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The sun shone brightly over the manicured lawns and pristine pathways of Fictus Academy as the Student Council assembled in front of the main school building.

Today, we were tasked with accompanying Principal Loring on his tour of the high school grounds. He liked to conduct these evaluations every semester, ensuring the staff were kept on their toes and the students were maintaining the "golden standard" of Fictus Academy. The pressure was always palpable on these days, though none of us dared to show it.

As Vice President of the Student Council, I was naturally chosen to lead the tour alongside Ethan, the most respected senior among the students. His perfect grades, reputation, and charismatic charm made him untouchable in the eyes of the school. Of course, he'd been elected President over me.

I could still feel the sting of inadequacy, the familiar burn of my mother's cold, disapproving gaze last week when she'd learned I had only secured the Vice President role.

"Number two is just the first of the losers, Desiree." she always reminded me.

I had tried my best, presented the perfect image, and played the good girl flawlessly. But despite all my efforts, Ethan still won because no matter how much I excelled, I was still new here.

At most schools, only seniors could run for the top council positions, but Fictus prided itself on breaking conventions. Talented students were encouraged to lead early, regardless of their grade, so juniors like me could compete for roles usually reserved for seniors. I'd thought my impeccable record would be enough, but Fictus had its own social dynamics, and Ethan's effortless charm proved more compelling.

I glanced at him now, walking slightly behind Principal Loring with that easy confidence, exchanging occasional formalities that kept the mood light.

The principal moved steadily ahead, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the school grounds. He was as much an institution here as the academy itself, known for his firm but fair manner, always just.

Behind us, other council members and faculty members followed, keeping a respectful distance. I maintained my posture, the very image of the Academy's model student. My shoes clicked lightly on the pavement as we walked. I nodded along when appropriate, staying in perfect sync with the flow of conversation between Ethan and Principal Loring, but never overshadowing either of them.

"I trust everything's going smoothly with the Council, Desiree?" Mr. Loring asked in his usual authoritative tone.

"Of course, Principal Loring. The council is working hard on the preparations for Foundation Day and the charity auction," I replied smoothly, offering him a small, respectful smile.

"Good to hear. I want Fictus Academy to maintain its reputation, especially after the recent... unfortunate incidents."

We all nodded. There had been some controversies lately, with students, including Wallace, getting into fights, and rumors spreading like wildfire. But it was the council's job to ensure that everything appeared in perfect order.

We entered the first classroom on our list, a large chemistry lab where the teacher was busy giving instructions for an experiment. The students, all in uniform, sat perfectly at their desks, their eyes forward. As Mr. Loring exchanged a few words with the teacher, I glanced around the room, noting the students' hushed whispers and stolen glances in my direction.

We continued through the hallways, stopping by a few classrooms along the way. Most of the students were quietly working or listening to their teachers' instructions, their heads bowed over their desks as we observed them through the windows or made brief entrances into the rooms.

And then we reached Section Three of Grade 11.

The moment I stepped into the classroom, my eyes immediately found her. She was sitting near the window. Her presence in this class wasn't unexpected, but it felt strange to see her again after yesterday.

Audrey, the girl who was with Wallace in the principal's office.

Why did her face, her proximity to him, gnaw at me like this? I didn't even know her. Still, there was something about the way she had been sitting with Wallace, the way they seemed...familiar with each other.

Principal Loring exchanged a few words with the teacher about the students' progress, but my mind was elsewhere. I was aware of Audrey watching me, though she quickly looked away, feigning focus on her work.

I exhaled slowly, my heels clicking faintly on the tiled floor as I followed the others out of the classroom.

We moved through several more classrooms, from art studios to the robotics lab, until we arrived at the upper floors where the seniors had their classrooms. The air felt a little thinner here, more refined, as if even the students knew this was the final stretch before they stepped into the world beyond the academy's gates.

We entered one of the Senior Classrooms, and that's when I saw him.

Wallace.

He was sitting near the back, legs stretched out lazily beneath the desk, his arm resting against the edge as though he hadn't a care in the world. His dark blonde hair was tousled, and he wore his uniform with that same effortless ease, the first few buttons of his shirt undone as if to defy the pristine uniformity around him.

My breath hitched, and I froze for a split second, caught off guard by the sudden thrum of tension that shot through me.

His gaze was on me before I even had a chance to glance away, as if he had sensed me the moment I stepped into the room. The air between us felt charged and electric like we were the only two people in the room despite the council, the students, and the teachers all present.

Wallace's lips curved slightly, the faintest hint of a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. He didn't move, didn't even blink, but that single look was enough to set my skin on fire.

