Carcel Evander Dawson

The moment Kalila disappeared inside, Marco stepped back out, the door shutting behind him. He didn't look at me right away. Instead, he exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face as if trying to calm himself. But the second his eyes locked onto mine, any pretense of control was gone.

"What the hell did you do to her?" His voice was sharp, edged with accusation.

My jaw clenched. The sheer audacity of the question sent a surge of heat up my spine. My hands curled into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms. It would've been so easy to swing. To shut him up with one well-placed hit. But I won't.

"Watch your mouth," I warned, my voice low.

But Marco wasn't backing down. "Why is she this drunk?" he pressed. "And where the hell were her friends? Why are you the one bringing her home?"

I could've explained. I could've told him how her friends had been too wasted to take care of her. How Ashton had been the one to pull her out of the club before handing her over to me. But the way Marco was looking at me—like I owed him something—had my patience snapping.

"Why the hell would I explain myself to you?" My voice was low, calm.

"Because I'm her brother."

I huffed a laugh, amused by the sheer delusion he had. "Brother?" I let the word  roll off my tongue slowly, letting the weight of my disbelief sink in. "Yeah that's cute, and a complete bullshit."

His entire body tensed, his hands twitching like he was ready to swing. 

"You act like you have some sacred right to her," I went on, stepping closer, my smirk widening as his jaw clenched. "Like she belongs to you in some way. But let me tell you something, your little act? It's pathetic. It's desperate. And it sure as hell isn't brotherly."

I could see it—the flicker of recognition in his eyes. The unspoken truth he tried so hard to bury beneath that protective, overbearing front.

"Kalila might be too naive to see it, but I'm not." I tilted my head, letting my voice drop into something quieter, "And if I can see it, how long do you think it'll take before she does?"

His breathing turned sharp, erratic. His teeth clenched so tight I thought they might crack.

"I don't give a shit what you think," he gritted out. "You're nothing but a huge nuisance to her."

That's when I smirked. "And you're nothing but a coward."

His punch came fast. My head snapped to the side, pain splitting through my jaw as I stumbled back. My lip split, the metallic taste of blood thick on my tongue, but I didn't fight back. Instead, I steadied myself, running my tongue over the wound before spitting onto the pavement. Then, slowly, I lifted my gaze back to his.

Raising my hands in surrender, I let out a low chuckle. "Feel better?"

Marco's breathing was ragged, his fists still clenched like he wanted to go another round. But he didn't move. He was waiting for me to punch back.

I didn't.

Instead, I wiped the blood from my mouth stood straight up and leveled him with a look. "You think you're protecting her, but you're the one who's going to end up hurting her. So, yeah keep up the act buddy."

His shoulders tensed, his entire body vibrating with restrained fury. But I wasn't done.

"I like Kalila, and I'm not playing." I said, my voice steady. "And if you actually gave a damn about her—as the brother you claim to be—then I'll assure you, you could beat me to death if I ever do anything to hurt her. But if she ever gets hurt because of you, I won't just stand here and take the next punch."

"And that's why I've got this busted lip." I grumbled, sinking into the sofa. Skipping my next class felt like the best decision I'd made all day. My jaw ached. My lip throbbed and my mind was exhausted, as I tell the whole damn story.

Crue, lounging on the armrest, smirked at me. "Wow, I've gotta say, I'm impressed you held back."

I exhaled through my nose, letting my head fall back against the cushion. "Well it wasn't exactly easy," I admitted without hesitation. "But Kalila would've made me apologize if I left him limping." My fingers curled into a loose fist. "I can't say no to her... and I'd rather get hit by a car than apologize to him."

Crue burst out laughing, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're becoming a different person, man. I swear." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "That night we barged into your place and you admitted you had feelings for Kalila—I thought it was just some passing thing. But damn." He smirked like he was witnessing something unreal. "Even Gerald went mute. The whole night, he couldn't believe it."

"But let's be real," Crue's tone shifted, his expression turning serious. "You know that  Kalila's the one who's gonna deal with the worst of it, right? Your fiancée, the whole school—"

"Ciel already knows."

Crue froze. "What?"

I leaned back, utterly unbothered. "I told her myself."

Crue narrowed his eyes. "If she knows, then why are you so calm about it?"

I smirked. "Ciel wouldn't do anything reckless as long as I'm here, and I'll make sure it stays that way."

Crue studied me for a long moment. Then, he let out a slow exhale. "It's like dealing with a ticking time bomb."

