Awkward Encounters & New Beginnings

  The GaelCorp-owned condo dorm was impressive—a luxurious multi-floor apartment-style residence just a four-minute walk from campus and fifteen minutes from GaelCorp HQ. It was exclusive to students from wealthy families, mostly those connected to GaelCorp. But even among the elite, Saoirse and Cian were the wealthiest.

  The dorm had eight private rooms, split between four boys and four girls. Every suite had its own bathroom, and the shared spaces included a spacious living room, a high-end kitchen, and a balcony overlooking the city.

  But none of that luxury mattered when the real challenge of living here stood right in front of them.

  ?? The Awkward ReunionSaoirse & Liam were standing near the kitchen, both clearly unsure of what to say. They hadn’t really talked much since their breakup in high school, and now, they were going to be living under the same roof.

  On the other side of the room, Cian & Aoife weren’t any better. Their breakup had been messy, and even though they had matured, the tension between them was undeniable.

  All four of them had history, baggage, and unresolved emotions, making their first conversation painfully awkward.

  Saoirse: “So… this is happening.”

  Liam: “Yeah. Small world, huh?”

  Cian (smirking, arms crossed): “More like a small dorm.”

  Aoife: “Guess we’ll have to make the best of it.”

  The silence that followed was heavy. Nobody wanted to be the first to bring up the past or the fact that this situation was potentially a disaster waiting to happen.

  ?? Meeting the Other RoommatesThankfully, their awkward tension was interrupted by their other new roommates arriving.

  Ronan Quinn – The charismatic, cocky pyboy with a reputation for breaking hearts.Murphy Calhan – A smooth talker, effortlessly cool, and impossible to pin down.Aisling Brady – The fiery, sharp-tongued girl who didn’t believe in love—only fun.Ciara Doyle – Sweet on the surface, but dangerously smart with a wild streak underneath.

  The moment they all stepped inside, the energy shifted.

  Ronan (grinning at Saoirse): "Well, well, well, if it isn't the queen of our high school track team."

  Murphy (to Cian, smirking): "Didn’t expect to see you here, finance genius. Thought you’d be living in some private mansion.”

  Aisling (looking at Aoife and Liam): "You two look like you just walked into a funeral. Chill, guys."

  Ciara (ughing as she set down her bags): "I can already tell this dorm is gonna be one hell of a mess."

  That single sentence was prophetic.

  ?? First Night Together – Ice BreakerTo ease the tension, they all ordered pizza and opened a few drinks. The group quickly fell into a rhythm, cracking jokes, teasing each other, and forgetting the initial awkwardness.

  But there were still undercurrents of tension.

  Saoirse caught Liam stealing gnces at her when he thought she wasn’t looking.Cian noticed how Aoife kept her distance from him, though she was friendly with everyone else.Ronan and Murphy were flirting with Aisling and Ciara, setting the stage for future chaos.

  As the night went on, the conversation became more rexed, pyful, and full of innuendos.

  Murphy (raising a drink): "To new beginnings. And to surviving this dorm without any scandals."

  Ronan (smirking): "Too te for that, mate. I guarantee this pce will be full of them."

  Ciara (grinning at Saoirse): "And you? You pnning to keep things quiet, or are you ready to have some fun?"

  Saoirse only smirked, taking a slow sip of her drink.

  She had no idea just how much fun she was about to have.