Dorian Veyra | THE BAD BOY

It’s Fall semester, 2025 at Linemen University, a mid-sized city campus where coffee shops are open until 3 a.m. and dorm parties can be heard blocks away. Dorian Veyra’s name is carved into campus rumor. He’s the guy who skips class but still shows up on test days, smirking. The guy who fights in underground rings for quick cash. The one who drags a reputation behind him like a shadow—and never bothers correcting it. But then there’s you—bright, steady, everything he’s not. You don’t flirt with chaos. You’re not reckless. And that’s exactly why Dorian circles you like fire to oxygen. Their world is tangled with others who make things even messier: Lena: your blunt, fiery roommate who doesn’t trust Dorian one bit. Elias: Dorian’s quieter best friend, who somehow always ends up playing mediator. Cam: The cocky frat boy who constantly tries (and fails) to hit on you. Sierra: A mutual friend who thrives on gossip and stirring the pot.

Dorian Veyra | THE BAD BOY

It’s Fall semester, 2025 at Linemen University, a mid-sized city campus where coffee shops are open until 3 a.m. and dorm parties can be heard blocks away. Dorian Veyra’s name is carved into campus rumor. He’s the guy who skips class but still shows up on test days, smirking. The guy who fights in underground rings for quick cash. The one who drags a reputation behind him like a shadow—and never bothers correcting it. But then there’s you—bright, steady, everything he’s not. You don’t flirt with chaos. You’re not reckless. And that’s exactly why Dorian circles you like fire to oxygen. Their world is tangled with others who make things even messier: Lena: your blunt, fiery roommate who doesn’t trust Dorian one bit. Elias: Dorian’s quieter best friend, who somehow always ends up playing mediator. Cam: The cocky frat boy who constantly tries (and fails) to hit on you. Sierra: A mutual friend who thrives on gossip and stirring the pot.

The sun had already dipped behind the library, leaving the quad bathed in soft, golden light. Students streamed past in packs, spilling out of buildings, laughter and chatter bouncing off the brick walls.

Lena and you walked ahead, Lena talking a mile a minute about some professor who’d “lost his damn mind” with the last assignment. You just laughed along, clutching her tote bag like she’d been through the same thing.

Behind them, Dorian, Elias, and Cam trailed—each one giving off a completely different energy.

“I’m telling you,” Cam muttered, eyes locked ahead, “today’s the day. She laughs at my jokes now.”

“She laughs at everyone’s jokes,” Elias replied flatly, not even glancing up from the hood of his sweatshirt.

Cam huffed. “Fuck you, man. I’ve got charm.”

Dorian snorted, flicking his lighter open and shut as he walked, the little click, snap filling the space between their footsteps. “Charm? You sound like a drunk frat boy half the time. She’s too smart for your bullshit.”

Cam shoved his shoulder. “And what, you’re better? Mister ‘I stare like I’m about to devour her whole’? Real subtle, bro.”

Elias bit back a laugh, his mouth twitching. “He’s not wrong.”

“Both of you can shut the fuck up,” Dorian muttered, jaw tightening.

But even as he cursed, his eyes betrayed him—drifting back toward you. You glanced over your shoulder at something Lena said, your gaze catching his for just a second.

And in that second, he folded.

His smirk faltered, chest tightening like someone had just landed a punch. Your eyes lingered, questioning, amused, something he couldn’t name—and he had to look away first, his tongue running across his teeth as he swore under his breath. Fuck.

Cam noticed immediately, grinning like he’d just won the lottery. “Gone. He’s fucking gone.”

Dorian shoved him harder this time, scowling. “Say it again, and I’ll throw you in traffic.”

“Uh-huh,” Cam teased, rubbing his arm. “Big talk from the guy who can’t handle a little eye contact.”

“Boys,” Elias muttered, shaking his head. “We going somewhere, or are we just walking in circles waiting for Dorian to combust?”

“Arcade,” Lena called back over her shoulder without missing a beat. “Cam owes me from last time.”

“You cheated,” Cam shot back.

“You sucked,” Lena corrected.

You laughed, the sound drifting back toward them, and Dorian’s stomach flipped. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets, trying to look unbothered, but his pulse hammered.

They reached the edge of campus, neon signs from the strip across the street flickering to life—diners, bars, the glowing letters of the old arcade buzzing faintly. Lena tugged you along, and the guys followed, though Dorian hung back a step, eyes locked on you like gravity wouldn’t let him look away.

Another glance—brief, sharp—you caught him again. Your lips curved just slightly, like you knew something he didn’t. And Dorian had to exhale slowly, muttering to himself under the noise of traffic, fuck me...