Tessa reflects on her first day at Washington Central University, a day that she and her mother had been eagerly anticipating. Little did she know that her life and sense of self would be completely transformed by her unpredictable roommate and the group of friends she would encounter, particularly a person named Hardin.
The day of Tessa's college move-in, she wakes up and meticulously follows the plan she had prepared for the morning. Her mother and her boyfriend, Noah, are patiently waiting for her as she gets ready, ensuring that every aspect of her appearance is perfect for the significant day ahead. Despite her excitement about starting college, Tessa can't help but worry about two things that are beyond her control: her roommate and making friends.
Once they arrive on campus, Noah, Tessa, and Tessa's mother make their way to Tessa's dormitory, where they meet her roommate, Steph. Steph's side of the room is adorned with posters of tattooed and pierced bands, reflecting her own rebellious style. Steph's appearance matches her room, with bright red hair, heavy black eyeliner, and numerous tattoos adorning her arms. Tessa, on the other hand, favors proper skirts, dresses, and khakis, making her the complete opposite of Steph. Despite their contrasting styles, Tessa is inexplicably drawn to Steph's friendly smile. At that moment, two boys enter the room, resembling Steph with their tattoos and piercings. One of them introduces himself as Nate, but the other boy, who remains silent in the corner, exudes a brooding
presence. Tessa can't help but be captivated by his striking appearance - gray and black tattoos, eyebrow and lip piercings, and a thick mane of wavy hair. Once Steph and her friends leave, Tessa's mother suggests that she switch rooms, but Tessa convinces her to give it a chance.
After receiving a lecture from her mother about college boys and parties, Tessa bids her farewells. Noah, who is a year younger and still in high school, promises to stay in touch through phone calls every day. Tessa plans her schedule for the following day before going to bed. In the morning, she discovers, to her dismay, that the showers are co-ed. Hurrying back to her room, she tries to avoid being seen in a towel. Upon her return, she finds Steph's rude and silent friend from the previous day in the room.
Curious about Steph's whereabouts, Tessa asks theboy, but he ignores her. She requests him to leave while she gets dressed, but he dismissively states in his thick British accent that he has no intention of looking. Annoyed by his rudeness, Tessa begins to shout at him when Steph finally returns. Steph warns Tessa that the boy's name is Hardin and that he has a "unique way of conversing." Despite their initial encounter, Steph implores Tessa to attend a party later that night, and surprisingly, Tessa agrees after Hardin directs a sarcastic remark at her.
As Steph prepares for the party, she opts for high heels and a revealing dress that showcases her legs and cleavage. In contrast, Tessa chooses a modest maroon dress that covers her neck and extends below her knees.
Once they arrive at the frat party, Steph introduces Tessa to her group of friends, who all stand out with their tattoos, setting them apart from the other students at the party. Most of them appear friendly, especially a guy named Zed, who offers Tessa a drink. Politely declining because she doesn't drink, Tessa steps outside to text Noah and get some fresh air. Unfortunately, someone accidentally spills alcohol on her, prompting Tessa to search for a bathroom. Instead, she discovers Hardin passionately making out with one of Steph's friends, a girl with pink hair who had previously referred to Tessa as "Miss Priss."
In the kitchen, Tessa spots Nate. However, she quickly realizes that he has been drinking and won't be in a condition to drive her back to campus. Regretting her decision to attend the party, Tessa now needs to figure out how to return to her dormitory.
Tessa comes across Steph, who is visibly drunk and dancing on a table. It's apparent that Steph is on the verge of getting sick. Nate and Tessa assist her in reaching the bathroom and eventually lay her down on a bed in an unoccupied room. Tessa decides to stay by Steph's side and discovers a copy of her favorite book, "Wuthering Heights," on the bookshelf. As she engrosses herselfin reading, Hardin abruptly enters the room and claims that Steph cannot stay there since it's his room. Tessa is taken aback by the fact that someone like Hardin is associated with a fraternity, and her dislike for him intensifies as he continues to address her as Theresa and demands her to leave.
