Page 12 of Reckless Dare

Ava had to walk quite a distance to drown out the bikes’ noise. She went past the food and bonfires and went towards the dark shadows before answering the call. She knew it would be her father.

Her father usually woke up early and left for the hospital by seven in the morning. He must have been calling from the hospital before he made his usual rounds.

“Ava, how are you, sweetheart?”

Her father’s voice made her happy. “I’m doing great, Papa.”

“I’m so glad to hear that.” She could imagine her father smiling. “How do you like it there?”

Ava smiled. “I still haven’t explored the campus, Papa. But whatever I saw so far is just like how you told me it would be. Larger than life and simply amazing!”

Her father laughed. “Yeah, I’m sure. Being at Simha is always quite the experience. I hope you love it.”

Ava did love it so far.

“By the way,” her father continued. “Your mom wanted to have the video call later this morning, but I told her you’ll be busy meeting new friends.”

Ava turned to look at the ongoing party and smiled. “Yeah, I’m at a party outside campus. I’ll call Ma and Preeti in the morning.”

“Sure, sweetheart. I’ll talk to you later too. Enjoy your party.”

“Thanks, Papa. Love you.”

When the call ended, she hugged the phone to her chest. She was happy and excited. Once again, she realized she was living the dream she had since she was a little girl.

She was about to turn and join the party when a bike came towards her and stopped right in front of her. She froze, half-worried the biker would accidentally run over her. But the bike engine stopped and the lights of the bike were dimmed.

Her heart began racing as she stared at the familiar red and gold jacket. A moment later, the biker took out his helmet, revealing his face in the dim light.

Oh my God.

“You are not supposed to wander off the party,” he said.

It was the student council president. It was the first time she was hearing his voice, and it was so deep and smooth that it made her stomach flutter.

Fighting a blush, she replied to him. “I was talking to my father on the phone. I had to come here because it was too loud with the bikes.”

There was a brief pause.

Suddenly her face began to burn when she realized that her words could be interpreted as an accusation towards the bikers. “N-no. What I meant was—” She broke off when he shook his head with a soft laugh.

“It’s okay. I know we are loud.”

Ava bit her lip feeling too flustered by the gorgeous guy in front of her. What was it about him that she was always tempted to stare? He made her tongue-tied as well.

“You must be new here at Simha,” he said. “I haven’t seen you before today.”

Relaxing a little, she smiled. “Yes. I’m a second year transfer student.”

“Which department?”

A slight blush covered her cheeks at his prodding. “Medicine.”

His mouth twisted with a small smile. “I guess we’ll have to invite you to all of our parties then. We get bruised up quite a bit here.”

Her blush intensified. “I don’t mind helping.”

He stared at her blushing face with a look that had her heart racing even faster.

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