Tears of the Crescent Moon

CHAPTER 3: Between Pride and Privacy

Ember's heart raced as Drake's intense gaze bore into her. His unannounced entry and the tension in the room left her feeling uneasy.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady while her heart thudded in her chest.

Drake's jaw was clenched, and his expression was a mix of frustration and annoyance. He walked around the room, his eyes scanning her personal space as if assessing something.

"I told you we're having dinner together," he finally spoke, his tone firm.

Ember crossed her arms defensively. "I didn't agree to that. You can't just barge into my room."

Drake turned to face her, his gaze unwavering. "You're testing my patience, Ember."

Her back straightened as she met his stare. "And you're testing my boundaries, Drake. This isn't how a relationship works, even a fake one."

He took a step closer, his presence filling the room. "You think you can resist me, don't you?"

Ember's cheeks flushed with irritation. "This has nothing to do with resisting you. It's about respect."

He leaned against a desk, his arms crossed over his chest. "Fine, let's talk about respect. Do you respect the deal we made yesterday?"

Ember hesitated, her irritation warring with a strange feeling she couldn't quite place. "I agreed to be your fake girlfriend, but that doesn't mean you get to invade my space."

Drake's lips curled into a half-smile. "You're feisty, I'll give you that."

Ember's frustration grew. "I'm not here to entertain your ego, Drake."

He pushed himself off the desk and took a step closer, closing the gap between them. "You're challenging me, Ember. But I don't back down easily."

Ember refused to back down either, her eyes narrowing at him. "You're not my real boyfriend, Drake. You can't control my actions or decisions."

His intense gaze held hers, a silent battle of wills passing between them. "I don't like losing, Ember."

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. "Life isn't a game, Drake. And this... whatever it is between us, isn't something you can win or lose."

His eyes softened for a fleeting moment before the hard edge returned. "You're not as simple as you seem."

Ember's tone softened, a trace of curiosity emerging. "And you're not as tough as you pretend to be."

A brief silence hung in the air as they continued to lock eyes. Drake's expression wavered, as if he was considering something.

Finally, he sighed, breaking the tension. "Alright, I'll respect your space. But you're still having dinner with me."

Ember let out a huff of air. Now she realized that Drake wasn't just spoiled-wolf; he was also dominant and demanding!

In the end, he decided to give in to what he wanted. Ember gave a reluctant nod. "Fine, dinner. But you need to learn to respect my boundaries next time, Drake."

He took a step back, his demeanor shifting slightly. "I'll try."

As he walked towards the door, Ember's voice stopped him. "And Drake, if we're going to keep up this charade, at least make an effort to act like a decent boyfriend."

He turned to her, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Deal."

With that, he left her dorm room, leaving Ember to wonder about the layers hiding beneath his confident exterior. As she prepared to meet him for dinner, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Drake than met the eye.

The anticipation weighed heavily on Ember's mind as she made her way to the canteen for dinner with Drake. She couldn't deny the curiosity that had been piqued by their interactions. While she was determined to maintain her guard, a small part of her wanted to unravel the enigma that was Drake.

As she entered the bustling canteen, her gaze scanned the room, finally landing on Drake who was leaning casually against a table. He looked up from his phone, his lips curling into a half-smile as he saw her approach.

"Decided to join me after all," he remarked, his tone holding a touch of amusement.

Ember rolled her eyes. "Don't get too smug. I'm only here because I'd rather get this over with."

Drake pushed a chair out for her with an exaggerated flourish. "How gallant of you."

She hesitated before taking a seat, her eyes studying him. "So, what's the plan, Drake? Are we going to keep up this act indefinitely?"

He leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady on her. "For as long as it's necessary."

Ember leaned forward, her expression serious. "And why exactly do you need this charade? What's in it for you?"

Drake's smile faded, replaced by a more guarded look. "Let's just say that appearances matter in my world, Ember. And having a girlfriend, even a fake one, can be beneficial."

Ember's brow furrowed. "Beneficial for what?"

Drake's eyes flickered with a hint of something deeper, but he quickly masked it with a casual shrug. "Let's not dive into my personal affairs just yet. We barely know each other."

Ember's suspicion lingered, but she decided not to press further for now. "Fine, let's keep it surface-level for now. But remember, I'm not going to be a pawn in your game."

He leaned in slightly, his gaze intense. "You're not a pawn, Ember. You're my partner in this."

Ember's lips twitched into a skeptical smile. "Oh really? Since when did you become a team player?"

Drake's eyes held a glint of sincerity. "Since I met you, apparently."

The unexpected response caught Ember off guard, and she found herself momentarily speechless. His words seemed genuine, and she couldn't quite decipher the emotions swirling within her.

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of their food. As they ate, Ember noticed a more relaxed side of Drake. He was still confident and assertive, but there were glimpses of vulnerability that he couldn't completely hide.

"So, tell me something about yourself, Ember," he said, breaking the silence that had settled between them.

Ember hesitated, unaccustomed to sharing her personal life with anyone. But something in Drake's eyes made her consider opening up, if only a little.

"I'm passionate about science," she admitted, a genuine spark in her eyes. "I've always loved conducting experiments and exploring the unknown."

Drake nodded, a hint of fascination in his expression. "That's interesting. I guess you're not just a bookworm then."

Ember chuckled softly. "There's more to people than meets the eye, Drake."

He studied her for a moment, his gaze intense. "You're right about that."

As they finished their meal, Drake leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful look on his face. "You know, Ember, maybe this fake relationship won't be as bad as I thought."

Ember raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Oh really? Is that your way of admitting I was right?"

Drake chuckled, a genuine warmth in his eyes. "Maybe I don't mind losing this battle after all."

Ember's heart skipped a beat, the unexpected sincerity in his words catching her off guard. As they prepared to leave the canteen, she couldn't help but wonder if there was more to Drake – a complexity she was both intrigued by and wary of.