Elies navigated the bustling hallways with her usual determination to avoid unwanted attention. Her interactions with Damien had already painted a target on her back, and she wasn’t in the mood for any more drama. She kept her head down, clutching her books tightly, when a voice rang out behind her. “Elies! Wait up!” The familiar voice sent a ripple of surprise through her. Turning around, she saw Kayla approaching, her long hair bouncing with each step and a confident smile plastered across her face. Elies frowned. She and Kayla had never interacted beyond polite nods in passing, so this sudden attention was more than suspicious. “Hey,” Elies said cautiously, her tone neutral. Kayla’s smile widened. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you. Do you have a minute?” Elies glanced at the clock on the wall. She still had time before her next class, but every instinct told her to find an excuse and leave. Unfortunately, Kayla wasn’t someone you could easily brush off. “Sure, I guess,”
The library was Elies’ sanctuary, a quiet haven where she could escape the chaos of the school. Rows of neatly stacked books and the faint scent of paper created an atmosphere of peace. It was the one place she felt truly invisible, away from the prying eyes of her peers and, more importantly, Damien’s relentless antics. She settled into her usual corner, her back against the wall, and opened her notebook. Her history assignment was due soon, and she was determined to finish it without distractions. The hum of muffled whispers and the occasional turning of pages filled the space, blending into white noise that allowed her to focus. Until it didn’t. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, a familiar prickle of awareness creeping over her. She glanced up and froze. There he was. Damien stood at the entrance to the library, his broad frame silhouetted against the light from the hallway. His dark eyes scanned the room until they landed on her. A smirk tugged at his lips, and
Elies sat in the back row of their chemistry class, trying to keep a low profile. She focused on her notebook, pretending to scribble notes while silently praying that Damien wouldn’t notice her. For the past week, his relentless teasing had left her frazzled, her emotions a tangled mess of irritation and... something else she didn’t want to name. But of course, her prayers went unanswered. From the corner of her eye, she saw Damien saunter into the room, his trademark smirk firmly in place. He scanned the seats until his gaze landed on her. Her stomach flipped, and she quickly looked down, hoping he’d change direction. No such luck. “Morning, sunshine,” he drawled, sliding into the seat next to hers. Elies didn’t even glance at him. “Don’t call me that.” “But it suits you,” he said, leaning closer. “You brighten my day.” She rolled her eyes, keeping her attention on her notebook. “You’re insufferable.” “Only for you.” The heat crept up her neck, and she pressed her
Elies slammed her lunch tray onto the cafeteria table, her face a perfect blend of irritation and embarrassment. Jenna, already seated with a small carton of milk in hand, raised an eyebrow at her friend’s dramatic entrance. “Rough morning?” Jenna asked, biting into her sandwich. Elies threw herself onto the bench with an exasperated groan. “You have no idea. Damien is *so* annoying!” Jenna smirked. “What did he do this time?” “Everything!” Elies gestured wildly, almost knocking her drink over. “He sat next to me in class and wouldn’t stop whispering ridiculous things. Then in the hallway, he cornered me—again—and started calling me ‘sunshine.’ Who even does that?” Jenna laughed. “I don’t know, Elies. Sounds like he’s got it bad for you.” Elies glared at her. “This isn’t funny. He’s relentless. I can’t even look at him without feeling…” She trailed off, her cheeks flushing. “Feeling what?” Jenna asked, grinning knowingly. “Like I want to slap that smug look off his fac
The school was buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming game. Posters covered every bulletin board, students practiced cheers in the hallways, and every conversation seemed to circle back to strategies and predictions. It was impossible to avoid the excitement, and Elies, as much as she tried, was caught in the middle of it all. She had barely sat down in the cafeteria with Jenna when Damien appeared, striding toward their table with the confidence of someone who believed the world revolved around him. His friends flanked him like loyal soldiers, but he didn’t seem to notice anyone else. His eyes were locked on Elies. “Elies,” Damien began, sliding into the seat next to her without waiting for an invitation, “you’re coming to the game on Saturday, right?” Elies sighed, taking a slow bite of her sandwich in a futile attempt to ignore him. “Why would I do that?” Damien grinned, leaning in closer. “Because it’s the event of the year. And because I’ll be on the field. Obviously,
The evening air was thick with tension as Elies stepped into the house, her bag slung over her shoulder. She expected the usual routine: her father sitting in his chair, glancing up briefly to greet her, and her mother bustling about the kitchen. But tonight, something was off. Her father, James, was seated at the dining table, his arms crossed, the remnants of his dinner untouched in front of him. His expression was a storm cloud of worry and disapproval, and her mother stood nearby, fidgeting with a dishcloth. “Elies,” James said, his voice unusually stern. “We need to talk.” Elies froze in her tracks. She couldn’t recall the last time her father’s tone had been this serious. She dropped her bag by the door and slowly approached the table, her pulse quickening. “What’s going on?” she asked cautiously, sitting down across from him. James let out a heavy sigh, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. “What’s going on is that your name has been the subject of some rather unsavory