Feeling uncertain about her next course of action, Tessa calls Noah and explains that she is stranded at a frat party with no means of returning to her dormitory. Noah expresses surprise and sounds somewhat judgmental during their phone conversation. Before they can conclude their discussion, someone forcefully pounds on the door of the bathroom
where Tessa is seeking refuge. When she opens the door, she is confronted by Hardin's piercing green eyes glaring at her.
Tessa is captivated by the intensity of Hardin's gaze, and she attempts to maneuver around him. However, instead of being rude as he had been before, he informs her about an unoccupied room in the house where she can spend the night.
The following morning, Tessa crosses paths with Hardin while searching for Nate in the fraternity house. His demeanor becomes tense when she comments that he doesn't strike her as the fraternity type. Steph descends the stairs, clearly suffering from a hangover, and Hardin offers to drive the girls back to their dormitory.
Monday marks the beginning of Tessa's classes, and she feels fully prepared for the day. She arrives early for her first class and encounters Landon, who is also an English major and has a long-distance girlfriend named Dakota. Later in the afternoon, Tessa and Landon find themselves in the same British Literature class. Hardin, who arrives late, is also a part of the class. Tessa notices that although Landon and Hardin seem to know each other, they are not friends.
While Tessa and Steph wait for Molly to pick them up, Steph reveals that Molly has a new guy every week. Steph suggests that Molly might feel intimidated by Tessa's differences from the group. Tessa is surprised to learn that Molly is not dating Hardin, but Steph assures her that Hardin engages in casual relationships without any serious commitment. The party progresses, and Steph's friend group decides to play Truth or Dare. When it's Tessa's turn, she chooses Truth, and Zed poses a
personal question, asking if she is a virgin. Tessa feels completely humiliated but simply nods her head, indicating that she is. Despite being in a relationship with Noah for two years, they have never engaged in sexual activities.
During the game, Molly dares Hardin to keep his shirt off, revealing his numerous tattoos. When it's Tessa's turn again, she opts for a Dare and is challenged to take a shot of vodka. Initially refusing, as she doesn't drink, Tessa eventually gives in after witnessing Hardin and Molly laughing at her. The game continues, and each turn, Tessa is dared to take another shot. After the fifth shot, Hardin takes the bottle from her, declaring that she has had enough. Hardin is then dared to kiss Tessa, but she declines, mentioning her relationship with Noah and leaving the circle. Noah calls, sensing Tessa's intoxicated state, but she denies it and abruptly hangs up on him. Tessa, regretting her decision to attend the party, seeks solace in Hardin's room, where she resumes reading Wuthering Heights. Hardin discovers her in his room and angrily orders her to leave, but Tessa, instead of retaliating, confronts him about his dislike for her.
Hardin accuses Tessa of being too uptight, assuming that she grew up in a perfect household. Angered by his judgment, Tessa retorts that he doesn't know her and reveals that her father was an alcoholic who left when she was 10 years old. When Tessa expresses her intention to find the bus station, Hardin prevents her from leaving. Realizing her drunken state, Hardin offers herwater from his red cup, surprisingher with the fact that he doesn't drink alcohol. Their conversation oscillates between Hardin asking normal, friendly questions and mocking Noah. Tessa storms out of Hardin's room in anger. Downstairs at the party, she continues drinking and meets Logan, a friend of Zed's. Tessa purposely sticks with Zed when she notices that it bothers Hardin.
Zed assists Tessa in finding the room where she slept the previous weekend, but this time another guy is occupying the other bed. During the night, the guy wakes up in a drunken state and attempts to touch Tessa inappropriately. Fleeing from the room, Tessa heads directly to Hardin's room. When Hardin notices the guy following her, he quickly pulls Tessa inside. Surprisingly, his tone is gentle, and he wipes away her tears as Tessa breaks down. Overwhelmed by her emotions, Tessa impulsively kisses Hardin.
