The next morning, the classroom hummed with the sound of students settling into their seats. Elies walked in, clutching her books, and immediately spotted Damien already seated in her usual spot, casually leaning back like he owned the place. She sighed. The day hadn’t even started, and he was already testing her patience.“Good morning, Sunshine,” Damien greeted, flashing his usual smirk.“Don’t call me that,” Elies muttered, sitting beside him. She tried to ignore his presence, but that was easier said than done when Damien’s aura seemed to dominate the room.Before she could say anything else, the teacher, Mr. Roberts, entered the classroom carrying a stack of papers. He placed them on his desk with a loud thud, silencing the chatter in the room.“Good morning, class,” he began, adjusting his glasses. “Today, we’re starting an important project. It’s worth 40% of your final grade.”The room erupted into murmurs. Students exchanged anxious looks, and a few even groaned.Mr. Roberts r
Jake leaned back in his chair, a playful grin stretching across his face as he watched Janna settle into the seat beside him. The teacher’s words still echoed through the classroom: “The person beside you is your partner for the project.”Janna glanced sideways, catching Jake’s smirk. “Why you smiling like that?” she asked, raising a brow. Jake shrugged. “Just thinking how lucky I am to be paired with the prettiest girl in class.” Janna scoffed but couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at her lips. “Flattery won’t get you out of doing your share of the project.” He leaned closer, resting his chin on his hand. “Who said I’m trying to get out of anything? Maybe I just want to spend more time with you.” “Yeah, right,” Janna rolled her eyes. “Bet you say that to every girl.” Jake chuckled. “Nah, you’re special.” She shook her head, biting back a laugh. “Smooth talker.” Mr. Roberts clapped his hands from the front of the classroom. “Everyone! Focus on discussing your project
The morning air buzzed with excitement as Elie’s parked her car in the school parking lot. She grabbed her bag and adjusted her jacket, preparing for another long day. As she walked toward her first class, she couldn’t help but notice the unusual amount of chatter coming from every direction. Groups of students huddled together, whispering and giggling, their eyes sparkling with curiosity. Elie’s frowned, wondering what all the fuss was about. Near the school’s entrance, two girls were talking loudly, clearly too excited to keep their voices down. **“Did you hear? She’s finally coming today!”** one girl squealed, practically bouncing with excitement. **“I know, right?”** her friend chimed in. **“Her father owns part of the school. Can you imagine being that rich and beautiful?”** Elie’s slowed her pace, straining to catch more of their conversation. *Who are they talking about?* As she neared the school hallway, Chris appeared beside her, wearing his usual laid-back smirk.
Elie’s stormed out of the cafeteria, her mind swirling with unwanted thoughts. Her feet carried her toward the quiet school courtyard as she tried to push away the image of Bianca smiling at Damien, her heart pounding despite her attempts to stay calm. Just as she reached a shaded bench under a large oak tree, she heard hurried footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw Janna jogging toward her, looking concerned and slightly out of breath. **“Elie’s!”** Janna called, waving her hand. **“Wait up!”** Elie’s groaned inwardly but stood still, knowing she couldn’t avoid her best friend forever. **“Why did you run out like that?”** Janna asked, panting as she finally reached her. **“What’s going on?”** Elie’s crossed her arms defensively, shifting her gaze to the ground. **“Nothing’s going on. I just... needed some air.”** Janna narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. **“Air? Really? You were perfectly fine before Bianca walked in.”** Elie’s scoffed, avoiding her gaze. **“Her show
The classroom buzzed with excitement and nervous energy as students prepared to present their projects. Mr. Robert, their literature teacher, stood at the front, clipboard in hand. His sharp gaze scanned the room.“Alright, class,” he announced. “Today, you’ll be presenting your projects. Each pair has ten minutes to present and defend their work. Impress me.”The students exchanged anxious glances. Elie’s tapped her pen nervously while Damien, seated beside her, appeared perfectly relaxed, twirling a pencil between his fingers.“We’ve got this,” Damien whispered, noticing her tension.Elie’s nodded, still unconvinced.First Pair: Chris and Tiffany“Chris and Tiffany, you’re up,” Mr. Robert called.Chris and Tiffany rose from their seats, walking confidently to the front. Tiffany adjusted her flawless hair, flashing a dazzling smile.“Our project is on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, focusing on how impulsive decisions led to tragedy,” Tiffany began, her voice clear and steady.Chris
Elie’s walked into the school parking lot, her mind swirling with anticipation. Today was the day Mr. Carter would announce the results of their project presentations. As much as she hated to admit it, she was nervous. She adjusted her bag and headed toward her first class, trying to suppress the uneasy feeling in her chest.From the corner of her eye, she saw Damien approaching from across the school grounds. He walked with his usual confident stride, his hands casually tucked into his pockets, exuding effortless charm."Hey, partner," Damien greeted smoothly as he fell into step beside her. "You look like you’re about to sit for another test. Nervous about our results?"Elie’s gave a small, tense laugh. "A little... I just hope we did well."Damien smirked. "Hope? Seriously? We crushed that project. You’ve got me as your partner—there’s no way we’re not getting a perfect score."She rolled her eyes. "You and your oversized ego...""Confidence," he corrected with a wink. "Trust me, M
The school courtyard buzzed with activity as Damien sat with his group of friends at their usual hangout spot near the basketball court. His closest friends included Jake, the charming prankster; Ryan, the athletic captain of the soccer team; Lucas, the tech genius with a quiet but intense aura; and Caleb, the smooth-talking ladies’ man. Together, they were known as the “Elite Five” — admired, envied, and practically untouchable. Jake playfully tossed a basketball between his hands. **“So, who’s ready for the game after class? We’re totally crushing them.”** Caleb smirked. **“As long as you don’t miss another free throw like last time.”** Jake laughed. **“I was distracted! Not my fault the cheer squad was practicing right behind the hoop.”** Ryan rolled his eyes. **“Excuses.”** Just then, Bianca approached with her usual air of confidence. Her long blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her perfectly styled outfit turned heads as she made her way toward the boys. **“He
Bianca sat with a forced smile plastered on her face, surrounded by Damien’s friends—Caleb, Lucas, Jake, and Ryan—while Damien himself was noticeably absent. She had watched him walk off toward Elie’s without a second thought, leaving her standing there, humiliated. Caleb smirked, leaning back casually. **“So... that didn’t go as planned, huh, Bianca?”** Bianca’s jaw clenched, but she maintained her composure. **“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”** Lucas chuckled. **“Come on, we all saw it. You were laying it on thick, talking about that gala. Thought you had him hooked... until Elie’s walked by.”** Bianca’s fists tightened on her lap, nails digging into her palms. **“Damien was just being polite. He’s coming to the gala. He said he’d think about it.”** Ryan raised an eyebrow. **“Yeah... after ditching you to run after Elie’s. Face it, Bee, you’re not his priority.”** Her smile faltered for a split second before she covered it with a cool laugh. **“Damien and I ha
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