BAD INFLUENCE

Hailey's throat went dry. She had to say something...anything...but her brain refused to function.

"Uh... I-" she stammered.

Xavier pushed off the sink and took a slow step toward her, his piercing gaze never leaving her face. Up close, she noticed more details-his tousled dark hair, the sharp jawline, the tattoos curling around his arms like inked whispers of rebellion.

Danger.

That was the first thing her mind screamed.

He radiated it.

Yet, her feet still didn't move.

"Let me guess..." He flicked the cigarette ash into the sink, his tongue piercing glinting as he smirked again.

"You're new here"

Hailey nodded stiffly.

His smirk deepened, like he was entertained by her nervousness.

"Thought so" His gaze dropped briefly, taking in her sweater and jeans...simple, modest, so unlike the girls he was used to seeing around here.

He took another drag of his cigarette, exhaling slowly before cocking a brow at her.

"You planning to stay and chat, or are you gonna run off before someone else walks in and gets the wrong idea?"

That snapped her out of it.

Her face burned as she fumbled backward, her hand gripping the door handle.

"I-I'm sorry!" she blurted out, quickly turning and yanking the door open.

A deep chuckle followed her as she practically bolted out of the restroom.

Her heart pounded as she stumbled into the hallway, pressing a hand against her chest.

What just happened?

Who was that?

She didn't need anyone to tell her he was bad news. The tattoos, the piercings, the cigarette-the smirk. He was exactly the type of person she had been warned to stay away from.

She shook her head, inhaling deeply.

Forget it. Just find the dormitory.

She pulled out the crumpled paper with her dorm assignment and checked the campus map at the end of the hallway.

"Block C... Room 209" she muttered, tracing the route with her finger.

Just as she was about to turn toward the dorms, a loud voice cut through the air behind her.

"Name's Xavier, princess!"

Hailey froze mid-step.

Slowly, she turned her head.

There he was.

Xavier stood just outside the restroom, one hand shoved into his pocket, the other tossing the half-burned cigarette to the ground and crushing it beneath his boot.

That same smirk played on his lips as his sharp gaze locked on hers.

"Wouldn't want you running off without knowing who I am" he added, tilting his head slightly.

"Might come in handy later"

Later?

She didn't plan on seeing him ever again.

Without another word, she turned around and walked faster toward the dormitories.

She could still feel his eyes on her back as she walked.

Only when she was far enough away did she let out the breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

•••

BEHIND THE SCHOOL BUILDING*

Xavier leaned against the cool brick wall, his fingers lazily flicking open his lighter, watching the small flame dance before he snapped it shut. Over and over. A habit. A distraction. But right now, nothing could distract him from her.

The girl from earlier.

So soft. So pure. So untouched.

Fùck.

That innocence of hers? It was driving him insane.

He had seen plenty of girls at Hillsworth who were desperate, eager, willing. They threw themselves at him, craving the thrill of being around someone dangerous.

But her?

She didn't belong in his world. And that made him want her even more.

Xavier exhaled, running his tongue over the silver piercing between his lips, the taste of nicotine still fresh on his tongue.

She had looked terrified in that restroom. Frozen. Shaken.

And it was the best damn thing he'd seen all day.

Because now? Now, he wanted to see her in every way possible.

Ruined. Breathless. Wild.

The thought alone sent a rush through his veins. He hadn't even touched her yet, but fùck, the idea of corrupting that innocence was already making his blood run hot.

A smirk tugged at his lips.

"She has no idea what she just walked into"

He wanted her. Badly.

And Xavier always got what he wanted.

He took another slow drag from his cigarette, letting the smoke curl between his fingers before exhaling. His tongue flicked over the cool metal of his piercing, his mind replaying the way she had looked at him-wide-eyed, stiff, like a little rabbit caught in a wolf's den.

That was exactly what she was. A little rabbit in a world full of wolves. And him? He was the worst of them all.

He chuckled under his breath, dropping his cigarette to the ground and crushing it beneath his boot.

She was tempting. Too tempting. That sweater, those jeans...everything about her screamed innocence, and it was messing with his head in the worst way.

He had seen purity before. He had even toyed with it. But this? This was different.

This wasn't just some girl playing at being good. This was a girl who had never tasted the bad.

And he wanted to be the one to change that.

His fingers twitched at the thought-gripping that sweet little waist, watching her shatter under his touch. He wanted to see her fall apart, to strip away every ounce of that innocence until she forgot what it felt like to be good.

And the best part?

She'd let him. Eventually.

Because girls like her? The ones who thought they didn't belong in his world?

They always did.

They just needed the right push.

A slow smirk pulled at his lips.

She wouldn't be able to run from him forever.

Xavier's smirk faded as his phone buzzed in his pocket. He already knew who it was before even glancing at the screen.

Yeah, right.

His jaw clenched as he pulled the phone out, staring at the screen for a long second. The buzzing felt louder, more irritating than usual, like it was drilling into his skull.

Then, without hesitation, he smashed it against the brick wall.

The device shattered on impact, pieces scattering across the ground. The ringing died instantly, leaving nothing but silence.

His fingers curled into fists, his chest rising and falling heavily.

He knew they'd call again.

They always did.