Hardin reciprocates the kiss, and the sensation is electrifying for Tessa. She realizes that she has never felt this way while kissing Noah, and her hormones take control as Hardin pulls her onto the bed. However, Tessa suddenly remembers her relationship with Noah and ends the kiss. Apologizing for her actions, she expresses her regret. Hardin reassures her by saying, "It was just a kiss; people kiss all the time." The softer side of Hardin that Tessa briefly glimpsed disappears, and he offers her the option to sleep in his room. Despite the offer, Tessa decides to leave. Once outside, she checks her phone and discovers that Noah informed her mother that she was drunk at a party.
After walking for over an hour, Tessa finally arrives back at her dormitory at six in the morning, only to find Hardin sitting on her bed. He had been out searching for her. At that moment, Tessa's mother knocks on the door, accompanied by Noah. Hardin comes to Tessa's defense, explaining that he had just arrived in the room, and then he goes outside to wait. Tessa's mother demands her promise that she won't spend time with Steph's friend group any longer.
During breakfast with her mother and Noah, Tessa's thoughts continue to revolve around her kiss with Hardin. While strolling through the mall with Noah, she initiates a kiss with him, but it lacks the same passion
and intensity as the one she shared with Hardin. Tessa requests that Noah refrain from divulging too much informationabout her personal life to her mother, and he apologizes and agrees.
During a class on Monday, Landon reveals that his mother is dating Hardin's father, but there is tension between Hardin and his dad. Hardin and Landon also have a strained relationship, and despite his father living near the college, Hardin never visits him. Alone in her dorm room that afternoon, Tessa reflects on her long-standing friendship with Noah. She feels guilty for kissing Hardin, considering how Noah has always been there for her, especially during her father's struggles with alcoholism and absence. Just as Tessa decides to take a nap, Hardin enters the room searching for Steph. He mocks Tessa's organized lifestyle by deliberately dropping her perfectly arranged class notes on the floor. Tessa shoves him away, but he grabs her wrists and pins her against the wall. In that intense moment, their faces close together, Hardin's expression softens, and they share a passionate kiss. However, their encounter is interrupted when Steph enters the room. Hardin quickly departs, and Steph warns Tessa against developing feelings for him, stating that Hardin engages in casual relationships without pursuing actual dating relationships.
In their British Literature class the next day, Tessa and Hardin find themselves engaged in a heated argument during the discussion of "Pride and Prejudice." Hardin asserts that Elizabeth's character throws herself at Mr. Darcy, while Tessa passionately argues back, accusing Darcy of treating Elizabeth cruelly and manipulating her. After class, Tessa tries to act unaffected by their previous encounter, but Hardin confidently tells her that he knows she desires him, and he believes he is not mistaken in his perception. Despite her disdain for his character, Tessa acknowledges her strong sexual attraction to him. Hardin surprises Tessa by expressing his desire to be friends. He invites her to hang out with him the following day after class, emphasizing that it would be as friends. Tessa struggles to convince herself that his intentions are
sincere.
During class the next day, Hardin publicly asks Tessa if she's ready for their "date" later, causing Landon to be present for the interaction. Tessa clarifies to Landon that they are merely hanging out as friends and requests that Hardin treat Landon nicely since they are practically like brothers due to their parents' relationship. Hardin, angered by Landon disclosing their family connection to Tessa, cancels their plans for the afternoon. When Tessa returns toher dorm, Steph, Tristan, and Zed are there, and soon enough, Hardin arrives. When Zed invites Tessa to go to the movies, Hardin interjects, claiming that he and Tessa already have plans. During the car ride, an argument ensues over the choice of music and volume, further emphasizing their contrasting tastes.
Hardin takes Tessa to a wooded area where they walk to a stream. Hardin undresses and jumps into the water to swim, while Tessa remains on land until he agrees to answer a question of her choice. He offers her his shirt to wear as a cover-up before helping her into the water. They have a playful time splashing each other, and eventually, Tessa wraps her legs around Hardin's waist. He tenderly kisses her face and neck, and Tessa consents to letting him do whatever he wants to her. By the stream, he stimulates her with his fingers, leading Tessa to experience her first orgasm. On the car ride back, Tessa's emotions fluctuate as she goes from feeling used by Hardin to hurt and eventually soothed by his touch. Her feelings for him are complex, but she appreciates how he makes her feel alive.
