Chapter 6
1888 Words
Lucas was walking into the classroom, I knew because of the giggling.
I also knew when he sat down because the giggling turned into reverent hushes.
Letting out a soft whoosh of breath, I leaned back in my chair, tapping the end of my pen on the desk. My thoughts were consumed by what I had overheard yesterday. I could still hear Luna's sharp, jealous voice echoing in my mind, convincing Lucas to help her destroy Elena.
Admittedly, the probability of this happening wasn’t something I hadn’t considered. But I felt a sense of emptiness at the fact that he had been given a choice in the matter and chose to side with her. It was crazy. It wasn’t as if he’d betrayed me. I had never thought he was supposed to be on my side or Elena’s side, for that matter. But I had hoped, maybe naively, that Lucas would resist. That he wouldn’t sink to his sister’s level. His response had shattered that hope.
My hands clenched into fists on my desk.
Elena had never done anything to warrant such hatred, and I had to protect her. But how? Luna and Lucas were influential, their words easily swaying others. I felt a knot of fear tighten in my stomach, but I knew I had to act.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of morning classes, I cleared my desk slowly and stood, trying to formulate a plan. I would need to warn Elena, of course, but we had to be smart about this. Luna's schemes were always intricate and deceptive. We needed to be a step ahead.
I turned towards Elena. “Hey, we need to talk—.”
“I gotta run, Coline,” Elena cut me off, looking apologetic. “I have to meet the teacher about the scholastic contest. I’ll see you in the cafeteria, okay?”
Then she was out the classroom door, weaving through the throng of classmates hurrying to get lunch before I could even say another word.
My shoulders fell.
Darn it.
Before I could decide whether to shadow Elena and wait for her outside the faculty room or just head to the cafeteria, Lucas appeared in front of me. Surprised, I took a step back. The twitching of his lips told me he thought my reaction was funny. Annoyed, I glared at him.
"What do you want?”
Lucas held out his cell phone. "Give me your number," he said calmly.
I blinked. “Why?”
His expression remained unchanged. “You’re the class president. I need to have your phone number since I’m not in the group chat.”
I frowned. “Why can’t you just install the app? You’re going to miss out on all the study materials that we share if you don’t.”
“Don’t need them.”
Don’t need them - did he think he was some genius or something?
My incredulous expression must have amused him because now he was grinning. And boy, did it make my heart skip a beat.
I started scolding myself internally.
Looks had always been important to me, but were they this important that I was acting like a fool in front of him?
Then Lucas's eyes were traveling the length of me, like magnets clinging to my every move.
It felt like I was being touched all over by his gaze.
To cover up how affected I was by just his stare, I took his cell phone and entered my number. His phone was as mysterious as its owner, with only the default wallpaper and apps on the screen.
"There," I said, handing it back to him.
Lucas pocketed his phone, his eyes never leaving mine. “Thanks.”
He turned to leave but stopped, looking down at my fingers curled around his arm. Flushed, I stared at my hand that had instinctively reached out to grab him.
His brows lifted. “What?”
My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to gather my thoughts. "We..." I paused and glanced around, making sure no one was within earshot. "We need to talk.”
“About what?”
I hesitated. "Not here. Meet me at the science lab on the fourth floor after lunch.”
He stared at me, his expression unreadable.
“Fine,” he replied, and I watched him walk away.
I didn’t know why, but I decided to confront Lucas first.
Yeah, I thought, gnawing my bottom lip. I should hear his side of the story first.
Maybe there was some misunderstanding. Maybe he hadn’t agreed to Luna’s plan after all. Because despite the uncertainty gnawing at me, I knew I had to try. For Elena’s sake, for my own peace of mind.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Lucas was already in the science lab when I entered. The room was empty, as expected, and I closed the door behind me.
I stared at him for a long moment. He was staring back at me with that same unreadable expression. I couldn't help but wonder why he seemed so distant now. Maybe Luna had finally influenced him, convincing him that I wasn't one of his people and that he should stay away from me.
The thought stung, and I hated that it did.
I should be glad, shouldn’t I? I didn’t need distractions. I had to focus on protecting Elena.
I turned the lock on the door. I didn’t want any of Luna’s lackeys finding us here and reporting to her. But as soon as I turned the lock, I found myself pulled into Lucas’s arms.
