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CHAPTER NINE

Author: Yasmin
last update Last Updated: 2025-01-15 03:01:46

LARA

I couldn’t believe I’d just done that. My heart was still racing as I pushed the bathroom door open, retreating to the privacy of a stall. I locked the door behind me and leaned against the cold tile, trying to breathe through the tension still thrumming in my chest.

What the hell was I thinking?

I’d just marched up to Hades like I knew him—like I had any right to question him, to confront him. He didn’t owe me anything. We’d barely spoken, barely exchanged more than a few words, and yet there I was, standing up to him like I had some moral high ground.

It wasn’t like me. I wasn’t confrontational. I didn’t do drama. So why the hell did I feel the need to do that with him?

I gripped the sink, staring into the mirror. Get it together, Lara.

He’s just another guy at this school, and you barely know him. Don’t act like you have any right to care about what he does or why he’s acting the way he is. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, though. His silence, the way he seemed to pull away—there was more to him than just the aloof exterior he wore. But that didn’t give me the right to barge in and demand answers.

He’s not your problem, Lara.

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to calm down. I didn’t know what it was, but something about Hades triggered a feeling in me I couldn’t ignore. Maybe it was the way he kept pushing people away, or the way he seemed so untouchable. But I shouldn’t care. I shouldn’t be trying to get into his head. I wasn’t some therapist. I wasn’t his friend. I didn’t even know him.

I heard the door swing open, the click of heels echoing against the bathroom tiles. Gianna. Of course.

I straightened up, trying to compose myself before she saw me spiraling. But as soon as she stepped inside, I heard her laughing.

“Okay, seriously, Lara.” Her voice was light, playful, but there was a teasing edge to it. I could already imagine the mischievous grin on her face. “What was that all about? You really laid into him.”

I sighed and leaned against the stall door, not sure whether I should laugh with her or scowl. “I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice sounding small. “I don’t know what came over me. He just... I don’t know. He’s such a jerk.”

Gianna chuckled, her footsteps getting closer. “You really do have a thing for the bad boys, don’t you?”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes, though I felt a flush of heat rise in my cheeks. “I don’t! I don’t even know why I’m so... fixated on him. He’s an asshole.”

She snorted. “Oh, come on. Don’t tell me you didn’t feel that little spark when he looked at you. You two were like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.” She laughed again, clearly amused by my internal conflict.

“No,” I said quickly, though my voice didn’t sound as convincing as I’d hoped. “It’s not like that. He’s just... so cold. He doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

Gianna paused, her laughter dying down as she looked at me thoughtfully. “You know, that’s the thing with you, Lara. You keep thinking that just because someone pushes you away, you should chase them. But maybe that’s exactly what they want—someone to chase them. You’re smart, but sometimes you can be a little too... persistent. You’ve got to let people figure their own shit out.”

I nodded, taking in her words, though part of me was still unsure. “I just don’t get why he’s so... shut off. He’s not like everyone else here. There’s something different about him, and I don’t know why I care so much.”

Gianna leaned against the sink, crossing her arms. “Maybe you just like the challenge. Or maybe he’s got some hidden depth you’re dying to crack open. Either way, you’re way too wrapped up in it, and you need to dial it back a little. Trust me, you don’t want to end up chasing some guy who clearly doesn’t want anything to do with you.”

I knew she was right, even if I didn’t want to admit it. But there was this nagging feeling in my chest that I couldn’t shake. It wasn’t just about Hades. It was about how he made me feel—like I was trying to get to something real in a place full of fake people.

“I guess,” I murmured, trying to convince myself. “But I don’t know how to just let it go.”

Gianna’s tone softened, and she uncrossed her arms. “Lara, you don’t have to fix everyone. And you definitely don’t have to try to crack some guy open who’s not ready for it. You’re better than that.”

I nodded again, though the doubts still lingered. She wasn’t wrong, and I didn’t want to be the girl who chased after someone who wasn’t interested. But something about the way Hades kept pushing people away made me want to get closer, to understand him. I just couldn’t figure out why.

Gianna eyed me with a grin. “Alright, let’s get back to class. You’ve got a whole day to go without getting all up in Hades’s business.” She raised her eyebrows at me playfully. “Unless, of course, you’re planning to do some more confronting.”

I rolled my eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. “No more confronting. Promise.”

“Good.” Gianna winked at me before turning to leave. “And remember, Lara, it’s high school. Don’t let some guy get in your head. You’re too good for that.”

As I watched her walk out, I felt a mix of relief and frustration. She was right. I knew that. But no matter how hard I tried to convince myself otherwise, I couldn’t stop thinking about Hades and the weird pull he had over me.

Why can’t I just leave it alone?

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