Hardin drives Tessa to a diner, and during the journey, he asks her about her aspirations after college. When Tessa mentions her desire to work at a publishing house, Hardin offers to use his connection at Vance Publishing to help her secure an internship. They have dinner together at
the diner, and as Hardin drops Tessa off at her dorm, they engage in a passionate make-out session in the car. Their encounter is interrupted when Tessa receives a call from Noah. Hardin's demeanor immediately changes, and Tessa informs him that she plans to break up with Noah. However, Hardin reminds her that he doesn't engage in dating relationships, and he advises her not to end things with Noah because of him. Feeling angry and hurt, Tessa leaves the car, realizing that it seems like Hardin only desires a sexual relationship.
The next day, Tessa tries to push thoughts of Hardin out of her mind. In her Literature class, she firmly asks Hardin to leave her alone when he attempts to talk to her. As the week progresses, Tessa and Hardin continue to ignore each other. Tessa receives multiple invitations to the weekend frat party from people in Steph's circle of friends. Feeling the need fordistraction, she calls Noah and convinces him to come for the weekend. Noah is surprised to see that Tessa is wearing more makeup than usual, a habit she has adopted since spending time with Hardin. They watch a movie together in Tessa's dorm room, and she finally starts to feel like her old self again. Hardin briefly enters the room in search of Steph, mocking Noah's sweater before leaving.
Even after Hardin leaves, Tessa's mind is still consumed by thoughts of him and the way he makes her body feel. She tries to initiate a passionate encounter with Noah, kissing him and sitting on his lap, hoping to experience the same intensity as she does with Hardin. However, Noah senses her inner conflict and stops her from taking things further. As Tessa falls asleep during the movie, Noah decides to find a hotel for the night. The next day, they visit a park together and come across a stream. Tessa suggests swimming, but Noah declines, and she can't help but compare him to Hardin. Later that night, Tessa receives a call from Landon, informing her that something is wrong with Hardin. Leaving Noah at her dorm, Tessa borrows his car keys and drives to the address provided by Landon.
Tessa arrives at the address, a large house in a nice neighborhood belonging to Hardin's dad and Landon's mom. It is revealed that Hardin's dad is planning to marry Landon's mom. Hardin, who showed up drunk at the house, has been causing damage and calling out for Tessa, prompting Landon to reach out to her for help. When Tessa approaches Hardin to talk, he expresses anger toward his father's wealthy lifestyle while his mother lives in a small apartment in England. He shares that his dad left when he was ten, just like Tessa's dad, and struggled with alcoholism. Tessa shows kindness to Hardin, but he responds by calling her pathetic. However, when Hardin sees Tessa helping Landon clean up broken glass and notices that she is bleeding from a cut, he suddenly becomes protective of her. He bandages her hand and then asks to speak with her outside.
Outside, Hardin offers an apology to Tessa, but they end up arguing again. Hardin's demeanor fluctuates between aggression and tenderness, and his drunken state adds to Tessa's confusion. He reveals that he hadn't consumed alcohol for six months prior to that night.During their argument, Hardin kisses Tessa, but she resists him until he confesses, "I need you." Tessa explains that she doesn't like who she becomes when she is around Hardin; she cries constantly and cheats on her boyfriend, behaviors that are completely out of character for her. Hardin responds by saying that he believes the person she is with him represents her true self, and he confesses, "you make me want to be good, for you."
Reminding Hardin of his refusal to engage in dating relationships, Tessa tries to gauge his feelings for her. He suggests that they become friends with benefits since he doesn't want a traditional romantic relationship, but Tessa firmly declines. Hardin comes close to her and touches her arms, and Tessa finds herself unable to resisther immense
physical attraction to him. Despite her initial desire to resist and leave, Hardin pleads with her to stay with him, and eventually, she relents.
Hardin has his own room upstairs in his dad's house, but tonight is the first time he has ever slept there. Tessa initially decides to sleep in her clothes, wearing a loose top and a long skirt. However, she eventually strips down to her underwear and puts on one of Hardin's t-shirts. Hardin watches her change and compliments her, telling her she is sexy and should not hide her body under baggy clothes.