"Your right," I said flatly. "But this will end soon anyway." But my focus shifted. "What I need from you is to keep the rumors in check. I don't know how Kalila feels about the entire school knowing, and I'm not about to let her deal with that kind of bullshit."

Crue dragged a hand down his face, already looking exhausted. "Yeah, yeah, I got it. I'll make sure none of that happens."

We barely had a second to breathe before the door slammed open so hard the walls rattled. My first thought—it had to be a shooter. Crue and I sprang to our feet, our instinct kicked in, ready to fight in an instant.

But it wasn't a shooter.

It was Evara.

And at this point, I'd rather take my chances with a shooter than deal with her. She marched in like a goddamn hurricane, dragging Gerald by the ear as he flailed in protest. "Ow! Damn it, Ev, let go!"

She ignored him. Her fiery gaze locked onto me, her voice sharp as a blade. "Gerald told me you had feelings for Kalila. You shameless bastard. Start talking." she drop Gerald to the ground like a piece of trash. 

I shot a glare at Gerald. For a split second, he looked like he actually feared for his life. "I only told Evara! Swear on my life!"

"Crue," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "Get him out of here before I kill him." 

Crue didn't hesitate. He grabbed Gerald by the collar, dragging him toward the door. "Come on, dumbass." The door slammed shut behind them, leaving me alone with Evara.

"Sit down," I said, already bracing for impact. The tension in the air crackled, and I wouldn't have been surprised if she slapped me right then and there. 

But Evara didn't move. She stood firm, arms locked tightly across her chest, her glare was so intense it's actually making me nervous. "Either you explain everything to me right now, or I will personally make sure Kalila never sees you again."

The tone of her voice made me spoke the truth. "It's true." I met her gaze head-on. "I have feelings for Kalila. And she knows." 

A heavy silence followed, stretching unbearably between us. For the first time, I saw her express an emotion other than anger, even if only for a fraction of a second. Her lips parted, but no immediate words came. The intensity in her eyes wavered, and something unspoken settled into the lines of her face. When she finally spoke, her voice wasn't the same Evara I was used to—it was quiet, unsteady, and like she was about to cry.

"She's already been through enough in her life," Evara continued, her voice thick with frustration, concern, and maybe even fear. "Do you have any idea what Ciel is capable of? Do you remember the hell she put me and my best friend through back in high school?" Her fists clenched at her sides. "Kalila doesn't deserve to be caught up in something like that."

I had already expected this. From the moment I accepted my own feelings, I knew Evara wouldn't want me anywhere near Kalila's life. And honestly, I understood.

I couldn't stop the problems that would inevitably come from this—I wasn't naïve enough to think otherwise. But that didn't mean I would walk away. I wasn't some saint, willing to sacrifice my own feelings for the sake of Kalila's peace. And I had no intention of becoming one.

Maybe my feelings would be an inconvenience for Kalila. Maybe they would complicate things in ways neither of us were prepared for. But one thing I knew for certain—they would also protect her. I'll make sure of that.

I met Evara's glare head-on. "I'm not blind to what Ciel can do. But that's exactly why I won't step back and leave Kalila." 

"Look, I know you're not thrilled about this," I said, my voice quieter but steady. "But you can't stop me from liking her—it's like asking me not to drink water after wandering through a desert. It's not a choice. It's a force of nature, and neither you, or Kalila have the power to stop it."

Evara didn't waver. Her expression remained firm. "It doesn't matter," she said finally. "Kalila would never give you a chance. Not when she knows you're engaged."

I didn't even blink. "I've been trying to break off the engagement long before I realized I liked her."

Evara scoffed. "And does she know that?"

"Not yet." My jaw tightened. "But she will."

She raise an eyebrow, questioning me again "Does Ciel knows it?" 

I shake my head in response. A loud silence stretched between us again. Then, after what felt like an eternity, Evara exhaled sharply. "Fine. Do what you want." She turned toward the door but paused, her voice dropping into something far more serious. "But if I see even a hint of pain in her, I won't hesitate to pull her away from you. Even if it means transferring her to another school."

She didn't wait for my response. The door shut behind her.

Well, that fucking drain the living life out of me.

My head throbbed, a dull, relentless pounding that only grew worse the longer I sat in this room. I exhaled slowly, dragging a hand down my face. Every muscle in my body felt tense, like I'd been holding something in without realizing it.

