The Sti

the library, grabbing coffee between classes, or just walking through the campus grounds, their conversations flowed naturally. The

fore others start

re used to her dating wealthy, influential people, couldn't understand her grow

one day, her voice tinged with concern

r heart raced at the question. "I don't know. He's ju

. I mean, what do you even see in him? He's nice, sure, but you know your dad would

rship kid,' Sarah. He's working hard to make something of himself. He's rea

head. "Just be careful, okay?

the shadow of her father's expectations, but with Jacob, those pressures seemed to disappear. He didn't care

ho lived in a world so different from his own. But with Emily, it had become impossible. She wasn't like the others. She didn't look down on h

from a poor background, working two part-time jobs just to stay afloat. He had seen the way the wealthy lived, and he knew h

ions, something undeniable

sitting on a bench near the edge of campus, watching the sunset. The sky wa

?" Emily said softly, her

nated her face. She looked peaceful, serene-and for a moment, he allowed himself to imagine what it might be

reality hi

something?" Jacob sa

e seriousness in his tone. "O

I mean, really? You could be spending time with anyone-peo

by the question. "What do

urface. "You're rich, you come from this powerful family, and I'm...

. "Jacob, I don't care about any of that. I like spending time with you because of w

. I don't want to drag you down. People like us-we do

cob was right-her father wouldn't approve. But did that mean she

id firmly, though she wasn't sure if she belie

ok him. For so long, he had told himself that he didn't belong in her world, that she was just being ki

le gesture, but it sent a jolt of electricity through both of them. Emily's

lled with uncertainty. "But I know I've never felt like this

hand, her voice soft but steady. "I'm scared too. B

elf hope. He didn't know what the future held, or how they would overco

hey were together, and f

her of them noticed anymore. They were lost in each other's eyes, th

e fallin

ried to fight it, neither of