Chapter 5
1955 Words
"It’s not like I’m going to eat you if our eyes meet.”
It felt like my heart had leaped out of my chest.
“Jesus!” I exclaimed, whirling around. Lucas was leaning casually against the wall. “You scared the crap out of me.”
He jerked his head in the direction of the girl’s restroom I had just exited. “You took a while. Number two?”
I resisted the urge to smack him in the face with the thick class binder I was holding and shot him a glare instead. “No. And what are you talking about?”
His lips twitched into a smirk. “You’re avoiding me.”
"That’s… that’s crazy.” I hugged the binder close to my chest defensively. “Why would I avoid you? I’m class president. I have loads of stuff to do. It’s presumptuous of you to think I’m avoiding you, isn’t it?"
"That's a lie, and you know it.”
"Whatever. Can we just get this over with?"
He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my irritation. "Get what over with?"
I let out an exasperated sigh. "This... whatever this is. You lurking around, trying to talk to me. What do you want?"
His smirk widened. “Aren’t you supposed to show me around?”
Absolutely not.
I wasn't going anywhere alone with him anymore. And it’s been two days, hasn’t he been everywhere already?
And to prove just that, I turned on my heel to leave, but his hand immediately latched around my wrist, stopping me.
“Where are you going?” he asked, his grip firm.
“What’s it to you where I go or not go?” I retorted, attempting to pull away.
He chuckled, tightening his hold. “Shouldn’t we have a proper conversation?”
“What’s there to talk about?”
“How about the night I had my c**k inside you?”
I swiftly pivoted, the binder falling with a loud bang as my hands instinctively shot out to cover his mouth.
“Just what is the matter with you?” I hissed, anxiety prickling at my skin.
His eyes smiled.
Then he seized my wrists, effortlessly prying my hands away. “Are you ready to talk?”
I glared at him. "Let go of me first.”
“You’re just going to run away again.”
“No, I just don’t like people touching me.”
His gaze darkened, sending a shiver down my spine. "Just what am I supposed to do with you, Coline?”
“How about you let go?” I suggested quietly, trying to keep my composure. “You want the school tour, I’ll give you the damn school tour.”
Lucas studied me for what felt like an eternity, and I held my breath.
Finally, his grip loosened slightly before he finally released my wrists. I quickly pulled my hands away, rubbing at the spot where his fingers had pressed into my skin. He bent to pick up my binder, tucking it beneath his arm.
"Alright," he said, his tone unreadable. "Lead the way.”
With a nod, I turned and started walking briskly down the corridor. As we moved, I could feel Lucas's presence behind me, his footsteps echoing softly against the linoleum floor, before he fell into step beside me. I couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that Lucas was still studying me as we walked, analyzing every move I made.
Aware of the gazes that followed us, I tried to focus on the task at hand, mentally mapping out the shortest route for our impromptu tour of the school. Admittedly, I wasn’t too concerned about being seen with Lucas or what Luna would think about her brother being around me. What truly worried me was what else might come out of this guy’s mouth within other people’s hearing range.
"Are you angry at me?” Lucas asked, breaking the silence.
I clenched my jaw, fighting back frustration. "What do you think?”
"Come on, don't be mad. I was just trying to be friendly.”
“Why would I want to be friends with you?” I deadpanned. “You’re blood of the enemy.” I looked towards the building to our left when we hit the covered walk. “Okay, that’s the auditorium. And you can see the clinic right beside it.”
He didn’t even glance in the direction I pointed. Or at the other facilities I showed and told him about.
“Blood of the enemy?” he repeated.
I sighed. “Your sister? She’s the school's resident villainess. And this is the student lounge,” I continued as we pushed through the doors at the end of the walkway.
Instantly, we were greeted by soft background music and the buzz of conversation and laughter.
The student lounge was spacious, the designer furniture exuding an atmosphere of comfort and luxury, with comfortable seating arrangements scattered around the room. It was also where networking and connections were as vital as academic achievements.
I acknowledged the people I knew with a nod and a short wave, and ignored the gawkers. Pausing, I shifted my gaze toward the middle of the room, where at the top of the bifurcated staircase revealed a spacious landing. Adorning the landing were semi-circular arrangements of plush, velvet-covered sofas and armchairs, strategically positioned to give a commanding view of the entire student body below. Below the coveted balcony, the other students milled about, their eyes frequently darting upwards, yearning to one day secure a spot on those sofas.
“And that,” I began, jerking a thumb towards the middle of the balcony where Luna stood, casting an eye in our direction with a pretty frown on her face. “That’s the Overlook. That’s where most of your people hang out.”