I needed air.

Pushing up from the couch, I ran a hand through my hair and made my way outside. I didn't know where I was headed—all I knew was that I needed air—and that damn soft, intoxicating vanilla amber scent.

I took out my phone and dialed Kalila's number. It rang once before going straight to voicemail, my brows knitting together in confusion. I tried again—same result. By the fourth attempt, a slow chuckle escaped me.

So that's how it was.

She's still mad and instead of confronting me about it, she was avoiding me again like she always does. I shook my head, slipping my phone back into my pocket. If she thought, she could keep playing games with me, she had another thing coming.

I made my way straight to the annex admin office, pushing through the doors with a casual stride, keeping my pace steady and walked like I normally would. But the moment I stepped inside, every head turned and the room fell into an eerie silence.

Faculty and staff stared at me like they'd seen a ghost—or like they were reliving something they weren't prepared for. Their reactions didn't faze me. I ignored the stares and walked up to the nearest desk, making myself comfortable like I had all the time in the world.

An admin approached, hesitant but professional. "Mr. Dawson," she greeted, her voice polite yet cautious. "Is there something we can help you with?"

I tilted my head slightly. "Do you know who I am?"

The admin's smile didn't falter. "Of course."

"Good," I said smoothly. "Then I'll cut to the chase. Is it possible to get a student's class schedule?"

The smile slipped, her expression shifting into something more guarded. "I'm sorry, but that kind of information isn't publicly available. Unless it's an emergency, we can't disclose a student's schedule."

I leaned forward slightly, lowering my voice just enough to sound urgent—but not desperate. "It is an emergency."

The admin's posture straightened. "What kind of emergency?"

"I left my credit card with her," I lied effortlessly. "And I cant call her because my phone is busted."

Her brows lifted slightly, but she didn't question it. In fact, she looked relieved, as if that explanation made perfect sense. "Oh, in that case, I can call her to the office for you."

I shook my head. "That won't be necessary. I'll just go to her."

She hesitated for a second before asking, "May I ask the name of the student?"

"It's Kalila Hart," I answered smoothly, not missing a beat.

Her brows twitched slightly, but she said nothing as she finally checked Kalila's schedule. "She has a free period right now. Her next class starts in thirty minutes."

I hummed in acknowledgment, but the answer wasn't enough. I leaned back slightly, my voice smooth. "Would it be possible for me to take a look at the schedule myself? Just to be sure?"

She got that hesitating look again but she eventually gave in. "Alright, but make it quick."

That was all I needed. I scanned the screen, committing every detail to memory in a matter of seconds before flashing her a grateful smile. "Got it. Thanks." I flash everyone a polite smile, and stepped out of the room without another word.

Now that I knew she wasn't in the annex, I went through my options. Cafeteria? Too far. Quad? Definitely not—she hated crowds. That left the library. Specifically, Evara's workspace. Evara was probably still in class in the main building right now, but I knew Kalila had access to the space. I'd been there with her before, seen her enter without issue.

So, I went.

The hallway leading to the workspace was quiet. Too quiet. I reached the door and knocked casually, stuffing one hand into my pocket as I waited.

The door cracked open slightly, and then—there she was.

Kalila.

Her eyes widened the moment she saw me, surprise flickering across her face before it morphed into something colder and then, without hesitation—she tried to slam the door shut.

I reacted instantly, shoving my foot into the gap before it could close completely. A slow smirk tugged at my lips. "Really?" I mused. 

She scowled but didn't say a word, her hands still gripping the door like she was contemplating whether she could actually overpower me and shove me out.

She couldn't.

I watched the way her shoulders tensed, the way her fingers curled tighter around the wood. Finally, I exhaled, tilting my head slightly. "I've been looking for you."

"No shit."

I huffed out a quiet laugh. "Why are you ignoring my calls?"

Kalila met my gaze, her eyes sharp, unrelenting. "Well, if you consider being blocked a form of avoidance then yes—yes I am."

I nodded, pretending to consider that. "Alright. Then I guess I'll just have to stick around until you decide to talk to me."

Her jaw clenched, irritation flickering across her face. "Or you could take the hint and leave."

"Not happening."

She exhaled sharply through her nose. "Carcel—"

I took a step closer, closing the space between us just enough to throw her off balance. Her breath hitched slightly, barely noticeable—but I caught it.

My voice dropped, lower, softer. "Are you really that mad at me?"

