---
The smell of buttered toast, sizzling bacon, and her famous mac and cheese filled the Quest mansion. Blair moved around the kitchen in her oversized hoodie and fuzzy socks, spooning pasta into a Tupperware container with focused care.
She wasn't nervous. That's what she told herself.
Just as she was sealing the container, Lily walked in, her silk robe tied loosely around her waist, hair slightly tousled from sleep.
"Oh, I know that smell anywhere," Lily grinned, stretching. "Is that your mac and cheese?"
Blair turned with a smile. "Busted. I saved you some."
Lily clapped her hands dramatically. "I was hoping you'd say that."
Blair passed her a plate as Lily poured herself coffee.
"Any plans today?" Lily asked, eyeing her daughter. "I was thinking maybe you, me, and Cassie could do our nails? Just a girls' thing?"
Blair hesitated, biting her lip. "Oh, um… I can't. I actually… have a date."
Lily nearly dropped her mug. "A date? Wait. Hold on. Is it—James?" she squealed like a teenager.
"Mum, ew! No!" Blair laughed, trying to shush her. "He's not my type."
Lily smirked. "He's everyone's type."
"You're impossible," Blair giggled.
"Well, whoever this mystery man is, I hope he knows how lucky he is. We'll do our nails tomorrow then." Lily kissed her cheek and strolled upstairs with her plate.
Blair leaned against the counter, smiling to herself. She didn't know what to expect from today—but she had at least tried to set the tone right.
After showering, she changed into a beige knit dress, soft against her skin, with a matching cropped jacket. Her hair was tied into a low, slick ponytail, with a few curled strands framing her face. She grabbed her cream mini purse and the container of food, heading downstairs.
Cassie was already there in the kitchen, hoodie oversized, messy bun perched high, and a brownie in one hand.
"You look dressed up," she mumbled between bites.
"Yeah, I… I have a thing. With a boy."
Cassie raised a brow. "It's called a date, Blair. Look it up."
Blair rolled her eyes. "You feeling okay?"
"I'll live. Who's the boy?"
"I'll tell you if you tell me who the tall, dark-haired guy was yesterday."
Cassie smirked. "Omds. Blair, stalker much?"
"I'm not saying anything," she added smugly.
"Fine," Blair huffed. "Then I'm not saying anything either. Byeee."
As she walked toward the door, Cassie called out, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
---
The ride to the college was smooth. Blair stared out the window, clutching the container of food.
"It's a college with thousands of people," she muttered to herself. "The probability of seeing James is slim."
She texted Oliver: I'm here. Where do I meet you?
Building C. Room 46.
Blair walked through the campus. The place was massive—tall, ivy-covered buildings, students lounging around with guitars, iced coffees in hand, laughing like they had no care in the world. As she got closer to the dorms, her stomach dropped.
Building C.
The same building where she and Cassie had picked up James' keycard.
Room 46 was directly across from James' door.
"Is the universe actually kidding me right now?" she muttered, knocking on Oliver's door quickly, praying James or Caleb didn't open theirs.
Oliver opened it with a casual grin. "Hey."
He wore joggers, a tank top, and held a controller in one hand. "Come in."
"I brought food," Blair said with a small smile. "Thought I'd say hello… with carbs."
Oliver raised a brow. "Jesus, Blair. It's our first date, not our wedding. Cooking? That's extreme."
"Oh. Sorry," she muttered, cheeks warming.
"It's cool. You can sit." He returned to his gaming setup.
Blair looked around. His room smelled faintly of pizza and cologne. Posters on the wall. Bed unmade. She sat on the edge, pulling out her phone as he kept playing, headset on, yelling at teammates.
Time crawled.
She plated a small portion of the mac and cheese and started eating quietly, then scrolled through TikTok to distract herself from the gnawing discomfort.
By evening, Oliver finally stood up. "God, I'm starving."
Blair glanced up but didn't say anything as he devoured the food.
Didn't he say she was being "extreme" for bringing it?
After eating, Oliver plopped beside her on the bed. She stiffened as he laid down and placed his hand on her thigh, creeping higher toward her panties.
She gasped and shoved his hand away. "What are you doing?"
Oliver's voice was low. "What do you think? It's cold. It's about to rain. That dress is hot."
"You ignored me all day, insulted me, and now you want to—?"
"I want to fuck you."
He stood, walking toward her. She backed up.
"No. Oliver, stop."
He didn't. He grabbed her waist and pressed her against the door, his hand groping her, kissing her neck.
"You're so hot, Blair. Just relax—"
"Let me go!" she screamed, trying to fight him off.
She grabbed the nearest thing—a desk lamp—and slammed it against his head. He stumbled back, cursing.
Blair grabbed her bag and ran.
It was already raining outside, thunder rumbling. She didn't get far before he came charging after her.
"Blair!"
She ran into the rain, heart pounding, screaming. "Leave me alone!"
