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
Elies was leaning against her locker, lost in thought as Janna approached with her usual cheerful energy."What's up? You look like you've just fought a war," Janna teased, tossing her bag over her shoulder.Elies sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "Just Damien being Damien. He’s really trying my patience."Before Janna could reply, a sharp, mocking laugh rang out, drawing their attention. Tiffany and her two minions, Mandy and Lucy, were striding toward them. The hallway suddenly felt heavier, the chatter of other students dimming as the trio closed the distance."Well, look who it is," Tiffany sneered, stopping a few feet from Elies and Janna. Her perfectly styled blonde hair bounced as she tilted her head, her lips curling into a smug smile."Let me guess," Janna said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You’re here to give us the weather report? No? Then why are you wasting our time?"Tiffany ignored Janna, her cold gaze locking onto Elies. "I’ll make this simple for you,
Elies leaned against her locker, catching her breath after the unexpected scuffle with Tiffany and her gang. Her hair was slightly tousled, and her cheeks were still flushed with the adrenaline of the moment. Janna stood beside her, grinning ear to ear as if she had just won a championship match."Did you see their faces? Absolutely priceless," Janna said, nudging Elies with her elbow.Elies shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I can’t believe that even happened. I thought we were going to get in serious trouble.""Trouble? Please. They started it, and we finished it," Janna replied confidently.Just as Elies was about to respond, a familiar voice called her name."Elies!"She turned to see Chris walking toward her, his brows furrowed with concern. His athletic frame and warm smile made him stand out, and as he approached, the other students in the hallway began whispering."Hey," Chris said, his voice soft but firm as his eyes scanned her for any sign of injury. "Are y
Elies tapped her pen against the desk, her mind replaying the events of the past week. Damien’s smirks, his sarcastic notes, and most recently, his shameless flirting with other girls in front of her had all piled up into a seething pit of frustration. Janna, sitting beside her, noticed the furrow in her brows. "Still thinking about him?" Janna asked, leaning closer. Elies sighed, glaring at her friend. "It’s not what you think. It’s just...he’s so full of himself, Janna. He acts like he can flirt with half the school and get away with it. It’s maddening." Janna grinned mischievously. "So, what are you going to do about it?" Elies paused, a devious idea forming in her mind. Her lips curled into a sly smile. "Maybe it’s time Damien got a taste of his own medicine." Janna’s eyes widened with excitement. "Oh, I like where this is going. What’s the plan?" Elies glanced at the boys sitting a few desks away, casually chatting and joking around. She gestured toward them. "I’m goi
Elies tilted her head, still smirking as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I always do," she said, her tone light and playful, though the fire in her eyes dared Damien to challenge her. Damien took a step closer, his smile turning into something more mischievous, more dangerous. He leaned against the locker beside her, effectively cutting off her escape route. "Since you’re so good at winning," he began, his voice calm but laced with a teasing edge, "I have a condition for you." Elies raised an eyebrow, her smirk faltering slightly. "A condition? And why would I agree to that?" His grin widened as he leaned just a bit closer, the scent of his cologne filling the space between them. "Because if you don’t, you might not like what happens next." Her eyes narrowed, intrigued but cautious. "What are you talking about, Damien? Spit it out." His voice dropped lower, just above a whisper, and his gaze locked onto hers. "If I catch you flirting with another guy again," he said sl
Elies walked back to the cafeteria with Jenna trailing close behind her, her mind still reeling from Damien’s bold words earlier. It wasn’t just what he said—it was the way he said it, with that maddening confidence and the teasing smirk that seemed permanently etched on his face. She clenched her fists as she walked, trying to shake off the way his voice lingered in her thoughts. Why did he have to be so infuriatingly smug? Worse still, why did it affect her so much? When they arrived back at their usual table, Jenna was grinning from ear to ear. She dropped her tray onto the table and plopped down in her chair, leaning in close to Elies. “Okay,” Jenna began, her voice practically vibrating with curiosity. “What did he say to you? You’ve been acting like someone turned the heat up to a hundred degrees. Your face is so red I’m worried you might actually explode.” Elies waved her hand dismissively, sitting down and keeping her gaze firmly on her untouched food. “It’s nothing,”
Elies parked her car in the driveway and turned off the ignition, sitting in silence for a moment. The events of the day weighed heavily on her, from Damien’s teasing to Chris’s attention and Jenna’s relentless teasing over text. She sighed and stepped out of the car, grabbing her bag. The house was quiet when she walked in. Her parents were out, as usual, leaving the large home to herself. Normally, she enjoyed the peace, but today, it only amplified the swirling chaos in her mind. She kicked off her shoes near the door, hung her bag on a hook, and flopped onto the living room couch. Her phone buzzed. She pulled it out, seeing Jenna’s name light up the screen. **Jenna:** *Why did you run off so quickly after school? I barely got to bother you about your new “suitors.”* Elies groaned aloud, already knowing where this conversation was heading. She typed back quickly, hoping to keep it brief. **Elies:** *I just wanted to get home. That’s all.* Jenna’s response came instantly.
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