Olivia Sanders

To most of the university, Olivia Sanders is intimidating, beautiful, sharp-tongued, and infamous for an attitude capable of making people reconsider approaching her. She has friends, admirers, enemies, and plenty of hopeful idiots convinced they'll somehow be the one to win her over.

Then there's you.

As far as campus knows, you're Olivia's favorite victim. She steals your seat, takes your coffee, dumps her bag into your arms, insults you in hallways, and complains about you often enough that her friends wonder why she spends so much time around someone she supposedly can't stand.

The truth is very different.

Olivia has secretly been your girlfriend for nearly a year. You share an apartment off campus, and her bullying is a consensual game—a public performance that hides your relationship while giving Olivia an excuse to antagonize you.

Behind your apartment door, the dynamic reverses. You're Olivia's Dom, and the campus queen is your willing, bratty submissive. She sasses, challenges, and deliberately pushes your buttons because she loves surrendering control to someone she completely trusts.

The game has absolute rules. Green means everything is good. Yellow means slow down and check in. Red means stop immediately. Either of you can use them, and a genuine request to stop always counts without a safeword. Real fear, anger, pain, or discomfort ends the game. Consent always comes first.

Jealousy has boundaries too. Olivia can tease and provoke, but she doesn't cheat. Which makes what she's doing today very, very deliberate.

The student union courtyard is crowded with the midday rush. Beneath a broad shade tree, Olivia sits with Chloe, Tessa, Maya, and Jasmine, iced coffee beside an open psychology textbook.

Tessa: "I'm telling you, he climbed out the bathroom window."

Maya: "It's on the second floor."

Tessa: "Exactly!"

Chloe: "You're lying."

Tessa: "I'm embellishing. There's a difference."

Olivia: "Apparently about fifteen feet."

Tessa points triumphantly at Olivia.

Tessa: "See? She gets storytelling."

Olivia rolls her eyes and takes another sip of coffee.

Then Chloe looks past her.

Chloe: "Oh no."

Olivia: "What?"

Chloe: "Incoming."

Olivia doesn't even turn around.

Olivia: "Please tell me it's a meteor."

Tessa: "Worse."

Brad Hawkins approaches.

Tall, athletic, confident, and seemingly immune to rejection, Brad has spent months trying to convince Olivia to date him.

Brad: "Ladies."

Maya: "No."

Brad: "I haven't said anything."

Maya: "Saving time."

Brad looks at Olivia.

Brad: "Sanders."

Olivia: "Hawkins."

Brad: "You look good today."

Olivia glances down at herself.

Olivia: "Damn. I was specifically trying to disappoint you."

Tessa snorts.

Brad: "That's what I like about you."

Olivia: "My open contempt?"

Brad: "Your personality."

Olivia: "Seek professional help."

Brad: "Aren't you studying psychology?"

Olivia: "I'm not qualified yet."

Brad: "I'll wait."

Olivia: "I don't think there's enough time."

Chloe covers a laugh.

Brad remains completely undeterred.

Brad: "There's a party after the game Friday."

Olivia: "Congratulations."

Brad: "Come with me."

Olivia: "No."

Brad: "You didn't even think about it."

Olivia: "It was an extremely efficient thought."

Brad grins.

Brad: "One day, Sanders."

Olivia: "You've been saying that for six months."

Brad: "Persistence."

Olivia: "Delusion."

Olivia reaches for her coffee.

Then she sees you across the courtyard.

Her eyes meet yours.

The irritation disappears.

Something mischievous replaces it.

The corner of her mouth curls upward.

That smirk.

You know that smirk.

Olivia turns back toward Brad.

Brad: "So? Friday?"

Normally, another immediate rejection would follow.

Instead, Olivia tilts her head.

Olivia: "Hmm."

Chloe slowly looks at her.

Chloe: "...Hmm?"

Olivia ignores her.

Olivia: "You know, Brad..."

Her eyes flick toward you.

Olivia: "You actually look pretty good today."

Silence.

Brad: "...Really?"

Tessa: "What?"

Chloe: "Olivia?"

Maya: "Interesting."

Jasmine: "...Oh."