Tessa realizes that her feelings for Noah are diminishing compared to how Hardin makes her feel. She expresses concern about the other girls Hardin has been with and feels jealous. Hardin assures her that he wants to please her and begins to kiss and touch her legs. He demands that she explicitly state what she wants him to do to her, exerting power over her. Tessa becomes embarrassed and refuses tosay the words he desires to hear, eventually falling asleep.
Upon waking up in the morning, Tessa doesn't want to leave the sleeping Hardin, but she knows she has to go back to Noah. She encounters Landon on her way out of the house and avoids explaining the details, leaving him with the impression that she was with Hardin as a friend. When Tessa returns to the dorms, Noah expresses his worry and disappointment. He is upset that she has been spending time with Hardin despite promising to stay away from Steph and her friends. Noah is not angry but rather saddened, stating that the people she surrounds herself with are changing her. Just then, Hardin enters the room.
Hardin angrily confronts Tessa for leaving while he was asleep. He
threatens to tell Noah if she doesn't, forcing Tessa to confess that she fooled around with Hardin. She apologizes to Noah, who leaves, remarking that he doesn't even know her anymore. Tessa pushes Hardin aside and chases after Noah, begging for his forgiveness. Noah responds with kindness, saying he needs time to think, and he tells her that he loves her.
Returning to her room, Tessa feels deceived and betrayed by Hardin. She berates herself for believing that he could have genuine feelings for her, but he is there, waiting for her. She wants to make him leave, but he insists on knowing how she feels about him. It becomes evident that he also has feelings for her but struggles to express them. Steph enters the room and sends Hardin away, telling him to find another girl to mess around with. Hardin leaves angrily, declaring that he never wants to see Tessa again and threatening to ruin her if he does.
Tessa is grateful for Steph's presence as she feels like her only friend at the moment. She confides in Steph about her experiences with Hardin and how he made her tell Noah about their involvement. Steph warns Tessa once again that Hardin doesn't know how to care for girls. When Tessa sees Landon on Monday, she notices the bruise on his face, evidence of a fight he had with Hardin after Hardin returned to the house angry following his encounter with Tessa and Steph. Tessa and Landon make plans to attend the campus bonfire together, along with Dakota, who will be in town. Steph starts dating Tristan, a boyfrom their friend group who appears to be kind. When the next weekend arrives, Steph convinces Tessa to join her and Tristan for dinner, and Tessa agrees to let Steph give her a makeover before they leave.
Steph does Tessa's hair and makeup, and she provides Tessa with a black dress and heels to wear. The dress is much shorter than what
Tessa would typically choose, but when she sees herself in the mirror, she is pleasantly surprised by her appearance. At the restaurant, Zed and Nate compliment Tessa on how amazing she looks. Unexpectedly, Hardin and Molly also show up. Tessa becomes overwhelmed with jealousy upon seeing Hardin with his arm around Molly, and she flirts with Zed to provoke a reaction from Hardin. When the conversation turns to Hardin's fight with Landon, Tessa realizes that Hardin lied to them, claiming that a professor intervened instead of admitting that his father broke up the fight. Tessa chooses not to correct them when she notices the worried expression on Hardin's face. As they leave the restaurant, Hardin insists on giving Tessa a ride back to campus, ordering her to get in his car.
In the car, Hardin comments on Tessa's appearance, suggesting that she doesn't need to wear so much makeup and that her clothes make it impossible for him to stop looking at her. He asks why she kept their secret about him and Landon, expressing gratitude that she didn't reveal their parents' engagement. Tessa refuses to let Hardin get to her this time. As soon as she returns to her dorm, she removes the heavy makeup, changes out of the dress, and calls Noah. Noah tells her that he still loves her but asks her to stay away from Hardin.
A couple of hours later, Hardin shows up at Tessa's room drunk. Tessa initially tries to send him away, but she realizes that he shouldn't be driving in his intoxicated state, so she allows him to sit on the floor while they finish watching the movie she had started. As they sit together, Tessa experiences a sense of calm that she hadn't felt all week. Hardin convinces her to let him sit on the bed with her, and they both fall asleep in front of the movie. Tessa realizes that she has spent the night with Hardin several times but has never done so with Noah.
