I wake up and grab my phone off my nightstand. One look at my texts and memories from last night come flooding back. 

My childhood nemesis Warner lives across the hall. 

The past I have tried so hard to escape has already infiltrated my new life.

Today was the first real cheer practice and the soccer team would be practicing at the field. Which meant He would be there. I hated how one part of my past turned up and suddenly I was losing everything I felt I had built. When I look in the mirror I swore for a second I saw grade ten Juliet with cystic acne and her too-big glasses. I blink and she is gone and replaced by the new me.

I am going crazy. I couldn't let stupid Warner ruin this for me. I put on my favourite black lulu lemon shorts and a cute sports bra. The new Juliet doesn't eat breakfast so I brush my teeth, put my hair in a ponytail and leave. Yes, not eating breakfast is unhealthy but nothing about my weight loss was healthy so no point starting now.

I open my door slightly just so I can see if any evil douchebags were lurking in the hallway and when I see the coast was clear I make a break for the elevator. Right as I press the ground floor button a hand stops the door. I get ready to smack it out of the way if it was Warners, luckily it is Adam who steps in. He is wearing his practice uniform and looks damn good If I must say.

"Are you going to cheer extra hard for me today?" he asks me and I flush.

"Yeah I actually have a custom routine just for you I had to practice it all night but I think I have it down."

We chat and walk to the field and I learn that Adam is a scholarship student and kind of a genius. He is in the Biomed program and plans on being a doctor. He also seemed like an actual nice guy. Except for the part where he was best friends with Warner.

When we get to the field most of the guys on the soccer team are already warming up with the cheer team members who have shown up early. They are all warming up next to each other, aka flirting with each other. A couple of them start whistling at the sight of Adam and me walking in together and him holding my bag.

I blush and awkwardly walk towards them all. God, it feels like elementary school where it is a big deal to hold hands. I mean I am a virgin so holding hands is still a big deal but I am a loser so it's different.

I bend over, put my bag down and look up at just the right time because a ball is flying at my butt. I turn quickly and catch it with ease. I already know exactly who kicked it and my suspicions are confirmed from the sight of Warner.

"Honest mistake Jules!" he flashes me a grin and I whip the ball at his head.

______

We go through a new routine until we are all dying and out of breath. I liked the exercise though, I needed to go on a run after the practice so when it finished I didn't follow everyone into the change rooms. Instead, I walk over to the track and take a long sip of water before starting my run. I get through three laps before I feel footsteps fall in sync with mine.

"Don't you think you should be taking a break? Maybe eat breakfast or something?" Warner is jogging next to me.

"Okay thank you dad I will eat breakfast after my run" 

Why on earth did he care what I ate?

"I prefer Daddy but okay good you deserve the Juliet special after this run" I cringe at his words. The Juliet special was what Warner used to call what I ordered at Mcdonalds'. Back then I would order 5 hashbrowns, 2 egg mcmuffins and hotcakes every Friday. I used to eat it in my English classroom so nobody could see but Warner had walked in once and branded it the "Juliet Special'. I like to think he was just jealous of my meal and I am sure he now orders the same thing.

I quicken my pace to escape him but he just runs faster. God, I forgot how annoying he is.

"So you must be overjoyed that your prince charming Adam is here to carry your bags. I must admit I am kind of offended that you are so much nicer to my friends than you are to me. He didn't even get a single threat" Warned feigns hurt and I glare at him.

"He is not my prince charming! Now go away, don't you have something better to do?" I stop running because he is ruining my pace anyway.

Warner glances over at the stands where a couple of beautiful girls are standing smiling at him. One even waves him over. "You are right Jules I have someone to do."

He runs over to them and I pretend to gag but deep down I wish he would just treat me like he treated other girls. To him, I was just someone to poke fun at but I watch him with the girl across the field and it is like he is a different person. He is cooler, the way he puts his hand on the small of her back and whispers something to her. I find my headphones in my gym bag and put them in so I can continue running.

I don't know how much time has passed but I run until I feel like I am going to pass out. My vision has started to blur a bit and my apple watch tells me I have done about 15km. My Mom and I have our apple watch activity shared with each other and she gets mad at me if I don't reach the 1,000 calorie goal each day. Yes, it was toxic but it was my mom's idea of quality time with me and I would take what I could get.

I need to shower and change. I sit on the grass for a few seconds and sip my water catching my breath. A few seconds later my apple watch dings from my mom.

Great work Honey! Remember nothing tastes as good as skinny feels! xo mom

I almost spit out my water laughing. I swear that woman is a walking eating disorder. After a few more seconds I stand up and head to the showers. I specifically wait till everyone is gone to shower because I still can't let people see my body. I don't know how people could just be so confident and shower with all their friends. I wanted to get there one day but until then here I was hours after practice sneaking a shower.