What is wrong with you Desiree? You've been like this since yesterday. Stop it already!

I stood near the front of the classroom, next to Principal Loring, who was talking to the teacher about the upcoming exams. But I couldn't focus on a single word. My body was rigid, every nerve alive and hyper-aware of Wallace's presence in the back of the room. His eyes never left me, piercing through the distance like he was challenging me, daring me to acknowledge what was between us, even if I didn't fully understand it myself.

I tried to compose myself, straightening my posture and keeping my chin high, but I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. Heat pooled at the base of my neck, crawling up to my cheeks.

From his seat, Wallace leaned back, folding his arms across his chest, still watching me. There was something almost predatory in his gaze, a lazy confidence that made it hard to breathe.

Principal Loring cleared his throat, pulling me back to the present. I nodded as if I had been paying attention the entire time. Ethan turned to me, making some comment I didn't quite catch, but I nodded again, pretending to engage. The room suddenly felt too small, too confined, and the air was stifling.

As we prepared to leave, I forced myself to glance away from Wallace, focusing on the door. But as I turned, I caught his lips moving as if he was saying something to me, though I barely understood.

And yet, my steps faltered for just a second, my heart skipping a beat.

Get it together, Desiree!

The tour continued, taking us to the other section. After the tour, we returned to the main office, where Mr. Loring thanked us for our efforts and left us to continue with our day. I kept up appearances as we said our goodbyes, but my mind was elsewhere.

๋࣭ °࣪ ִ⭑․𓃠⭒˚.• ݁

The rhythmic hum of the cafeteria filled the air, accompanied by the clinking of utensils and the murmur of conversation, as the scent of freshly made sandwiches and salads floated around us. I sat with my circle of friends at our usual table, surrounded by familiar faces, but my mind was only half engaged in the discussion. Alaia was passionately describing her plans for the spring festival decorations, while Maddison threw in her own ideas, both of them completely absorbed in the conversation. My fork lingered in my hand, but my appetite was fleeting.

The air shifted, subtly at first, like the sudden drop in temperature before a storm. I didn't need to look up to know something was about to happen. The clattering of trays and utensils gradually slowed, conversations hushed into murmurs, and then, silence. I felt a presence behind me, the weight of two shadows stretching across the cafeteria floor until they loomed over our table.

I calmly set down my fork and turned. Wallace stood beside Audrey, his arm possessively draped around her shoulders. The cafeteria was dead silent now, eyes darting between us.

His gaze was locked on me, daring me to react, and for a brief moment, something twisted in my stomach, but I dismissed it as quickly as it came. Instead, I offered him the same sweet, practiced smile that I'd used so often. The one that had fooled more people than I cared to count.

"Hello," I greeted them, my tone light and pleasant. "Do you two need something?"

Audrey hesitated, her cheeks turning a faint pink under the weight of everyone's stares. Wallace's grip tightened slightly on her shoulder as if offering reassurance.

I saw the tension building in my friends' faces, Jaclyn especially. She was practically glaring daggers at Audrey, while Ember's smile faltered, caught off guard by the tension that suddenly suffocated our table.

Audrey tried to speak, her voice barely audible above the whisper of the cafeteria's anticipation. "Uhmm... yes, actually..."

Ember, always one to diffuse tension, jumped in with a welcoming smile, though her words carried a hint of curiosity. "Aren't you the new girl in section three? What's your name again?"

Audrey cleared her throat, trying to find her voice. "I'm Audrey."

"Hi, Audrey," Ember continued in her friendly tone. "I'm Ember, and these are Alaia, Sophie, Claire, Maddison, Jaclyn, and of course, our very own Student Council VP, Desiree."

Audrey gave a small wave as everyone, especially my friends, stared at her, each one sizing her up, some with curiosity, others with disdain.

"So..." Maddison began, her eyes darting from Wallace to me, and then back to Audrey. "Do you have something to say to Desiree?"

Before Audrey could respond, Jaclyn leaned forward, her voice dripping with disdain. "Isn't it already obvious?" she sneered. "She's here to show us how much of a slut she is, seeing as how fast she can sink her claws into Wallace"

The sting in her words was palpable. A collective gasp rippled through the room as students whispered among themselves. Wallace's eyes darkened, and he glared at Jaclyn with a murderous look.

"Shut your fucking mouth," he spat, his voice low and threatening. His whole body tensed, ready to strike, as the tension at the table reached its boiling point. I could feel the intensity of the moment hanging in the air, the entire cafeteria waiting for me to react.

The silent anticipation was almost suffocating, but I kept my smile intact, the one that had been perfected through years of practice. This situation was nothing compared to the challenges I'd been trained for.