The hallway was alive with chatter and footsteps, students bustling to and from classes, but Elies barely noticed the noise around her. She walked with purpose, her head down, hoping to stay invisible for once. It wasn’t that she feared anyone—it was more about avoiding unnecessary drama. Her thoughts, however, betrayed her calm exterior as they wandered to the one person who had occupied far too much of her mind lately: Damien. She sighed and turned the corner near the main lockers. Her attention was immediately captured by a familiar figure leaning casually against the row of lockers. Her steps faltered. There he was—Damien. The infamous smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, his arms crossed, exuding that effortless confidence he was so well-known for. Surrounding him was a small group of girls, each laughing a little too loudly, their eyes shining with the unmistakable look of infatuation. Elies slowed her pace, her stomach twisting uncomfortably. She told herself it wasn’
Elies sat under the large oak tree in the school courtyard, nervously clutching her notebook. She had been casually chatting with Jenna moments earlier, but the sudden presence of Chris changed the dynamic. He strolled over, his carefree grin lighting up his face. Elies felt her stomach twist in a mixture of excitement and dread.“Hey, Elies,” Chris said, dropping his bag next to hers and sitting cross-legged on the grass. His eyes glimmered with friendliness that felt magnified under the sunlight. “What are you working on?”Elies’s cheeks flared instantly. She fumbled with her notebook, pretending to search for something. “Oh, um... just notes. Nothing exciting.”Chris chuckled, his voice warm. “Notes can be exciting. Maybe not chemistry notes, though. Unless you find titration thrilling.”His casual humor caught her off guard, and Elies let out a nervous to the present moment. She looked up at Chris, forcing a smile, trying to hide the fluster building inside her. “Oh, nothing. I wa
The day had ended, but Damien found himself wandering through the empty hallways of the school, his hands stuffed into his pockets and his usual smirk replaced by a pensive frown. He leaned against one of the lockers, the events of the previous day replaying in his mind like a movie he couldn’t turn off. The memory was sharp, vivid, and painfully fresh. --- It had been early morning, and the house was unusually quiet. Damien had been seated at the breakfast table, his plate untouched. His father entered the room, his face set with the same serious expression he always wore. “Damien, we need to talk,” his father had said, his voice calm but firm. “About what?” Damien replied, though he already had a sinking feeling about where this was headed. His father took a seat across from him, clasping his hands together. “I’ve been meaning to discuss this with you for a while now. I’ve decided to remarry.” The words hit Damien like a punch to the gut. He stared at his father, his h
The next day, Elie’s walked into the school building, her heart racing as she glanced around. The moment she spotted Damien near his locker, she felt an unexpected wave of relief wash over her. Without thinking, she rushed toward him, her steps quick and determined. Damien was casually leaning against his locker, his usual smirk playing on his lips as he chatted with Jake. The moment he saw Elie’s hurrying toward him, his eyebrows raised in amusement. “Damien!” she called, stopping right in front of him. “Good morning to you too, Elie’s,” he said, grinning. She ignored his greeting, her words tumbling out in a rush. “Why didn’t you come to school yesterday? Are you okay? Were you sick? Did something happen?” Damien chuckled, clearly entertained by her barrage of questions. “Whoa, whoa, slow down, Elie’s,” he said, holding up his hands as if to calm her down. “Take a breath.” Elie’s blinked, suddenly realizing how fast she had been talking. She took a step back, her cheeks
The next day, the school was buzzing with its usual noise, but something felt off for Elie’s. As she entered the classroom, she noticed Damien’s seat was empty. She frowned slightly but quickly shook the feeling away. “Maybe he’s just late,” she muttered to herself, heading to her seat. Jenna was already there, arranging her books. “Morning, Elie’s!” Jenna chirped. “Morning,” Elie’s replied, though her voice lacked its usual energy. Jenna gave her a curious look but didn’t say anything. As the class began, Elie’s found it harder to concentrate than usual. Her eyes kept darting toward the door, hoping to see Damien walk in with his usual confident stride and teasing smirk. But the door remained closed, and Damien’s seat stayed empty. When the teacher gave them an independent task, Elie’s turned to Jake, who was sitting a few seats away. “Hey, Jake,” she whispered. Jake looked up from his notebook. “What’s up?” “Do you know where Damien is? He’s not here today.” Jake s