When I walk back to the dorm I feel a lot of eyes on me. I am not an attention seeker, in fact, I hate attention. I actually hate when people stare at me because I can't control how they see me. For instance, I hate my side profile so I try to angle myself so nobody gets to see it. But eyes follow me everywhere I go, my classes, the gym, the common room. It never ends. And me being the paranoid girl I am, automatically assume someone has posted pictures of me online.

Abby texted me to come to the food hall for lunch so I change and head down hoping there are some healthy options there. I spot her next to Amy and a few guys I don't recognize.

"Word got out that you are in a love triangle with Warner and Adam" Abby looks happy to tell me this news and I am relieved to know that this is the cause of the staring and not anything worse. 

"That's hilarious and also completely untrue " I laugh, waving it off and Amy looks pleased with my answer.

"Good because I want a slice of both those pies! I wouldn't mind them fighting over me" Amy sighs and I follow her stare over to where Warner and Adam sit. When I turn they are both already looking at me so I quickly turn away.

Maybe he didn't see me 

Two seconds later a plate of food is placed in front of me. There were hashbrowns, egg mcmuffins and pancakes in front of me, placed down by a smiling Warner. Was this some sort of mean joke? I didn't eat like this anymore.

"I noticed you never had breakfast like you said so here you go." He pushes the plate towards me and I frown. To anyone else at the table, Warner is being nice but to me, he is reminding me of the time he caught me binge eating in an empty classroom.

"This isn't funny and I am not hungry" I push the food away and glare at him but he looks genuinely confused.

"It wasn't a joke I thought these were your favourites I-" Warner starts but the other guy at the table cuts him off.

"God Warner I didn't know you were such a simp" he laughs and at those words, Warner changes completely. It was like a switch and he laughs at the idea of him caring.

"Chill Max, they are my leftovers. It didn't take any effort, here you can have them or Amy can" he shoots her a smile pushing them towards her.

"And for the record, Juliet used to love this meal." Without even glancing at me he goes back and sits next to Adam.

After Abby is done eating we walk to our dorms to actually crack open our textbooks. I am studying pre-law and Abby is studying English. I was pretty smart growing up because I had no friends or social life so all I did was study. I should've figured Warner might go here since it was the top pre-law program in the state. Since we were kids we always competed for top marks in our classes. I thought I heard rumours about him going to a different school but I should've looked into it.

I have only read a few pages when there is a knock on my door. I am prepared for the worst like usual but am greeted by Adam who is looking cute as hell.

"Hey, Juliet."

"Hi, Adam." 

"I wanted to ask you something" he looks nervous. 

Do I make him nervous? God if only Jiggly Juliet could see me now.

Before I can even answer my door bursts open wider. I should've known it was Warner because he doesn't have the proper manners to knock. However, judging by his face he might start. His hand tightens on the handle when he looks at us but he smiles.

"Adam, what are you doing here? Did you hear we are having a joust for Jules's affection? It's the new rumour around here so prepare for battle" he teases but he looks tense.

"Yeah, Adam came here to talk strategy since I need him to win and finally get rid of you" I joke back and he feigns hurt.

"Most girls would die at the chance to have me you are so ungrateful."

I roll my eyes "Do you have an actual reason for barging into my room unannounced?"

"Yes, I need to speak to you privately. Adam, you are dismissed" he opens the door, not really giving Adam a chance.

As soon as he closes the door his face goes serious and I forget how intimidating he can be. He walks over to my bed and lays down, really making himself at home. I stay standing, arms crossed and look down at him leaning on his elbow staring at me. It is kind of funny to see someone as tall as him on my bed with its hot pink bedspread and rhinestone cushions, his feet dangling at the end.

"So the soccer team is hosting its annual freshman party on the weekend." His words catch me off guard. 

Oh my god was he going to ask me to come with him? My armpits started sweating at the thought.

"And I need you to promise me you won't go," he says flatly and I take a step back, offended. I can't believe I thought he was going to ask me to come. I can't hide the hurt on my face.

I glare at him, annoyed and unsettled. "Are you really that embarrassed of me that you can't have me at your stupid party?" I ask.

Warner looks conflicted about how to answer my question like he is deciding on what excuse to use.

"I forgot what an asshole you are Warner. It's bad enough you made my high school experience hell but I am not letting you ruin college for me too" 

Warner opens his mouth but no words come out.

"I have worked so fucking hard to escape my past. I know I am always going to be some fat loser to you but I refuse to let you cast me out here." 

Warner has stood up now and I have to straighten and stand on my tiptoes to look him in the eyes.

His eyes gain a far-off look and I know I have gone too far talking to him like this. He could ruin me in a second if he wanted to. His eyes harden and he fixes his eyes on me in a terrifyingly detached way. The muscle in his jaw flexes, revealing just how aggravated he truly is, "Believe whatever you want about me Juliet just don't show up to that fucking party" is all he says, slamming the door behind him.