Stay calm. Control the narrative. Make them see you're in charge. My mother's voice echoed in my mind, reminding me of all the lessons she had drilled into me.

I straightened my posture, feeling the eyes of my so-called friends and the entire student body on me. Audrey looked like she wanted to disappear, while Jaclyn practically radiated anger, glaring at Audrey with contempt. Wallace, of course, was livid, his arm tightening protectively around Audrey's shoulder as his furious gaze never left Jaclyn.

This could get ugly quickly. I couldn't afford that, not with the principal's tour earlier. Things were already too delicate. So I leaned back in my chair, crossing one leg over the other casually, and cleared my throat softly.

"Jaclyn," I began, keeping my voice light and pleasant, "there's no need for that kind of language." I turned my attention to her, smiling gently but making sure the edge in my voice was unmistakable. "We're all friends here, right?"

Jaclyn looked taken aback for a moment as if she hadn't expected me to step in so quickly. Her eyes flickered to the girls at the table, seeking silent approval, but I had already shifted the atmosphere. Control the situation. I held her gaze for a beat longer before turning to Audrey, my expression softening into something more welcoming.

"Audrey, you were saying?" I prompted her, pretending as though nothing offensive had been said just moments ago. The warmth in my voice masked the undercurrent of manipulation. It was all about balance, making her feel comfortable while keeping the upper hand firmly in my grasp.

Audrey hesitated, clearly rattled by Jaclyn's harsh words and the uncomfortable atmosphere. I could see her searching for a way to speak, but I didn't let her linger in the awkwardness too long. That was another trick I had learned early on, knowing when to push and when to pull back.

"It's okay," I said softly, giving her a reassuring nod. "You don't have to be nervous. We're all just curious about what brought you over." Play the understanding friend.

Wallace glanced at me, his eyes narrowed, but I kept my focus on Audrey, deliberately ignoring the weight of his stare.

Audrey's lips parted, but before she could speak, Wallace stepped forward, taking control of the moment.

"Audrey and I are dating," Wallace declared loudly, his eyes locked on mine.

It wasn't just a statement for me, it was a public announcement for the entire cafeteria. The sound of gasps rippled across the room, louder this time, as students processed the news.

The cafeteria, which had just started to buzz with murmurs again, fell silent once more, all eyes on me, waiting for my reaction.

I kept my smile steady, not missing a beat. I didn't flinch, didn't blink, as Wallace leaned down until his face was just inches from mine, bringing his lips close to my ear. His voice was low and cold meant only for me.

"So you better tell your mommy to annul our engagement. Because I am not marrying you."

Without waiting for my response—though, truthfully, I didn't feel the need to give one—he straightened and walked away, Audrey still at his side. His arm remained draped protectively over her shoulder as they returned to his usual table with his friends, the drama that had unfolded seemingly dismissed from his mind.

The girls at my table exchanged glances, some casting sympathetic looks in my direction. It was almost laughable how they expected me to be hurt, perhaps even humiliated. But instead of sadness, amusement simmered beneath the surface.

I allowed myself a brief chuckle internally, amused by Wallace's attempt to force my hand.

Glancing over at Wallace's table, I saw him and Audrey already seated, casually eating their lunch as if they hadn't just staged a public spectacle. I tilted my head, a smile playing at the corner of my lips.

So, he thinks using a fake girlfriend is enough to scare a Hart into breaking the engagement? How charming. But he still didn't understand how my mother operated. If anything, this little display would only make her more determined to marry me into the Aldridge family.

Wallace had made his move, but it wasn't nearly enough to stop what was coming. Oh, no. The bigger the spectacle, the more likely Mother would dig in her heels. If Wallace wanted a fight, he'd have to do a lot more than parade his new "girlfriend" in front of the school.

Though I already had a strategy to end this arranged marriage, it wouldn't hurt to watch his cute little acts now, would it?

For now, I would let him have his victory. Let him think he'd rattled me.

I smiled to myself.

He has no idea what he's up against.

☀༉‧

Hey, lovables!

Wow, things got real this chapter, right? I'm honestly so excited for you all to see the twists and turns Desiree and Wallace are about to face. They're definitely playing games with each other now!

Will Desiree stick to her calm, collected act... or will Wallace's little "relationship" announcement finally get under her skin?

🌻What do you think will happen next? Drop your predictions here ➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳

I'd love to hear what you're all thinking!

Thank you so much for reading and for all your love and support! Can't wait to bring you the next chapter𓂃 𓈒𖹭

__melodyshhh 𓇢𓆸