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By the time the sun began to dip lower in the sky, I was wandering the halls again, caught in the swirling thoughts that had been haunting me all afternoon. The usual buzz of students hurrying to leave the school felt muted as if the walls were swallowing the noise, leaving only the echo of my questions.

I passed by the open windows, the faint scent of autumn creeping in, mingling with the cool air that slipped through the cracks. Outside, the trees stood mostly green, but there were hints of amber and gold creeping into the edges of the leaves, subtle signs of the season's change. The campus felt different in the fading light, the shadows lengthening and softening the sharp edges of the day.

I rounded a corner and spotted Wallace and Audrey by the library entrance, laughter dancing between them, warm and easy, like a song that didn't need any effort to be beautiful. The sound of their voices was so in sync it almost felt like the air around them was alive, crackling with something I couldn't name.

How are they always together when they're not even in the same grade?

Wallace was reading something aloud, his voice smooth and steady, the words flowing like a melody. Audrey giggled beside him, leaning in as if he were reciting a spell she didn't want to break. The light from the library's overhead lamps caught her hair, turning it into a soft halo around her face. Wallace handed her the book, their fingers brushing lightly, and for a split second, I felt a pang that was both unfamiliar and uncomfortable, prickling like the memory of an old bruise.

I swallowed hard, my gaze was unwillingly drawn to the ease between them, the way their closeness seemed to make everything else fade into the background. I turned away before I could be caught staring, my heart thumping in my chest for reasons I didn't want to understand.

That night, the quiet of my room felt suffocating. The moonlight filtered softly through the curtains, casting a pale light on the walls as I stared at the ceiling, trying to still the rush of thoughts that wouldn't quiet.

My mind refused to settle, looping back to the image of Wallace and Audrey—together, without a care in the world.

Is that what love looks like?

The thought settled heavily, its weight pressing against everything I'd been told about love.

My mother's voice echoed in the recesses of my mind.

Love is strategy. It's an advantage. It's an exchange that leaves no room for weakness.

Yet, what I'd witnessed between Wallace and Audrey didn't resemble any of that. It wasn't about control or status, or about proving anything to anyone.

It was...something else. Something that looked elusive, warm, and disorienting. Something I couldn't quite grasp.

And for the first time in my life, I wondered if I would one day feel it.

๋࣭ °࣪ ִ⭑․𓃠⭒˚.• ݁

The next day dawned bright and loud, the High School Day celebration filling Fictus Academy with a vibrant, chaotic energy. Today, the singing contest was the crown jewel of the event, and everyone was talking about it, eager to see who would take home the prize.

Audrey and Wallace, no doubt, would be competing, aiming to win the bet that seemed to pull everyone's attention.

Not that I care, I reminded myself, though the words felt thinner than I intended.

I shouldn't even care after the way Wallace insulted and called me a baby, but it seemed like no matter what I did, I kept getting pulled into their mess.

Before I could let the thought simmer, a figure sprinted toward me, breathless and visibly shaken.

"Desiree, we've got a major problem."

I looked down to find Sofie, clutching her phone with a look that bordered on panic.

I raised an eyebrow. "What now?"

She held up her phone, scrolling quickly through a flood of frantic messages from the event coordinators. A crucial shipment of equipment had been delayed. Without it, the whole celebration could come to a screeching halt, and with performances, games, and the singing contest lined up, that was the last thing we could afford.

"Are you serious?" I muttered, scanning through the details. The only solution was for someone to personally retrieve the equipment from a warehouse across town and it had to happen now if we wanted everything in place before the event kicked off.

"Where's Ethan?" I asked, keeping my voice calm for Sofie's sake, despite the rising irritation in my chest.

"Principal Loring sent him on an errand before he could even get to school, so..."

Of course, it fell to me. With the student council president out, I was the only one with the authority to handle this. Skipping out on the festivities wasn't ideal, but there wasn't much choice.

"Alright," I said, handing Sofie my clipboard. "Keep things moving here, and I'll be back as soon as possible."

Sofie nodded, looking both relieved and anxious as I hurried out toward the waiting car.

The drive was quick but tense, my thoughts racing over everything that could go wrong if we didn't get this done. The city blurred by outside the window, tall buildings giving way to warehouses as we neared our destination. Time stretched thin, every minute slipping away too fast.

By the time I returned to the school, the sun had climbed higher in the sky, casting a soft warm light on the campus that buzzed with the hum of students chatting and laughing as they got ready for the event.

It was that perfect in-between time when summer was fading into fall, and the air held a mix of warmth and a hint of crispness, like the world was slowly preparing for a change. The warm breeze ruffled the leaves of the trees, their green edges starting to turn. It was the kind of morning that made you feel like anything could happen.

I barely stepped out of the car before a familiar voice interrupted.

"Des!"

Startled, I turned to see Franko standing there, his usual grin plastered across his face, looking far too smug.

"Franko." My eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here?"

He chuckled, shoving his hands into his pockets as he sauntered over, looking as if he'd just strolled out of a casual day at the beach.

"What, no hello for your best buddy? I thought I'd drop by and surprise you."

"You should be in class," I hissed, glancing around, half expecting a teacher or administrator to pop out and spot him. "You're not even supposed to be here—your school isn't on break."