Lucas looked as if he were about to burst into laughter when he asked, “My people?”
I shrugged casually. “Yeah, you know. Old money, popular kids with lineages tracing back to mid-1800s or something like that.”
Curiosity sparked in Lucas's eyes as he leaned in slightly. “And what category do you belong to?”
“New money, obviously,” I replied with a hint of sarcasm. “Or what you people call the nouveau-riche social climbers.”
“Don’t lump me with them.”
“You’re Luna’s brother,” I pointed out, my tone tinged with irony.
His gaze briefly flickered upwards before returning to meet mine. “She called you that?”
I gave him a look. His lips twitched.
“I guess she did,” he muttered.
“You’re not going to…” I hesitated, then went on, “You’re not going to be like her, right?”
“And what exactly would that be?”
A power-hungry psycho, I thought grimly.
Lucas looked at me like I amused him, but he wasn’t being unkind. Unlike his sister, who often wore a cruel expression of amusement and reveled in belittling those she deemed beneath her, Lucas's gaze held a different quality.
For a brief moment, it made me think that he might be different. That although they shared the same womb, Lucas might just be unalike his sister. That he might not share her propensity for cruelty. That perhaps he saw people for who they were rather than what they were. Maybe, just maybe, Lucas wouldn't act the same way as his twin sister.
But I decided to still be on guard.
One can never be too careful when dealing with a Prieto kid.
And I figured as long as he wasn’t hassling me or coming after Elena, I could just move on and forget about the realization that I had slept with him.
Luna was descending the stairs, her gaze fixed on us. With a quick pivot on my heel, I made a beeline for the doors, leaving Lucas behind. Just the thought of being ganged up by not one but two siblings made me feel like screaming.
It didn’t take me too long to screech to a halt, however, when I remembered Lucas still had my binder. And that I was supposed to bring it to the teacher before break was over.
Gritting my teeth, I turned to return to the student lounge, but I couldn’t find Lucas or Luna. Dreading the fact that the two might be together, I made my way to the other exit that led to the school courtyard.
I would have missed them if I hadn’t heard Luna’s raised voice. They were in a secluded corner of the courtyard, and I was about to walk over to get the binder back when her words made me pause and hide behind a tree.
"I can't believe her, Lucas! She just waltzes in, acting like she doesn't care, and Jonathan falls for it. He was supposed to be mine!”
My brows drew together, and I briefly poked my head out. Luna was pacing back and forth in front of Lucas, her perfect hair whipping around every time she turned, her fists clenched at her sides. Lucas stood leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, listening with an unreadable expression.
Luna stopped to glare at him. “Are you even listening to me?”
His face didn’t change. He just blinked.
Luna huffed. "You have no idea how frustrating this is. Jonathan and I were perfect together. But then she comes along and ruins everything.”
I grinned.
It was high time Luna acknowledged that she and Jonathan were never meant to be, and I relished in her anger and frustration.
But my amusement faded with her next words.
"But she’s been getting in the way, taking everything I worked for. Why should I let her get away with that?" Luna's voice was shrill with anger. "She doesn’t even like him! It’s all a game to her. No, forget about getting her kicked out of school. I'm going to destroy that little bitch.”
I couldn't hear Lucas's response, his voice too low for me to pick up.
"Why not? Why wouldn’t she deserve that? And don’t start with me about Jonathan. He’s just a pawn in all of this. That’s why Elena needs to pay.”
I still couldn't hear Lucas's response. But I heard Luna's petulant reply, "You should help me, dear brother. Help me get things back the way they used to be. Help me destroy Elena."
There was silence then, and I strained my ears to pick up Lucas's response. But all I could hear was the rustling of leaves and the distant chatter of other students. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited, hoping to hear Lucas refuse, to hear him say that he wouldn't be part of Luna's vengeful plan.
But instead, I heard Luna’s laughter, a happy, triumphant sound that sent a chill down my spine.
God, no.
I might not have heard Lucas's answer, but from Luna's reaction, I had a sinking feeling that he had agreed to her plan.
Swallowing hard, I moved away from my hiding spot behind the tree, my mind racing. I knew I had to do something, but what? I needed to warn Elena, but she’d probably only tell me not to worry. And what about Lucas? Could I confront him? Would he even admit to it if I did?
My thoughts were a whirl of confusion and fear.
I had always known Luna was capable of such manipulations, but Lucas...I had thought he was different but, oh God.
He may be just as cruel and manipulative as his sister.
And it was up to me to stop him from hurting Elena.
But… how?
- Writer