Hardin andTessa end up sleeping in the same bed after Hardin claims that he sleeps better when she's next to him. Tessa is honest with Hardin about the mixed signals he sends, mentioning how he can be kind one moment and mean the next. She confesses that she missed him during the week, and Hardin appears relieved to hear that, responding with, "I missed you, too," as they fall asleep side by side.
In the morning, Tessa feels guilty for sleeping next to Hardin after promising Noah that she wouldn't see him again. However, she convinces herself that it was worth it, thinking that sleeping beside Hardin was more important than maintaining her relationship with Noah. Hardin convinces a hesitant Tessa to let him come car shopping with her.
During the car shopping trip, Hardin is playful and fun, causing Tessa to develop stronger feelings for him. They visit several dealerships without finding the right car and decide to stop for frozen yogurt. While at the yogurt shop, they unexpectedly run into Hardin's father, Ken. Ken assumes that Tessa is Hardin's girlfriend and invites them to have dinner with him. Tessa accepts the invitation without consulting Hardin, and when Ken leaves, Hardin angrily knocks over a table and storms out.
Tessa chases after Hardin, and he unleashes his anger. Hardin despises his father for living in a mansion while his mother works tirelessly to make ends meet. Tessa tells Hardin that she will attend dinner since she already accepted the invitation, but she offers to go alone if it would hurt him too much to be there. Hardin's anger dissipates as he questions why Tessa would care if he was hurt, and eventually, he changes his mind about going to his father's house. He picks Tessa up from her dorm after she updates a surprised Steph about the recent events.
During the dinner, Tessa meets Karen, Landon's mother, and learns that Hardin's father is the chancellor of Washington Central College. Ken expresses surprise that Hardin didn't inform Tessa about his father's position, which further infuriates Hardin. He angrily storms out of the dining room, leaving Tessa in an awkward situation.
Tessa follows Hardin outside, and they engage in a heated argument. She tells Hardin that he doesn't deserve her kindness when all he does is ruin things. Hardin grabs Tessa and pulls her close to him, and they share a passionatekiss until Landon comes outside and witnesses the scene. Tessa feels embarrassed, and Landon appears confused by her behavior. However, he doesn't question her and goes back inside. Hardin's mood has calmed by now, and they return to the table, where he apologizes to Ken and Karen, his father and Landon's mother. When Tessa mentions her interest in working in publishing, Ken offers to help her by using his connection at Vance to secure her an interview. However, this suddenly changes Hardin's demeanor, and he abruptly goes upstairs.
After dinner, Tessa finds Hardin, who confesses that he wanted to be the one to help her get a job in publishing, not his father. He admits that he wants Tessa more than anything or anyone else. Overwhelmed by her attraction to him, Tessa pulls Hardin closer, and as they kiss, she feels intense electricity between them. He brings her to orgasm, and Tessa finds it difficult to believe that he wants her despite his history with other girls. She is both in love with and terrified of the way he makes her feel.
During dessert downstairs, Hardin briefly leaves the room. Ken and Karen take the opportunity to thank Tessa for convincing Hardin to attend the dinner. They see her as the reason for his presence. Due to a
storm outside, they insist that both Tessa and Hardin spend the night at their house. Landon visits Tessa's guest room and expresses surprise at seeing her and Hardin kissing earlier, but he doesn't judge her. After talking to Landon for a while, Tessa says goodnight. She senses that something has shifted between her and Hardin, but she reminds herself that Hardin never explicitly expressed his feelings for her.
During the night, Tessa hears Hardin cry out in his sleep. She enters his room and sees that he is having a nightmare. Tessa wakes him up and climbs into bed with him, allowing him to hold her as they fall back asleep. In the morning, Hardin thanks Tessa for staying with him and providing comfort. After breakfast, Tessa feels a sense of sadness as she prepares to leave. She appreciates Karen's kindness towards her and enjoys the temporary escape from the busyness of life.