Unexpected Claim

It was an ordinary school day, or at least it was supposed to be. Elies was busy gathering her books from her locker, trying to ignore the whispers and glances she’d been catching from other students ever since her letter to Chris had mysteriously wound up with Damien. She felt like every step she took, someone was watching, and she wished for nothing more than to slip into the background, unnoticed.

But Damien had other plans.

Across the hallway, leaning against a row of lockers, Damien watched her with that unmistakable glint in his eyes. He’d been sending her smirks and cocky smiles all morning, which only made her more self-conscious. He was up to something, she could feel it, but she couldn’t imagine what.

Then, without warning, he pushed himself off the locker and strolled right over to her. His steps were unhurried, his confidence radiating as he approached, ignoring the students who gaped at him with awe, curiosity, and even a hint of fear.

“Elies,” he said loudly, making sure his voice carried down the hallway, “I’ve been thinking. It’s about time I made things official, don’t you think?”

Her heart skipped a beat, eyes widening as she glanced around, painfully aware of the crowd gathering to watch. “Made what official?” she stammered, trying to keep her composure.

He grinned, that mischievous, infuriating smirk that made her want to both slap him and—no, she wouldn’t let her mind wander there.

“Our relationship, of course,” he said, throwing an arm around her shoulders in one smooth move. “It’s about time everyone knows you’re my girlfriend.”

The words hit her like a bolt of lightning, shocking her into a stunned silence. Her face flushed, and her heart raced as a series of gasps and murmurs spread through the crowd around them. She glanced up at Damien, horrified, but he only looked more amused, as if he were thoroughly enjoying her reaction.

“What are you talking about?” she whispered urgently, trying to shrug off his arm. “I’m not your girlfriend!”

Damien shrugged, unfazed. “Sure you are. I mean, if you’re going to send love letters, you might as well own it.” He winked, clearly loving every second of her embarrassment.

Her cheeks burned with indignation. “That letter wasn’t for you, and you know it!” she hissed, but he just tightened his arm around her, pulling her closer.

“Details, details,” he murmured. “What’s important is that everyone sees we’re together now.”

She felt a hundred eyes on them, and her stomach twisted. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. She glanced around, hoping for some miracle to end this nightmare, but the crowd was too engrossed, enjoying the unexpected drama like it was a scene from a soap opera.

As her gaze swept over the faces watching them, she caught sight of Chris standing at the edge of the crowd. His expression was unreadable, but something in his eyes made her chest tighten. She had wanted his attention, but not like this. And Damien knew exactly what he was doing—he was playing with her emotions, using her crush as leverage to get under her skin.

“Damien,” she muttered, gritting her teeth, “this is insane. Let me go.”

But he only tightened his hold, looking as relaxed and confident as ever. “Why? It seems like you’re enjoying this just as much as I am.”

“I’m not enjoying it!” she hissed, feeling her cheeks flush even deeper.

He chuckled, ignoring her protests. “Oh, I think you are. Look at all the attention you’re getting. Isn’t this what you wanted?”

Her face was burning, and she could feel the weight of every gaze around them. “No, this isn’t what I wanted!”

“Well,” he whispered in her ear, “maybe you don’t know what you want yet.”

The smug confidence in his voice made her fume, and she tried to push him away, but he held her firmly. She felt like a puppet in his hands, helpless against his teasing.

Finally, she managed to twist out of his hold, glaring up at him with all the fury she could muster. “Damien, you’re impossible! Why are you doing this?”

He leaned down, his face inches from hers, and for a moment, his expression softened, as if he were actually considering the question. But then his smirk returned, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Because, Elies,” he said, his voice low enough that only she could hear, “I like watching you squirm.”

The words sent a shiver down her spine, a confusing mix of anger and something else she didn’t want to admit. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, he raised his voice again, addressing the crowd that had gathered around them.

“Everyone got it?” he said, his tone as casual as if he were announcing the lunch menu. “Elies is officially mine. Spread the word.”

She could hardly believe the words coming out of his mouth. The students around them exchanged glances, some whispering excitedly, others simply staring in shock. She felt like she was in a surreal dream, one where Damien was determined to turn her life upside down.

“This isn’t funny, Damien,” she said, her voice shaking with frustration. “You can’t just… just claim me like this!”

“Sure I can,” he replied smoothly. “And besides, I thought you liked bold moves. Isn’t that why you wrote me a letter?”

Her fists clenched at his audacity. “That letter wasn’t for you!” she said, her voice rising despite herself.

“Oh, but it’s in my possession now,” he said, giving her a wink. “Which makes it pretty clear who it belongs to. Just like you.”

The audacity of his words left her speechless. How could he twist everything to his advantage so easily? And worse, why did a part of her feel a thrill at his attention, even when it was driving her crazy?

Just then, Tiffany—the popular cheerleader who’d been eyeing Damien since forever—stepped forward, looking absolutely scandalized. “Excuse me, Damien,” she said, her voice dripping with disbelief, “are you seriously claiming Elies as your girlfriend? I thought you had better taste.”

Damien turned to Tiffany with an amused grin, clearly relishing the additional drama. “Why wouldn’t I want Elies?” he replied smoothly. “She’s interesting, unlike some people who think they’re entitled to my time.”

Tiffany’s face turned red, her lips pressing into a thin line. She shot Elies a venomous look, her gaze filled with jealousy and disbelief. “You can’t be serious,” she spat, crossing her arms. “Elies isn’t even your type.”

Damien shrugged, his smirk unwavering. “Maybe I’m looking for a change.”

Elies wanted to disappear. The last thing she wanted was to be the center of this ridiculous spectacle, especially with Tiffany glaring daggers at her. She was about to make a break for it when Damien caught her hand, preventing her escape.

“We’re just getting started, Elies,” he murmured, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “Better get used to it.”

As if she had any choice. She looked up at him, torn between anger and the confusing pull of his gaze. Part of her wanted to scream at him, to tell him to let her go, but another part couldn’t deny the strange thrill of being the focus of his attention.

He released her hand but kept his gaze on her, daring her to say something. She glared at him, her voice trembling with frustration. “You’re not serious, are you?”

He shrugged, giving her a lazy grin. “Guess you’ll have to stick around and find out.”

With that, he turned on his heel, leaving her standing there, surrounded by a crowd of stunned students. She felt every eye on her, every whisper directed at her, and she knew that her life would never be the same after this.

As Damien disappeared down the hallway, she clenched her fists, her heart pounding with a mix of anger and confusion. She didn’t understand his motives, didn’t know why he had chosen to single her out in this way. But one thing was clear: Damien was determined to make her life a whirlwind of chaos.

And as much as she hated to admit it, a part of her couldn’t help but feel exhilarated by the storm he had unleashed.