guy.
“Danielle.”
“Liam,” he said, offering his hand. “I’m a second year, law student,
He got so close that I could smell the faint scent of mint from his gum.
“You’re new, right?” he asked, eyes scanning my nervous posture with gentle amusement.
“Is it that obvious?” I mumbled.
“Ofcourse, you're literally playing with your fingers,” His grin widened. “But it’s cute.”
I blinked. Cute? Me?
Danielle, self control
He shifted his books under his arm. “Where’s your dorm?”
“It's the North Wing.”
“Oh, that’s literally my domain. I live two floors up.”
My chest warmed.
“Can I walk you back?” he asked lightly, like it wasn’t a big deal.
But it felt like a big deal.
“Sure,” I whispered.
We strolled toward the dorm complex. He pointed out the library shortcut, the café with the best pancakes, the courtyard where couples made out like their GPA didn’t exist.
“You're such a quiet cutie,” he teased.
“You're such a lousy cutie,” I snapped back.
“Fair, fair,” he rose his hands up more like a surrender.
Our banter flowed naturally, like we’d known each other longer than twenty minutes.
When we reached my room, he glanced inside.
Boxes everywhere, nothing unpacked except my pillow.
“You need help,” he observed, pretending to judge my entire life choices.
“I just moved in!” I laughed.
“Excuses,” he drawled dramatically. “Step aside, rookie.”
Before I knew it, he was rolling up his sleeves, lifting boxes like they weighed nothing.
“You really don’t have to…”
“I want to,” he murmured, and something fluttered in my chest.
He was so swift about it, before he got a call.
The moon settled in the campus so quickly.
The dorm was quiet with muffled laughter from down the hall and the hum of someone’s TV through the wall.
My boxes were half unpacked thanks to Liam, who’d left an hour ago with a crooked smile and
“Text me if you get nightmares… or if you just want company.”
Company. My heart hasn't stopped fluttering since.
I crawled onto my bed and dialed Becca. She picked up instantly.
“Dani!” she gushed. “Tell me everything. How’s campus? Are your dorm mates nice? Did you eat?”
I smiled at the ceiling. “I’m fine, Beck.”
“You sound happy,” she whispered.
“I… think I am.”
We talked about the clinic, my classes, the sunlight on campus , everything. She listened intently, laughing and gasping in all the right places.
But midway through my story about Liam, her voice softened.
“Danielle… can I tell you something?”
“Sure,” I murmured.
There was a pause then a shaky inhale.
“I feel like I’m losing myself,” she whispered, voice cracking.
“Everyone knows Mark Simmons. Everyone wants him. I’m just… the girl trying to keep up.”
My heart clenched.
I heard the tremble in her breath, the weight she carried alone. She’d always been the strong one. The protector. The fighter.
“Becca,” I murmured, “he loves you.”
“I know,” she whispered brokenly. “But sometimes I don’t know if that’s enough.”
I closed my eyes, imagining her curled on her bed, hugging her knees.
“It's enough Becc, the man I saw was deeply obsessed about you and that's what matters. You shouldn't be worried about other people's feelings,”
A shaky laugh escaped her. “When did you get so wise?”
“Probably the minute you finally let me leave,” I teased softly.
She exhaled a fragile, relieved sound.
“I’m proud of you,” she whispered.
“I’m proud of you too,” I replied, chest tightening. “Just… don’t forget to love yourself, okay?”
Her silence told me she heard me. Her silence told me she needed those words.
We said our goodnights. The line clicked off.
I slipped my phone under my pillow and headed down the hallway toward the vending machine , craving something sugary and cold.
The campus was strangely quiet, darker than usual. I hugged my arms around myself as the night breeze brushed my skin.
Halfway back to the dorm… I felt it.
A presence. A stare.
My steps slowed.
A sleek black car was parked near the corner of the dorm building . It's windows tinted, the engine silent. I tried to ignore it, but then…
Click.
A tiny flash. Like a camera.
My stomach twisted. I stepped back instinctively.
I swallowed hard and walked faster, my heartbeat thudding in my ears.
Once inside the dorm lobby, I turned to peek outside again.
The car was still there.
But the person inside had vanished.
A cold shiver crawled down my spine.
Something… or someone… was watching me.