Brad straightens like Christmas came early.

Brad: "New haircut."

Olivia: "I noticed."

She absolutely did not.

Brad: "So maybe I finally have a chance?"

Olivia: "Let's not get carried away."

Brad: "But we're making progress."

Olivia rests her chin against one hand.

She looks at Brad.

Then at you.

One second.

Two.

That wicked little smile returns.

Olivia: "Maybe."

Brad: "Maybe?"

Olivia: "It's a word, Hawkins."

Brad: "You've never given me a maybe."

Olivia: "Don't get emotional."

Brad laughs.

Jasmine's attention shifts from Brad to Olivia.

Then follows Olivia's gaze.

Straight toward you.

Jasmine's eyebrows rise.

Olivia notices.

Olivia: "What?"

Jasmine: "Nothing."

Olivia: "Then stop looking at me like that."

Jasmine: "I didn't say anything."

Olivia: "Your face did."

Brad pulls out the empty chair beside Olivia.

Brad: "Mind?"

Normally, Olivia would tell him exactly where to put it.

Today, she glances at you.

Olivia: "Go ahead."

Chloe: "Okay, who are you?"

Tessa: "What have you done with Olivia?"

Brad sits beside her, careful not to touch her.

Olivia casually sips her coffee.

Her eyes remain on you.

Brad: "You coming to the game?"

Olivia: "Maybe."

Brad: "There's that word again."

Olivia: "Don't get used to it."

Brad: "I'll save you a seat."

Olivia: "How thoughtful."

Again, her gaze finds yours.

You know her too well.

You've seen that expression across your kitchen table. From the couch. Whenever Olivia knows perfectly well she's deliberately pushing her luck.

She's enjoying herself.

Not Brad.

This.

Brad thinks he's finally getting somewhere.

Her friends think Olivia has lost her mind.

Olivia knows exactly what she's doing.

Brad: "What changed?"

Olivia: "Changed?"

Brad: "You've spent six months acting like you'd rather eat glass than talk to me."

Olivia: "That's still an option."

Brad: "But today?"

Olivia pauses.

She looks directly at you.

Olivia: "I guess I'm just feeling playful."

Jasmine catches the look.

Jasmine: "Oh my God."

Olivia: "What?"

Jasmine: "Nothing."

Olivia: "Whatever you're thinking, stop."

Maya follows Jasmine's gaze toward you.

Then Olivia.

Maya: "...Huh."

Olivia: "Don't you start."

Maya: "I didn't say anything."

Olivia: "You're all annoying."

Tessa: "And yet you keep sitting with us."

Olivia: "One of life's great mysteries."

Brad checks his phone.

Brad: "I've got practice."

Olivia: "Tragic."

Brad: "I'll see you around?"

Olivia looks at him.

Then deliberately toward you.

Olivia: "Oh... I'm sure you will."

Brad walks away wearing the satisfied grin of a man convinced six months of persistence have finally paid off.

The second he's gone, Chloe turns toward Olivia.

Chloe: "Explain."

Olivia: "Explain what?"

Chloe: "That."

Olivia: "I was being friendly."

Four women stare at her.

Olivia: "What?! I can be friendly."

Maya: "Can you?"

Olivia: "Fuck you, Maya."

Maya: "Compelling argument."

Tessa bursts out laughing.

Jasmine isn't laughing.

She's watching Olivia.

Jasmine: "You know..."

Olivia: "No."

Jasmine: "I haven't asked anything."

Olivia: "Whatever you're about to ask, no."

Jasmine: "Interesting."

Olivia: "Stop saying that."

Olivia grabs her psychology textbook and pretends to read.

Three seconds pass.

Her eyes slowly rise over the top of the page.

Straight toward you.

To everyone else, she's still Olivia Sanders—the campus queen who apparently decided to humor Brad Hawkins for reasons nobody understands.

But you recognize what's hiding behind those eyes.

Challenge.

Anticipation.

That spectacularly bratty little smile.

The apartment door is several hours away.

Olivia knows it.

You know it.

And judging by the final smug glance she sends your way before returning to her textbook...

Your girlfriend thinks every second of waiting is going to be worth it.