Two guys, sheltered under an umbrella, turned at the sound.
"Blair?" one called.
It was Andrew.
"What the hell? Why is Oliver chasing you?"
She couldn't speak, gasping for air.
Andrew turned to the other guy. "Let's go."
He stepped forward, shielding her. "Come on."
---
Back at the dorm, Blair stood trembling in the hallway.
"I don't want to go in there," she whispered.
Andrew looked at her, firm but kind. "He won't try anything while I'm here."
She nodded, soaked, and followed him inside.
James and Caleb were on the couch playing games. The moment they saw her, both dropped their controllers.
"Blair?" Caleb blinked, standing.
James stood immediately. "What the hell happened "
---
Caleb was the first to move, disappearing into the kitchen. James walked up, eyes scanning Blair's soaked dress, clinging to her tiny frame. She looked... hollow. Drenched. Small.
Andrew guided her toward the couch. "I don't know what happened," he said, glancing back at James. "She ran into me in the rain, screaming. Oliver was behind her."
James' jaw clenched. "Oliver? What? How the hell did you meet Oliver?"
"Let's get her warm first," Andrew said. "She hasn't said a word."
James turned and stormed into his room. A moment later, he came out with a black hoodie and a pair of his basketball shorts. He dropped them in the bathroom.
Blair stood frozen until Andrew gently nudged her shoulder. She walked to the bathroom wordlessly, her fingers shaking as she closed the door behind her.
---
Blair's POV
She sat on the edge of the bathtub. Wet, cold, silent.
She'd almost been raped.
She didn't cry, not yet. Her hands moved on their own, peeling off the soaked dress. She spotted the hoodie and shorts, and slowly pulled them on.
They smelled like him. James.
Warm. Clean. Safe.
Her hair went into a quick messy bun. She wiped her face with a towel and stared at her reflection, blank.
Just… breathe.
---
James' POV
She emerged from the bathroom, the hoodie swallowing her frame, the sleeves nearly covering her hands. James' shorts brushed just below her knees.
She looked like a lost kid.
Still beautiful.
Still Blair.
But her spark—the sharp eyes, the teasing smirk—gone.
She sat silently as Caleb handed her a mug. "Hot cocoa. With marshmallows. The fancy kind."
Blair wrapped her hands around it, grateful but quiet.
The boys sat in front of her. Waiting.
"I…" she began, voice barely audible. "Earlier this week, Oliver bumped into me at school. He asked me out."
James stared at her, every word stinging. Even now, in his clothes, she was talking about another guy. But he stayed silent. Watching.
She kept her eyes on her drink. "I thought... it'd be okay. I've only ever dated Cole, and even then Amanda was always around, so I guess I didn't know what a date was supposed to be like."
She explained how Oliver ignored her, insulted her for bringing food, then suddenly turned aggressive.
"He tried to touch me... I told him no. He didn't care. He said…" she paused, cheeks flushed in shame. "'I want to fuck the shit out of you.'"
Caleb nearly dropped his drink. "What?!"
Andrew swore. "That bastard. You're a minor. He could go to jail."
James stood slowly, his voice calm but dangerous. "Why did you agree to a date in his room?"
Blair looked up, confused and ashamed. "I don't know. Is that bad?"
"Yeah," Caleb said, more gently. "For a first date, if a guy invites you to his room… it usually means he just wants a hookup."
"Oh," she whispered. "I didn't know. I should've told Maddie or Cassie. I didn't even tell them who the date was with…"
Andrew blinked. "Wait—have you ever been on a real date before?"
Blair hesitated. "Just with Amanda. And Cole."
"That doesn't count," Caleb muttered.
James finally spoke again, voice low and tight. "Never been on a date… and you went to Oliver."
He stood up, pulling out his phone. "I'm suing him. He's not getting away with this."
Blair panicked, dropping her cocoa and grabbing his hand. "No! I don't want that. I don't want to be seen as the girl who's been through too much. I'm tired of that label. Please, James."
James looked down at her. Her eyes were pleading. Wet. Vulnerable.
He exhaled slowly. "Okay. But you hit him. He might try something to get back at you."
"I'll tell Dad," Caleb said. "You'll get a bodyguard."
"No, please. I just want to sleep."
Andrew stood up. "You can crash in James' room."
Blair nodded. Before leaving, she turned to them and softly asked, "Could you please text my mom and tell her I'm here? But… don't tell Cassie. Please."
"Got it," Caleb said. "Goodnight, B."
She disappeared into James' room.
---
The silence in the living room was deafening.
Andrew looked at James. "Do you think Oliver tried the same thing with Jazmine?"
Caleb frowned. "He probably did. She never explained why they broke up."
James stared at the floor. "We have to do something. Jazmine needs to tell us the truth."
"She doesn't know Blair went on a date with her ex," Andrew added.
"She wouldn't have gone if she did," Caleb said.
James nodded, fists clenched. "Oliver's going to pay"
---