He shrugged like it was no big deal.

"Classes are overrated. Besides, I wanted to see your new school, and the beauties hidden here..."

I sighed, crossing my arms.

This idiot...

"Franko, you cut class just to come here?" My voice held a note of exasperation that I couldn't hide.

"Relax, it's just one day. I'll be fine." He flashed a wink, his carefree attitude grating and endearing all at once. "Besides, you canceled on me last Friday, the only time you get to see my charming face. That hurt me."

Right. Friday, when Wallace's biting accusation about the cat had echoed in my mind, leaving me too drained to bother with anyone. I tried to shake off the memory.

"Des, there's supposed to be a singing contest, right?" Franko asked, his gaze alight with curiosity as he draped an arm over my shoulder.

I rolled my eyes, not missing his real reason for showing up. "Snooping again, are we?"

"Can't help it," he said with a grin. "My best friend never shares anything fun. Besides, I've heard you mention Wallace enough times. I wanted to see the guy myself."

I sighed, though a part of me was secretly glad he was here.

"Fine. Just...don't embarrass me, alright?" I handed him my ID to get inside, grateful he wasn't in his school uniform.

"What? Me?" he said, feigning innocence, his grin only widening. "I'm an angel."

I shook my head, laughing despite myself. "Sure you are."

As we walked through the school, Franko was in top form, his eyes lighting up at each girl who crossed our path. Unfortunately, he couldn't seem to resist his inner playboy, and each girl got a different line, all terrible enough to make me cringe.

The first girl we passed was adjusting her hair in the hallway mirror, seemingly oblivious to the world. Franko slowed down, leaned in, and flashed her a grin that was too smooth for his good. 

"Hey there," he said, voice dripping with faux charm. "Are you a magician? Because whenever I look at you, everyone else disappears."

The girl's eyes widened in surprise, her expression somewhere between bemused and uncomfortable. I threw her an apologetic smile, hoping to reassure her.

"Sorry about him," I murmured, pulling Franko away before he could make things more awkward.

"Oh, c'mon, Des," he groaned, "I was just getting started!"

"Please don't," I muttered under my breath, but he was already targeting his next "audience."

A couple of steps later, we came across a group of girls chatting by the lockers. Franko straightened his posture and sauntered over to them, his gaze locking onto one in particular. 

"Excuse me, but I think there's something wrong with my phone. It doesn't have your number in it."

One of the girls snorted, trying to hide a smile, while another just looked confused. I could only shake my head as I stepped in, offering the girls a quick smile. 

"Sorry, ladies, he's... well, he's hopeless."

They chuckled, some seeming amused, others politely flustered, as Franko shrugged, undeterred. 

"They just don't appreciate a good pick-up line," he said, looking at me with mock offense.

"Maybe they'd appreciate less of you," I shot back, trying to keep a straight face.

But Franko was a force of nature. By the time we passed the next classroom, he was waving at another girl who walked by, completely unfazed. 

"If you were a vegetable," he announced, "you'd be a 'cute-cumber.'"

The girl blinked at him, blushed, then hurried off, clearly mortified. 

I turned to Franko with a sigh. "I can't take you anywhere, can I?"

"Admit it, Des, I'm irresistible," he said, smirking as if he were the gift every girl had been waiting for.

Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I caught sight of a girl from my math class who was glancing our way, her cheeks slightly pink. 

"I know we just met, but... didn't it feel like we had a moment there?" Franko murmured to her, his tone softer but just as corny.

The girl blushed harder, clearly not sure whether to laugh or flee. I had to swoop in again, this time tugging him along. 

"Franko, I swear, if you use one more terrible line, I'm leaving you here to fend for yourself."

He laughed, unfazed. "Fine, fine, I'll behave. But, for the record, I think I'm winning them over."

"Yeah, sure," I muttered, but despite myself, I couldn't help but smile. Franko might be insufferable, but he was also... well, Franko.

As we neared the courtyard, I spotted Wallace and Audrey, his arm casually slung over her shoulder.

The sight momentarily stopped me, my stomach twisting.

Again, why should I care?

Then, as if sensing me, Wallace's gaze flickered in my direction, his easy smile vanishing as his eyes settled on me. His expression shifted, something sharper replacing the softness he'd worn for Audrey.

His gaze lingered, drifting to Franko with a glint that was hard to miss, a hint of something almost territorial.

I noticed the way his jaw ticked and his lips tightened into a thin line. His eyes narrowed, focusing on Franko, who had his arm wrapped around my shoulder.

Meanwhile, Franko was blissfully oblivious, still muttering about his "top-secret moves" with zero idea of what was happening.

But Wallace... His stare felt unyielding, following us as we walked. It was as if he were daring me to respond to his silent challenge, his eyes a storm I didn't quite understand. The weight of it stayed with me, even as I pretended to brush it off.

Why is he staring so hard? I wondered as Franko babbled on about his latest conquest, completely unaware of the tension.

Today, it seemed, was about to get far more interesting than I'd anticipated.

☀༉‧

Hi!

I'm feeling way too lazy to write an epic author's note right now 😪 Anyway, thank you so much for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter~♡

Catch you in the comments if you have any thoughts to share—or just enjoy! 🥱

__melodyshhh 𓇢𓆸