Unexpected Alliances

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,” Elies replied, reluctantly falling into step beside her.  

Kayla’s bright demeanor seemed almost too genuine, a fact that didn’t escape Elies. “So,” Kayla began, her voice light, “I hear you’ve been spending a lot of time with Damien lately.”  

Elies immediately stiffened. “I wouldn’t say that,” she said carefully.  

“Oh, come on,” Kayla teased, nudging her playfully. “The whole school is talking about it. You and Damien—quite the pair, huh?”  

“There’s nothing going on,” Elies said firmly, hoping to end the conversation.  

“Really?” Kayla tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Because it seems like he’s always around you. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s got a thing for you.”  

Elies sighed, already regretting agreeing to talk. “What do you want, Kayla?”  

Kayla laughed, the sound sweet but with an edge that made Elies uneasy. “Relax, I’m not here to cause trouble. I actually think we could be friends.”  

Elies raised an eyebrow. “Friends?”  

“Why not?” Kayla said, her tone almost too casual. “We have something in common—Damien.”  

Elies stopped in her tracks, her suspicion mounting. “What are you getting at?”  

Kayla turned to face her, her expression earnest. “Look, I like Damien. I’ve liked him for a while. But lately, he’s been so focused on you that I can’t even get a second of his attention.”  

Elies blinked, caught off guard by the blunt confession. “I’m not sure what you expect me to do about that.”  

Kayla stepped closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “You’re close to him. Maybe you could put in a good word for me?”  

Elies stared at her, trying to process the audacity of the request. “You want me to help you get closer to Damien?”  

“Exactly,” Kayla said, her smile returning. “It’s a win-win. You don’t want his attention, and I do. Everyone’s happy.”  

Elies hesitated, torn between disbelief and the faint hope that this might actually work. If Kayla could distract Damien, maybe she’d finally get some peace.  

“I’ll think about it,” Elies said finally, hoping it would buy her time.  

Kayla beamed. “That’s all I ask! Thanks, Elies. You’re the best.”  

As Kayla sauntered away, Elies couldn’t shake the feeling that she had just made a deal she would regret.  

---

The next few days were a whirlwind of unwanted attention. True to her word, Kayla seemed determined to forge a friendship with Elies, showing up at her locker, sitting with her during lunch, and even tagging along in class.  

At first, Elies tried to avoid her, but Kayla’s persistence was unmatched. Eventually, she gave in, if only to avoid making a scene.  

“I think this could really work,” Kayla said one afternoon as they walked to class together.  

“What could?” Elies asked, barely masking her irritation.  

“Us being friends,” Kayla said brightly. “It’s already making Damien notice me more.”  

Elies frowned. “How so?”  

Kayla smirked. “He’s been watching us. You’ve seen it, right? He’s curious. It’s only a matter of time before he realizes I’m the one for him.”  

Elies didn’t respond, choosing instead to focus on the ground ahead. She couldn’t decide if Kayla’s confidence was admirable or delusional.  

---

The tension reached its peak during a school assembly. The entire student body was gathered in the gymnasium, and Elies was sitting with Jenna, hoping to blend into the background.  

Kayla, however, had other plans. She approached with a sly grin, her voice loud enough to draw attention.  

“Elies!” she called out, drawing the eyes of everyone nearby. “I was just telling everyone about that time you accidentally called Damien ‘babe.’”  

Elies froze, her cheeks flaming as laughter erupted around her. “What are you talking about?” she demanded, her voice shaking.  

“Oh, come on,” Kayla said, her tone dripping with faux innocence. “Don’t be shy. It was adorable.”  

“I never said that!” Elies protested, glaring at Kayla.  

The laughter grew louder, and Elies felt like the walls were closing in. She stood up, her hands clenched into fists. “What’s your problem, Kayla?”  

Kayla feigned surprise. “What do you mean? I’m just having a little fun.”  

“Fun at my expense,” Elies snapped.  

Before Kayla could respond, a familiar voice cut through the noise.  

“What’s going on here?”  

The gymnasium fell silent as Damien appeared, his expression dark and unyielding. He scanned the scene, his gaze landing on Kayla.  

“Damien!” Kayla said, her confident demeanor faltering. “I was just joking around with Elies. No big deal.”  

Damien’s eyes narrowed. “It doesn’t look like she’s laughing.”  

Kayla opened her mouth to argue, but Damien raised a hand to silence her. He turned to Elies, his voice softening. “Are you okay?”  

Elies nodded, though her voice wavered. “I’m fine.”  

Damien’s gaze shifted back to Kayla, his tone cold. “A word of advice: leave Elies alone.”  

Kayla’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly retreated, her bravado crumbling under Damien’s glare.  

---

After the assembly, Elies found herself alone with Damien in the hallway. The usual buzz of students had faded, leaving only the sound of their footsteps.  

“Thanks for stepping in,” Elies said quietly.  

Damien shrugged, his smirk returning. “Someone had to. Kayla’s out of control.”  

Elies sighed, leaning against the wall. “I should’ve seen this coming. She’s been trying to get close to me just to mess with me.”  

“She’s jealous,” Damien said matter-of-factly.  

“Of what?” Elies asked, genuinely confused.  

Damien’s smirk widened as he leaned in closer. “Of you, obviously. You’ve got my attention, and she hates it.”  

Elies rolled her eyes. “Great. Just what I needed.”  

Damien chuckled, his gaze softening. “Don’t worry. I won’t let her bother you again.”  

For a moment, Elies felt a flicker of gratitude, though she quickly pushed it aside. Damien might have defended her, but he was still the source of most of her problems.  

“Let’s just get through the rest of the day,” she muttered, brushing past him.  

Damien watched her go, his smirk fading into a thoughtful expression.  

As Elies walked away, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her life had just gotten even more complicated.