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.
Elie’s was still smiling at Jenna’s words, her cheeks slightly flushed. She didn’t know if it was the attention from Chris or the way Jenna was hyping her up, but she felt different tonight—more confident, more seen.Chris had been sneaking glances at her all night, and every time their eyes met, he would smirk, making her heart race. This was the kind of night she had always dreamed of—a night where she wasn’t invisible.But while Elie’s was basking in this newfound attention, Damien was anything but pleased. His jaw was clenched, and his dark eyes were locked on Chris, who was laughing at something Elie’s had just said.Jenna noticed Damien’s expression and smirked. “Oh boy,” she whispered under her breath. “This is about to get messy.”Elie’s, oblivious to Damien’s growing rage, took a sip of her drink when Chris suddenly leaned in. “You look amazing tonight, Elie’s,” he said smoothly, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine.Elie’s nearly choked on her drink, her eyes widen
Evening at Elie’s HouseThe sun had begun to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink as a soft breeze flowed through the neighborhood. Inside Elie’s house, things were quiet—too quiet for a night that was supposed to be one of the biggest events of the year.Elie’s was curled up on the couch, lazily flipping through channels, a bowl of popcorn resting in her lap. The house was empty, her parents weren’t home, and honestly, she preferred it that way. No one to force her to go to that ridiculous prom.She sighed as she settled on a romance movie, stuffing a handful of popcorn into her mouth.But just as she was getting comfortable, the doorbell rang.She groaned, already knowing exactly who it was.Dragging herself off the couch, she walked to the door and opened it slightly. Before she could react, Jenna stormed in like a hurricane.“Elie’s, I swear to God—” Jenna’s eyes widened when she took in Elie’s outfit. “You are sitting here, in pajamas, watching a movie, while the re
The entire school was buzzing with excitement. Ever since the announcement of the prom night on Saturday, students couldn’t stop talking about it. The girls, especially, were busy discussing their outfits, hairstyles, and who they would be going with.Elie’s sat at her desk, listening to the chatter around her. Jenna was beside her, flipping through her phone, looking at different dress styles.“Elie’s, have you decided what you’re wearing?” Jenna asked, nudging her.“I don’t even know if I’m going,” Elie’s admitted, playing with the hem of her shirt.Jenna gasped dramatically. “What do you mean you don’t know? It’s the biggest event of the semester! Everyone is going!”“I just don’t feel like dressing up and all that,” Elie’s said, shrugging.Jenna rolled her eyes. “Girl, I swear, you’re impossible. You have to come! Do you know how many guys are dying to ask you out?”Elie’s chuckled. “I doubt that.”“Doubt all you want, but it’s true.” Jenna smirked. “Besides, Damien is going to be
The air in the hallway was thick with tension as Tiffany stormed into the empty classroom where Bianca and her gang, Mandy and Lucy, were already seated. Her face was red with anger, her fists clenched tightly by her sides. Mandy and Lucy, still trying to process the humiliation they had faced in the cafeteria, muttered under their breath."How dare she!" Tiffany yelled, slamming her palm on the desk, startling the others. "That little nobody thinks she can humiliate me in front of everyone?"Mandy nodded, her face equally flushed. "She’s too bold for her own good. Elie's and that annoying Jenna—ugh, I can’t stand them!"Lucy added, "Tiffany, we need to do something. We can’t let them get away with this."Bianca, however, sat quietly in her seat, an odd smirk on her face. She was the only one who seemed unfazed by the situation. Her calm demeanor was unnerving, and it caught Tiffany’s attention."What’s so funny, Bianca?" Tiffany snapped, glaring at her. "Don’t tell me you’re not furi
The cafeteria was alive with chatter and clinking trays as students bustled around. Elie’s and Janna sat at their usual table near the window, eating and laughing at one of Janna’s terrible jokes. “I’m telling you,” Janna said through a mouthful of fries, “if this school had a competition for the weirdest cafeteria food combinations, I’d win hands down.” Elie’s shook her head, chuckling. “You’d also lose for originality. Who puts fries in their milkshake?” “It’s a delicacy!” Janna declared, pointing a fry at her. The lighthearted mood was interrupted when Tiffany walked into the cafeteria, flanked by Mandy and Lucy. They looked as though they owned the place, heads high and sneers on their faces. What caught Elie’s attention, though, was Bianca trailing behind them. Janna leaned closer to Elie’s and whispered, “Is it just me, or does it look like the Mean Girls have recruited Bianca?” Elie’s frowned. “What’s she doing with them?” Before they could speculate further, the
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