Majority of the seats were occupied, leaving me to settle into the nearest empty one. Almost immediately, I sensed eyes on me, accompanied by hushed whispers circulating throughout the room.
"Is she crazy? Why is she sitting in his seat?" a girl muttered. "Someone hurry, get the new girl before she pisses him off," another person whispered. It seemed everyone was doing a poor job at keeping their voices down. I couldn't help but wonder about the mysterious "he" they were referring to. Unaware of any assigned seats, I decided to relocate to the unoccupied seat next to me, especially since everyone appeared strangely concerned. In a scene reminiscent of a teen drama, the atmosphere shifted as I rose from my seat. The door swung open, revealing a face both familiar and unfamiliar—the same guy from the picture in Principal Greene's office. Dressed in a snug grey T-shirt and dark denim jeans, he moved with a confidence that demanded attention. His arrival echoed like a silent proclamation, and as his eyes swept across the room, it seemed as though he possessed the ability to draw the very air from its confines. An undeniable magnetism radiated from him, holding everyone's gaze. Uncertain whether it was my imagination or the surge of teenage hormones, my entire body tingled as his gaze locked onto mine. Approaching without breaking the intense eye contact, he spoke in a deep, velvety voice, "Princess, you're in my seat." His hazel eyes, the most beautiful I had ever seen, held a captivating allure. I glanced down, realizing I was so busy checking him out, I hadn't moved to another seat like I planned to. Blood rushed to my cheeks. "Sorry, I didn't realize this was your seat. I was just getting up to move," I mumbled. He smiled, his captivating smile making my heart skip a beat. "No, it's okay, you can sit there," he replied, casually taking the seat next to me. His eyes lingered on me, and his gaze carried an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine, making my body feel hot and sweaty. Seriously, what was up with this guy? And why was I so flustered around him?Suddenly, the teacher rushed in as the late bell rang, a tall and lean man with ivory skin. "Good morning, class. I hope everyone had a good weekend. Today will be simple. We'll be starting the next play on our curriculum, Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. Read Act one, and then the rest of class time will be yours." As he settled at his desk, burying his face in his arms, I couldn't help but assume that he must have had a very good weekend himself. Hey, at least he didn't make me stand in front of the class and introduce myself. I would've died from embarrassment. Great, I thought. I've already read the book at my last school. It was the one where the son murdered his dad and slept with his mom or something like that. I decided to refresh my memory with some online notes. I tried to focus on studying, but I could still feel the hot, popular guy's heated gaze on me. After a few awkward minutes of silence, I cleared my throat and met his persistent stare. He showed no signs of looking away, evidently unconcerned about appearing like a complete creep. "Um, hi, can I help you with something?" I asked, irritation seeping in my tone. His lips curled into a playful smirk, revealing deep dimples that seemed to carve into his cheeks like craters. "Nope, I'm just admiring the beauty in front of me," he said, his hazel eyes locking onto mine with a magnetic intensity. "What's your name, princess?" There goes that nickname again. Princess. It sent a shiver down my spine, and my entire body seemed to catch fire. "Angelique," I managed to respond in a hushed tone, uncertain if he caught my name amid the chaotic beating of my heart. "Angelique," he purred, his voice a sensuous melody, "a perfect name for someone as enchantingly beautiful as you are." My name rolled off his tongue like velvet, each syllable caressing the air. Holy shit, was it hot in here, or was it just me? "Uh, thanks. What's yours?" I inquired, capturing my bottom lip between my teeth. His gaze fixated on the subtle movement, and he moistened his lips with a slow, deliberate flick of his tongue, sending heat straight to my core. "Dante Greene. I'm surprised you haven't heard about me," he said, his eyes dancing with amusement, as if he could sense the effect he had on me. Could you imagine? I would literally die right now if he knew why I kept shifting in my seat. Gushes of heat were currently pooling in my underwear like a relentless waterfall, and the more he spoke and stared at me like a predator locked on its prey, the more intense it got. Ugh, teenage hormones. No one has ever made me feel this way; I don't know what the hell has gotten into me!"I've literally been here for like five minutes, so no, I haven't heard about how popular you are, Mr. Dante," I replied, trying to be irritated by his cockiness, but really, it was doing strange, wonderful things to my body. The coy smile remains on his face. "Damn, what a pity. I usually don't have to talk myself up." "Yeah, I'm sure I probably would've heard about how girls just start tearing their clothes off when you walk into a room, huh?" I teased, raising an eyebrow. I wonder if I'd be one of those girls. No. Stop. I'm not thirsty like that! He chuckled lightly. "You know, that really doesn't happen as often as you think it would." I feign a pout. "Aww, I'm sorry to hear that." By now, I'd completely ditched the classwork and my full attention was on him. It was a first for me, actually having a guy pay attention. I'm usually the quiet, nerdy girl who sits at the front of the class and doesn't make friends. So, his genuine interest piqued my curiosity. I coul
We walked all the way across campus to get to my study hall. I insisted that Jasmine head to her own class to avoid being late, yet deep down, I genuinely appreciated her walking alongside me. She marked the beginning of genuine friendship in this new environment, where it felt like everyone else kept their distance as if I had a contagious disease or something.After thanking her, I entered the classroom and chose a seat towards the back. With no homework to occupy my time, I found myself overthinking about various aspects of my life. I planned to interrogate my father when he picked me up from school; evidently, we had a lot to discuss. I was also terrified that I couldn't shake Dante from my thoughts. The emotions that lingered after he walked away left me with a sense of cold emptiness, a feeling that seemed irrational considering he was just a stranger I had one conversation with. I couldn't stop thinking about how soft his lips would be against mine. How it would feel to run my