Brittany entered the cafeteria, her heels clicking against the tiled floor as she scanned the room. Her eyes landed on Damien’s table, and as usual, he was surrounded by his friends. Her gaze softened momentarily as she observed him. His charm and effortless confidence were magnetic, but what truly enraged her was how his attention was focused elsewhere. Turning her head slightly, she followed his line of sight and saw Elie’s sitting at a table with Jenna. A scowl formed on Brittany's face, though she quickly masked it with a neutral expression. “Her, again,” she muttered under her breath. With calculated steps, Brittany walked toward Damien’s table, carrying her tray. As she reached the group, one of Damien’s friends noticed her and nudged the others. “Brittany, fancy seeing you here,” one of them said with a smirk, though his tone was more teasing than welcoming. Brittany ignored him, pulling out a chair next to Damien and settling down. She placed her tray on the table and
Elie’s and Jenna sat in their usual spot at the back of the classroom, chatting and giggling as they waited for the teacher to arrive. The atmosphere was light, and Elie’s felt a sense of comfort with her best friend by her side.“I swear,” Jenna said, tossing her hair over her shoulder, “if Jake winks at one more girl in the hallway, I’m going to throw my book at him.”Elie’s laughed. “You know you won’t. You secretly enjoy his flirting.”Jenna scoffed. “I do not! I’m just keeping tabs on him to make sure he doesn’t get too full of himself.”Elie’s smirked. “Sure, Jenna. Whatever helps you sleep at night.” Her word was interrupt with Tiffany entering the class with her gang of friends Mandy and Lucy“Oh no,” Jenna muttered under her breath. “Here comes trouble.”Elie’s sighed. “Let’s just ignore them.”But Tiffany had other plans. She stopped right in front of their desk, her arms crossed, and her two minions flanked her like guards.“Elie’s,” Tiffany began, her voice dripping with
Elie’s clutched her books tightly as she and Jenna walked briskly down the hallway. Her heart was still racing from the sight of Damien leaning casually against the locker, his intense gaze fixed on her. “Why is he always there at the worst moments?” she muttered under her breath. Jenna chuckled. “You’re overthinking, Elie’s. Maybe he was just… waiting for someone else.” Elie’s shot her a look. “You don’t believe that, and neither do I. Let’s just get to our next class.” But as they rounded the corner, Elie’s heard footsteps behind them. She stiffened, her pulse quickening. “Hey, Elie’s,” a familiar voice called out. Jenna glanced back, smirking. “I think your shadow has caught up with you.” “Jenna, don’t—” Elie’s whispered, but it was too late. Damien strode up beside them, his usual confident smirk playing on his lips. His presence was impossible to ignore, and Elie’s felt her cheeks heat up immediately. “Are you trying to avoid me, Elie’s?” Damien asked, his tone
Jenna leaned back in her seat, a mischievous grin spreading across her face as she noticed Damien’s eyes locked on their table. “Elie’s, guess who’s watching us?” she said, her tone dripping with mischief. Elie’s, still flustered from Chris’s attention, groaned. “Jenna, stop teasing me already! I can’t take any more embarrassment today.” “I’m not teasing, I’m serious,” Jenna said, nudging Elie’s with her elbow. “Who’s watching us?” Elie’s asked hesitantly, finally lifting her head a little. Jenna smirked and nodded toward Damien’s table. “See for yourself.” Elie’s turned around slowly, her heart pounding. Her gaze followed Jenna’s gesture, and her eyes landed on Damien. Sure enough, he was staring right at her. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes seemed to hold a glint of amusement. Elie’s cheeks burned instantly. “Oh no,” she whispered, quickly turning back to face Jenna. “He saw everything, didn’t he?” Jenna chuckled. “Oh, he definitely saw. Every single second
Damien sat at his usual table in the cafeteria, surrounded by his friends and a group of girls who seemed overly eager to keep his attention. Their chatter filled the air, but Damien wasn’t listening. His eyes were fixed on the entrance of the cafeteria, waiting. Then he saw them. Elie’s walked in with Jenna by her side. She looked as she always did—calm, a little reserved, but there was something about her that held his attention in a way no one else did. He watched as she and Jenna grabbed trays and moved through the serving line, picking their food. “Damien, did you hear what I just said?” one of the girls at his table asked, leaning closer to him. He didn’t answer. He didn’t even glance in her direction. His focus remained on Elie’s as she and Jenna made their way to a table near the window. He noticed how Jenna picked the seat facing the rest of the room, leaving Elie’s to sit with her back partially turned. He could tell Elie’s didn’t like being the center of attention
Elie’s and Jenna walked into the cafeteria, the noise of chattering students filling the air. They made their way to the serving line, grabbing trays and choosing their food. Elie’s picked something light—she wasn’t particularly hungry, but she didn’t want Jenna to start asking questions. Once they had their trays, they scanned the room for an empty table. Jenna pointed to one near the window. “Let’s sit over there.” Elie’s nodded, and the two girls walked over, placing their trays on the table and settling into their seats. “So,” Jenna began, taking a bite of her sandwich, “what’s your plan for the rest of the day?” Elie’s shrugged, poking at her salad with her fork. “Nothing much. Just surviving the rest of my classes.” Jenna chuckled. “That’s the spirit.” They ate in relative silence for a few moments, the noise of the cafeteria serving as background. Suddenly, Jenna’s gaze shifted to something—or someone—behind Elie’s, and a grin spread across her face. “Elie’s,” she