Chapter 20
1655 Words
The library was unusually quiet for this time of day. I was enjoying the solitude as I tapped away on my laptop, focused on finishing up my work. The silence was only broken by the occasional rustle of pages or the distant hum of conversation from the front desk.
A loud conversation outside made me pause, and I glanced out the window. I spotted Lucas walking past with a group of people, clearly having come from the cafeteria. I watched him for a moment. Recently, he’d been keeping his distance and had stopped making passes at me. I should have been glad, but I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of suspicion.
I shook my head, trying to dismiss the thought. Lucas always had a way of getting under my skin, making me question things I normally wouldn’t. I forced myself to focus back on the screen in front of me, determined to finish my work before lunch break was over.
Just as I was getting back into the rhythm, I heard the scrape of a chair being pulled out in front of me. I looked up, surprised to see Lucas settling into the seat across from me.
“Why are you here?” he asked.
I blinked. I hadn’t even noticed he’d seen me.
“Why are you here?” I countered.
His lips twitched with amusement. “I asked you first.”
I leaned back in my chair and stretched my fingers. “I’m busy preparing for tomorrow’s forum.”
“Why? That’s student council business."
“I’m helping. And the representatives need to be there anyway.”
“Well, you should take it easy.”
I arched an eyebrow. “I believe that if something can’t be done right, it shouldn’t be done at all. And why are you so concerned?”
His grin widened. “Wouldn’t want you to fade on me.”
I shot him one last irritated look before turning back to my laptop. I tried to refocus on my work, but Lucas's presence was becoming increasingly distracting. I heard him shift in his chair, and when I glanced up, he was casually studying me.
“So, have you eaten lunch yet?” he asked.
“I had a quick bite earlier,” I responded, looking at the time on my laptop.
Lucas raised an eyebrow. “And where’s Elena? She’s usually glued to you like a second shadow.”
I stiffened, my fingers pausing mid-type, eyeing him with growing suspicion. “Why do you want to know?”
He held up his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, I’m just curious. You two are like peas in a pod. It’s unusual not to see her around.”
I narrowed my eyes. “And why are you so interested in her whereabouts?”
“Jesus, Coline,” he chuckled, a touch of exasperation in his voice. “I’m just making conversation.”
I crossed my arms, staring him down. “Well, you’re not getting anything out of me. I’m not telling you where Elena is.”
Lucas tilted his head. “Are you accusing me of something again?”
I frowned, not quite meeting his eyes. “I’m not accusing you of anything. I just want you to leave me alone.”
“Hmm,” he said, leaning forward, “it sounds like you’re suspicious. What’s the matter? Do you think I have some ulterior motive?”
I clenched my jaw. “I just don’t see why you’re so interested in Elena’s whereabouts. It’s a bit odd, don’t you think?”
“Odd?” His tone was teasing, but his eyes were sharp. “I’m merely asking out of curiosity. You’re the one reading into it.”
“I’m not reading into anything. I just think it’s strange that you suddenly care about Elena.”
“Strange or not, it’s just conversation,” he insisted, leaning back and crossing his arms. “Isn’t it a little dramatic to think I’m plotting something?”
I knew he was teasing me.
But even though I knew I shouldn’t react to his teasing, I was getting more upset the more he kept talking.
“Whatever,” I said, pushing my chair back and standing up. “I’ll be right back.”
As I started to walk past him, Lucas’s hand shot out and wrapped around my wrist, stopping me. “Where are you going?”
“I’m just going to use the restroom,” I grumbled, trying to shake his hold off. “Just stay here and don’t mess with my stuff.”
“See? Accusing me again,” he said with a smirk.
I heaved out a sigh. “I’m not… Just… just stay here, okay?”
Lucas’s grip loosened, and he finally released me. “Alright, but don’t be too long. I wouldn’t want to be left all alone with my thoughts.”