My breath hitched, and my heart started hammering.
His strong grip enveloped me, one arm around my waist, the other hand gently but firmly resting on my back, holding me close. His warmth was overwhelming, his scent a mix of subtle cologne and something uniquely him. His neck bent down.
And his lips started to descend toward mine.
“Wait, wait, wait,” I gasped, my hands shooting out to cover his lips. “What are you doing?”
“What do you think?” he asked languidly, his voice a hushed murmur. “Didn’t you ask me up here to do this?”
My jaw slackened. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I admit, I didn’t think you’d be bold enough to ask me to do this with you in school.” His arms tightened around me, making me breathe sharply. “But the details truly don’t matter. We should enjoy everything we can at the campus while we can, right?”
“You crazy - I didn’t ask you up here to do this with you!”
He sighed and released me, his arms falling away, leaving a cold emptiness where his warmth had been.
I straightened and glowered at him, my anger rising. “Do you not think of anything else but dirty thoughts?”
Leaning casually against a table, he crossed his arms. “What else are we supposed to do here?”
“Talk, like I said we would?”
His brows lifted and he stared at me, studying me like he had all the time in the world to do so. I didn’t. We had less than ten minutes until the bell rang and I needed to get this over and done with.
But first things first.
“What exactly did you think we would do here?” I asked him slowly.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. f**k?”
Heat crept up my neck, exploding into my cheeks. “You crazy p*****t!”
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” he pointed out. “Though I was a slightly worried about doing it somewhere like this, I’m always game if you are.”
My fists clenched at my sides. His calm demeanor only fueled my frustration. “You’re impossible. This isn’t a joke, Lucas. You really can’t tell anyone what happened between us, okay? And please, stop spouting nonsense when we’re in public.”
Lucas shook his head in exasperation. “Why would I go around telling everyone that we f.ucked?”
“I just said to stop saying it.”
He raised an eyebrow over that command. “What do you have got to lose, Coline?”
I pressed my lips together.
He stared at me.
I looked away, discomforted by his gaze.
“Are you afraid this would ruin your reputation?” he asked. “That this would get back to your family, and they’d find out that you’re not the good girl they think you are? Or do you just hate that it had happened with me?”
“I don’t regret it,” I admitted quietly.
He fell silent.
Then he asked, “What?”
“I don’t regret that night, okay?” I continued, my cheeks flushing. “It… it was great. You were great. But it just wasn’t me. I’m not the kind of girl who goes around having one-night stands or hook up with guys I don’t know. So I freaked out and left. And when I thought I’d never see you again, I started to think of that night as a perfect memory. Because that was what I thought it was. Perfect.”
Surprisingly, he didn’t interrupt or make a sarcastic remark. He just remained quiet. I took a deep breath.
“And to see you again and to know you’re Luna’s brother… now I’m starting to think that it was the biggest mistake in my life.”
He chuckled softly, and despite myself, I found myself meeting his gaze.
“I was that good, huh? I do remember you crying and clinging to me.”
My eyes narrowed. “I hate you so much.”
“You must have been so disappointed to see me here.”
I pressed my lips tightly together.
Not as much as learning as he was Luna’s brother.
“Fine,” Lucas said with a sigh. “I won’t tell others as you wish.”
I gave him a suspicious look. “Seriously?”
He raised his hands in a placating manner. “Seriously. In return, don’t do anything to piss me off. Like judging me or accusing me of something just because I’m Luna’s brother.”
I almost winced.
“And don’t avoid me.”
“I just said you’re the blood of the enemy,” I muttered.
“And I just told you that I’ll do as you wish,” he countered. “So you should listen to what I want as well.”
“But… why are you asking for that?”
Lucas tilted his head thoughtfully. “I guess it’s because I actually find you lovely.”
I felt my cheeks flush. “Stop joking.”
He grinned. “And your reactions are adorable.”
“Now you’re just trying to piss me off.” I walked up to him, poking his shoulder. “Anyway. No matter what, keep it a secret. Got it?”
He captured my hand in his.
Kissed it.
And I felt that kiss all throughout my body, memories springing up like wildflowers in the desert.
“Got it,” he whispered.
He was messing with me.
And by his attitude, I could vaguely tell that this bastard was not going to just stop.
- Writer
