Not My Type

''What is your problem?''

Charlotte grabbed her phone, slipped on her sneakers, and headed toward the dorm door.

"I'm going for dinner," she said casually.

Tyla looked up from her desk, eyes sharp. "Okay," she said sweetly.

Charlotte didn't notice the fake tone. She just waved and walked out.

The moment the door clicked shut, Tyla sprang into action.

She snatched Charlotte's phone off the bed.

"Finally," she whispered.

She pulled out a tube of clear lip gloss — the sticky kind.

She smeared a thin layer across the screen, right where Charlotte's fingers would touch to type her password.

Tyla grinned.

"When she unlocks it later," she whispered, "I'll see exactly which numbers she presses."

She placed the phone back perfectly.

Then she sat at her desk, pretending to do homework, waiting for Charlotte to return.

Her plan was in motion.

The dining hall was loud and warm, filled with students laughing, yelling, and complaining about exams.

Charlotte walked in and spotted Ryder waving both arms like he was trying to land a plane.

"CHARLOTTE! OVER HERE!"

Savannah rolled her eyes. "You're so dramatic."

Tom sat beside them, hoodie up, fork in hand, looking like he'd been dragged there against his will.

Charlotte slid into the seat across from him.

Tom looked up. "You took forever."

Charlotte: "I walked."

Tom: "Skill issue."

Charlotte kicked him under the table.

Tom smirked.

Ryder was piling food onto his plate like he hadn't eaten in days.

Savannah was scrolling through her phone, judging everyone's outfits.

Tom was poking at his mashed potatoes like they offended him.

Charlotte was trying to eat in peace.

Then Ryder said, "So... Tyla looked like she was about to murder someone earlier."

Savannah snorted. "She always looks like that."

Tom: "She cornered me after class."

Charlotte raised an eyebrow. "What did she want."

Tom: "Attention."

Ryder nearly spit out his drink.

Savannah laughed. "Did you give her any."

Tom: "No."

Charlotte smirked. "Good."

Tom looked at her for a second too long.

Then he looked away.

Tyla strutted into the dining hall wearing another sparkly outfit that made half the room squint.

She spotted Tom immediately.

Her eyes narrowed when she saw Charlotte sitting across from him.

She marched over.

"Hi Tom," she said, flipping her hair.

Tom didn't look up. "Hi."

Tyla: "I saved you a seat at my table."