I shot him one last exasperated look before heading off. He couldn’t really blame me for accusing him, could he? Because why’d he stop keeping his distance? Why the sudden interest now?
Feeling slightly better after using the restroom, I stepped out to return to the library. But as I did, I was immediately surrounded by a group of girls from the other class. Their eyes were sharp and their expressions impatient.
“Where’s Elena?” one of them demanded.
I cursed under my breath.
I had left my wallet in the library and really didn’t need this right now. I tried to push past them, but they blocked my way, their arms crossing defensively.
I sighed irritably. “Why do you want to know?”
“We need to find her,” another girl said sharply. “Luna’s been looking everywhere for Jonathan, and she thinks Elena might know where he is.”
“And what’s that got to do with Elena?” I asked, frowning.
“Stop playing innocent,” a third girl snapped. “It’s pretty clear that Elena and Jonathan are together.”
They were right, but I wasn’t about to give them any satisfaction. “I’m not telling you anything, so why don’t you just leave me alone?”
“You know how Luna is. If she can’t find Jonathan, she’s going to lose her mind.”
“Not my problem.”
“You’re being incredibly unhelpful!”
“And you think I’m supposed to just give you information because you ask?” I retorted. “You’re all lunatics, just like your master.”
In response, one of them pushed me roughly. I staggered backward, slamming into the bulletin board on the wall. The impact caused the back of my left upper arm to scrape against something metallic, and I gasped as a sharp pain shot through me.
The girls’ faces turned pale as they noticed a small trickle of blood seeping from my arm. Panic flashed across their faces, and they exchanged wide-eyed glances.
“Oh my God, what did we do?” one of them gasped, her voice quavering with alarm.
Without another word, they turned and fled, their footsteps echoing down the empty hallway.
I glared after them, a mix of anger and pain swelling within me.
Cowards, I thought, pulling a handkerchief from my pocket and pressing it against the wound to stem the bleeding.
It wasn’t a deep cut, thankfully, but it stung fiercely. I checked to ensure it wasn’t serious, then stowed the handkerchief back in my pocket and headed back toward the library.
As I stepped back into the library, Lucas's gaze immediately locked onto me.
“I thought you ran off because you didn’t come back after so long,” he said, his voice edged with irritation.
“Why do you always default to me abandoning you?” I deadpanned as I resumed my seat. “Besides, you seem to be quite adept at tracking me down.”
His lips twitched in a semblance of a smile. “I am, aren’t I?”
“Yeah,” I snorted, focusing on my laptop. “It’s kind of creepy.”
“What the hell happened to your arm?”
His sudden, harsh tone made me jump. I twisted my left arm to check the wound, wincing as I saw it bleeding again. Before I could do anything else, Lucas was suddenly beside me, his hands gripping my arm with an almost violent urgency as he examined the injury.
The fury in his eyes made my heart pound. I sucked in breath as I felt it radiate in waves.
“What happened?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
I bit my lip. “I just ran into some of your sister’s friends.”
His face darkened further. “If you dumped Elena, you wouldn’t be struggling like this.”
“Don’t butt into other people’s lives,” I snapped, pulling away and standing up. “It has nothing to do with you.”
He stood up immediately, blocking my path. “Where are you going?”
“The clinic,” I sighed, inspecting my wound again. “My wound won’t stop bleeding—”
I almost bit my tongue when he suddenly swept me up into his arms with a strength that took me by surprise. His grip was firm, yet strangely gentle, and his expression was set in a terrifyingly intense scowl.
“What are you doing?” I asked, horrified, clutching my arm.
“Taking you to the clinic,” he replied, his voice brooking no argument.
“My legs are not broken, Lucas. I can walk.”
“Quiet.”
“Lucas—.”
All the breath was knocked out of me when I saw the determined, almost frightening look in his eyes. His gaze left me without words, so instead of arguing, I shut my mouth.
I was such a coward too, I thought as I let out a sigh.
- Writer
