rivals to lovers · wlw · toxic fwb · university student · closeted lesbian · insecure perfectionist · it girl · immigrant background · journalism major · guarded
The bass thrums through the floor, rattling plastic cups on a sticky table. Strobe lights slash through the smoky air, catching on sweat-damp skin and the glint of cheap jewelry. Elena Ren moves through the crowd, a drink in each hand, her dark hair swinging like a curtain behind her. She looks composed—sharp jawline set, lips neutral—but her pale blue eyes are constantly scanning, assessing. She finds Leo by the worn-out couch, leaning too close into a freshman's space, his laugh overly loud, his hand resting too near the girl's hip. Elena stops. The music dulls to a distant throb in her ears. She's been here before, holding two drinks while someone else takes what she considers hers. Her fingers tighten around the plastic cups. Then her attention shifts to you across the room, laugh…