She blinked, like she wasn't expecting the question. Her lips parted, but no words came out. I watched the way her defenses wavered, just for a second, before she caught herself and straightened her spine.

"Yes," she muttered. "And I don't want to talk to you."

"Too bad," I murmured. "Because I'm not leaving."

With her patience wearing thin, she sighed deeply and stepped aside. "You know what, fine. Let's get this over with."

She turned and walked inside, and I followed, my eyes instinctively drawn to her ponytail swaying with each step. It was almost distracting—adorable, even. But this time, I didn't dare pull out her hair tie. I wasn't stupid enough to get another slap from her. 

She sat down on the farthest side of the couch, pulling the blanket closer around her. She looked comfortable—too cozy—and I couldn't help but smile. Settling into the opposite end, I leaned back, crossing my legs, only to find her already glaring at me.

I lifted a brow. "What?"

She let out a slow breath and lifted her chin slightly. "Go on. TALK."

I smirked, unfazed, because watching her burn holes into my face didn't feel so bad. I wanted her to get angry, to glare at me with so much intensity that, in the end, her own system would crave my presence.

"For God's sake, Carcel, what do you actually want from me?"

I leaned forward slightly, resting my elbows on my knees. "I think you already know."

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "No."

That was it. Just one word. No hesitation. No explanation. Just a straight-up rejection.

I let out a low chuckle, shaking my head. "You're turning me down when you haven't even given me a chance yet? That doesn't seem fair."

She huffed, gripping the blanket tighter around herself. "I don't need to give you a chance to know this isn't going to work."

"And why's that?"

She scoffed, tilting her head like the answer was obvious. "You really want me to spell it out? Fine. First, you're a Dawson. I have no idea why it has to be me when there are probably tons of girls lined up just to get your attention. Second, you don't think things through. Your so-called feelings for me might disappear by tomorrow—I don't fucking know—and I refuse to be collateral damage in whatever impulsive decision you make next. Third, your looks can't even compensate for your attitude."

I watched her with amusement as her face flushed with color and letting her words settle between us, but she wasn't done.

"And lastly—" Her gaze darkened. "You're engaged."

Ah. There it was.

I exhaled slowly, running my tongue over my teeth. "So, if I wasn't engaged, would you give me a chance?"

Her brows furrowed, but she didn't answer right away. That hesitation was enough to make my lips twitch.

"It doesn't matter," she finally said. "Because you are."

I leaned back against the couch, studying her. "You're using that as an excuse."

Her eyes flashed with irritation. "It's not an excuse, it's a fact."

"Maybe," I conceded. "But you and I both know my engagement means nothing. It's not real."

She tensed. "It's real enough for me."

I chuckled. "You're pushing me away, Kalila." Her eyes were darting away from my gaze. "But I'm telling you now—you can reject me all you want. That's not going to stop me."

Her jaw clenched. "That sounds like a you problem."

I smirked. "Oh no, bunny. It's a you problem." I pointed at her.  " Because the more you try to run from this, the more I'm going to chase you."

She sucked in a sharp breath, glaring at me like she wanted to throw something at my head. "You're definitely a piece of shit."

"And you're adorable when you're mad."

Her fingers twitched around the blanket, probably fighting the urge to strangle me with it. I chuckled even more, reaching out to tug a loose thread on the fabric.

"You're warm now," I mused.

She narrowed her eyes. "So?"

I grinned. "So, I should get a reward for keeping you company."

Before she could react, I reached out and flicked the tip of her nose.

Her mouth fell open. "Did you just—"

I leaned back, utterly smug. "Yeah? And what are you gonna do about it, huh?"

Her face turned red—whether from embarrassment or rage, I wasn't sure. Maybe both.

"You are so—"

"Charming?" I offered.

She groaned, shoving the blanket over her head as if she could block me out entirely. I laughed softly, watching as her ears turned pink beneath the fabric.

Then, in a quiet voice, she muttered, "I'm not coming to your apartment anymore. Orion will have to find someone else to feed him because I don't want to see you again."

That wiped the smirk off my face.

I watched her for a long moment, my jaw tightening slightly. But then, as she stood up to leave, I leaned forward, voice dropping lower. "Kalila you know, that's not going to happen."

She ignored me, taking a step toward the door.

I exhaled sharply. "Unblock me."

She halted, her back still facing me, but she didn't turn around. Her shoulder tensed like she was about to scream back at me, but she just walked out, closing the door behind her.