Suddenly, I felt this strange pull. My gaze shifted towards the entrance of the cafeteria to see Dante and a group of tall, muscular guys walking in. His eyes once again immediately locked with mine, as if he, too, sensed the peculiar connection. Butterflies danced wildly in my stomach as I blushed and quickly looked away. Crossing my fingers underneath the table, I hoped they weren't headed in our direction.My breath caught in my throat as I watch all of them strolling across the room and settling down at our table. Dante positioned himself directly across from me. I subtly shifted in an unnatural position, intentionally avoiding eye contact with him, even though, if given the chance, I could have stared into his beautiful eyes all day. They reminded me of spring—a blend of fresh earth and leaves on a tree. "Hey Dante," Peach purred, her voice carrying a hint of seduction. Uncertain if it was my imagination, I observed the exchange.He doesn't even look in her direction. "Peach," he
Dante stared at me with intensity as he settled back into his seat. I averted my gaze, desperately hoping that Jasmine would dismiss the incident. The last thing I wanted was for her to assume I was hitting on her brother, especially not in front of her.Maybe it would help if he would stop staring at me like that! I exclaimed in my head.After a prolonged and awkward silence, Jasmine suddenly burst into giggles. "Bestie, be careful next time. You could've caught an STD or something.""Jasmine," he warned in a low voice, his tone stern.She put her hands up innocently, and Peach and Mya silently returned to their seats beside her. "Sorry, bro, I was just kidding," Jasmine apologized with a playful smile.I frowned. I recognized her jest, yet there was an underlying truth to it; she was hinting at the long list of girls he had been with. The idea of him desiring someone else and being in past relationships unexpectedly tugged at my heartstrings for some inexplicable reason.I shook my
Once we got to class, we sat at the same large, wooden table. My eyes remained glued to the clock as the bell rang, signaling the beginning of the class. Ms. James, the first teacher to ever make me introduce myself, called me to my feet. I awkwardly announced my name, giving a hesitant wave, desperately wishing to disappear off the face of the planet as everyone stared at me. Returning to my seat, I listened as she went over the details of the paper we were required to complete on our laptops.It was a pretty simple assignment, identifying lobes of the brain and their functions. I could easily finish it before I left for my special trip to the bathroom. Exactly twenty minutes later, I submitted my work, and with excitement coursing through me, I informed Ms. Jones that I needed to use the bathroom. Her peculiar look made me want to die of embarrassment again, especially when she advised me that next time, I could just go. Thankfully, no one seemed to hear or care about the awkward co
For the remainder of the school day, I remained silent. Jasmine asked me once if I was okay, but other than that, she spent the entire class gossiping with Peach and Mya. It didn't bother me at all, as I was busy pondering what happened with Dante. When the last bell of the day rang, I walked outside with the girls and waved goodbye to them before waiting by the curb for my dad to come pick me up. After fifteen minutes of feeling like an idiot, standing around as the school cleared out, I sent a text: Dad, did you forget what time I get out of school? I'm waiting on you... He replied after ten agonizing minutes: Oh shit. Sorry honey, I can't pick you up today. Super busy. Hope you can find another ride. I stared at my phone in disbelief. Was he fucking serious? After he guilted me into letting him drive me to school this morning? I texted back a simple "K" and put my phone back in my pocket. Anything else I said to him wouldn't come out nice. I sighed deeply, glancing arou
I continued to gnaw on my lip, the metallic tang of blood hitting my taste buds. I had never been in a guy's car, and certainly didn't expect it to be Dante's. A pang of anxiety struck me, imagining how livid Jasmine would be about this. Although I was lowkey freaking out, a comfortable silence filled the car as he maneuvered through traffic. I hadn't even shared my address, so I was uncertain where Dante was driving. Breaking the quiet, he asked, "Were you really going to walk home?" His voice carried a subtle edge, as if he were trying to contain his anger. "Yeah... my dad was supposed to pick me up, but he bailed." I sighed, the weight of frustration evident in my voice. Tensing his jaw, he asks sternly, "You have my number, why didn't you text me?" My eyes widened at his question. "We just met, there's no way I would've done that. I'd rather walk than become someone's else's burden-" "Burden? You'd never be a burden to me, Princess," he grits out. "You said we could
I spent the rest of the day consumed by thoughts of Dante. He seemed perfect in every way, yet the harsh reality loomed—he was Jasmine's brother. The fear of jeopardizing my friendship with her and the unspoken bond between siblings kept us apart. It felt as though avoiding each other was the only solution, but that seemed impossible. I longed for more than just friendship; I wanted to be everything to him.As midnight approached, there was still no sign of my dad. A simple text about his late return was the only communication. Worries gnawed at me, hoping he was safe. What kind of mechanic shop stayed open this late anyway?I was exhausted, but I refused to go to bed until I knew he was home safe. Restlessness consumed me, and in an attempt to distract myself, I succumbed to the alluring call of the wooded area behind our house. It might have been a reckless idea, but the mysterious woods had beckoned to me since the day we moved here. Surely, it couldn't be that dangerous. With hous