BOUGHT NOT LOVED

CHAPTER ONE : MEET ALEX THOMPSON

Alex Thompson stepped out of her apartment embracing the crisp morning air. Her long curly black hair bounced with each step, and her bright hazel eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. At 21, Alex was a force reckoned with confident, witty, and unapologetically herself.

As she walked to campus Alex's mind wandered to her busy day ahead. She had a packed schedule with classes, work, and a night out with friends. Alex thrived on this kind of chaos, and her friends adored her for it.

Alex's phone buzzed with an incoming text message from Rachel, her best friend since freshman year. "Hey, girl! what's the plan for tonight?" Alext grinned anticipating a wild night ahead.

She thought about her classes wondering what the day's lecture would bring. Alex was a junior, majoring in marketing, and she was determined to make the most of her college experience.

As she approached the student union, Alex's thought drifted to her love life or lack thereof. She'd had her share if short-lived flings and disappointing dates. Alex longed for something real, but her fear of getting hurt held her back.

For now, Alext was content with focusing on herself and her friendships. She pushed open the door to the student union, ready to tackle the day with her signature, enthusiasm and charm.

Alext took a deep breath feeling the stress of the day melt away. She loved the energy of campus life, the sense of possibility that hung in the air. As she made her way to her favourite coffee shop, Alex felt a sense of excitement and anticipation, What would the day bring?

As she waited in line at the coffee shop, Alex chatted with the barista about her favourite flavors. She ordered a large iced coffee, extra sweet, and took a sip as she walked out of the shop.

The cold liquid revived her and Alex felt a surge of energy as she headed to her first class. She was a marketing major and today's lecture was on branding strategies. Alex was fascinated by the way companies created and maintained their identities, and she was too eager to learn more.

As she walked into the lecture hall, Alex scanned the room for familiar faces. She spotted Rachel in the back row, typing away on her laptop. Alex grinned and made her way over, sliding into the empty seat beside her friend.

"Hey, girl!" Rachel whispered, not looking up from her screen. "What's up?"

"Nothing much", Alext replied, pulling out her own laptop. "Just ready to learn about branding."

The professor began the lecture, and Alex settled in, taking diligent notes as the class discuss the importance of consistency in branding. Alex was captivated by the, and she found herself thinking about how she could apply these principles to get own life.

As the lecture drew to a close, Alex felt invigorated, her mind buzzing with new ideas and insights. She packed up her laptop and turned to Rachel. "Hey, want to grab lunch together?"

Rachel nodded and the two friends made their way out of the lecture hall, chatting about their morning classes.

As she walked to her cafeteria, Alex and Rachel discussed their plans for the weekend. Alex was thinking of attending a party on Saturday night, while Rachel was considering a night in with a good with a good book.

"I'm so jealous", Alex said pouting. "I wish I could just stay in and read all day".

"You can always come over and read with me ," Rachel offered. "I'll make some popcorn and we have a movie marathon".

Alex grinned. "That sounds like the perfect night in."

The two friends entered the cafeteria, scanning the room of an empty table.

They spotted one in the corner and made their way over, settling in with their trays of food.

As the ate, Alex couldn't help but think about her love life. She had been on a few dates recently, but nothing had really clicked. Alex beginning to wonder if she was simply too picky, or if she was just not meant to find love.

Rachel seem to sense Alex's mood and reached out to put a hand on her arm. "Hey what's wrong?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

Alex sighed, "I don't know, Rach. I just feel like I'm never going to find someone who really gets me".

Rachel smiled. "You will, Alex. You're an amazing person and you deserve someone who loves and appreciates you for who you are".

Alex smiled back, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her friend. "Thanks, Rach. You're always so supportive".

As they finished their lunch, Alex felt a sense determination wash over her. She was going to focus on herself and her own happiness, rather than worrying about finding someone else.

The two friends parted ways after lunch, each heading to their respective afternoon classes. Alex felt a sense of excitement and anticipation as she walked to her next class. What could rest of the day bring??

As she walked into her psychology class, Alex was struck by the familiar face of the professor. Dr. Lee was a well-respected expert in the field of psychology, and Alex has heard great things about his classes.

Alex took a seat near the back of the room, pulling out her laptop and notebook. She was ready to learn and absorb as much information as possible.

The class began, and Alex found herself completely engaged in the discussion. Dr. Lee was a dynamic and charismatic speaker, and Alex loved the way he woved real-life examples into the lecture.

As the class drew to a close, Alex felt invigorated and inspired. She had always been fascinated psychology, and this class was quickly becoming one of her favorites.

Alex packed up her things and headed out of the class room, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation.

As Alex waited for Rachel to arrive, she decided to do some homework. She pulled out her laptop and began working on a marketing project, but her mind kept wondering back to Rachel's new boyfriend.

She couldn't help but wondered what Mike was like. Was he kind and genuine, or was he just pretending to be someone he wasn't? Alex has always been a bit skeptical of new people in Rachel's life, but she trusted her friend's judgement.

Just Alex was starting to get into her work, she heard a knock at the door. She got up to answer it, expecting to see Rachel standing there with a coffee in hand.

But to her surprised, Rachel was accompanied by Mike. Alex felt a sudden jolt of nervousness and she invited them in.

As they sat down at the kitchen table, Alex couldn't help but notice the way Mike looked at Rachel. It was clear that he adored her, and Alex felt a pang of happiness for her friend.

But as they chatted and laughed together, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She couldn't quite put a finger on it, but she had a nagging sense of unease.

As they sipped their coffee, Alex tried to push aside her doubts. Maybe she was just being paranoid. Mike seemed nice enough, and Rachel was clearly smitten.

But as the conversation to turned to their plans for the weekend, Alex notice Mike seemed evasive. He dodged Rachel's question about his past, and Alex's curiosity was piqued.

She made a mental note to do some digging. Who was Mike, really? She'd ask Rachel more questions later.