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The garden walkway opposite the cafeteria was serene, a stark contrast to the lively chatter and clinking trays spilling out from the double doors behind me. Overhead, the autumn sun filtered through the branches of ancient oaks, dappling the stone path with flickering patches of light.

My heels clicked against the pavement in a measured rhythm as I slowed, taking in the tranquil scene. It was almost too perfect, a scene crafted to deceive. The calm only highlighted the faint undercurrent of tension thrumming through the air.

Across the courtyard, Jacklyn emerged, her confident stride as sharp and commanding as ever. Dressed impeccably in the signature cheer uniform of Fictus Academy, ready for their usual Friday afternoon practice as she radiated her usual queen-bee energy. Shoulders back, head high, and a smile that could disarm even her critics, she looked untouchable.

But I noticed the cracks others wouldn't.

Her path shifted as she spotted Audrey up ahead, animated and glowing at the center of her usual circle of friends. Her gestures were lively, her smile bright. A picture of confidence as she told an amusing story that had her companions in fits of laughter.

Jacklyn didn't falter outwardly, her steps were steady, and her phone was held casually in one hand as if she was scrolling through something too important to ignore. But I knew better. Her subtle change in direction was calculated.

She passed the group with practiced ease, her smile cool and indifferent, but her focus was pointedly elsewhere. Her avoidance was obvious to anyone paying close attention. And I was.

It had been four days since Monday, the day the Principal had called Jacklyn into his office. The threat of removal from the cheer team had been enough to force Jacklyn to rein in her behavior, for now. But I knew it hadn't snuffed out her fire entirely.

As much as Jacklyn pretended nothing had changed, I'd watched her subtle shifts over the past days. The once-cutting remarks had softened into biting sarcasm, and the physical intimidation she once used so freely was now replaced by quiet glares from a distance. 

I could see the undercurrent of tension in Jacklyn's movements, the tightly controlled facade she maintained to avoid confrontation. She hated this. She hated being told what to do, being forced into submission. And most of all, she hated losing control.

As Jacklyn disappeared around the corner of the cafeteria, I allowed myself a small, satisfied smile.

Everything was falling into place.

"Did you hear about Jacklyn?" a voice murmured nearby. I didn't bother turning my head, but my ears honed in on the conversation.

"Yeah, the Principal threatened to kick her off the cheer team," one girl said, her voice barely hushed. "Apparently, if she doesn't stop bullying Audrey, she's out. Can you imagine? Jacklyn Yae, off the squad?"

"She's lucky she wasn't expelled," the other replied. "I mean, how many people has she bullied before this? It's about time someone stood up to her."

Their words faded as they walked on, but the weight of their gossip lingered in the air.

My smile deepened.

Celeste had done her part brilliantly, framing the narrative just as I'd planned. Jacklyn's bullying had been exposed to the admin, her leash tightened by authority, and now she was cornered and unable to lash out openly without consequences.

Although I knew all too well that her compliance wasn't out of remorse. It was survival. But survival wasn't enough for someone like her. She'd find a way to strike back, even if it meant doing so in the shadows.

And she already had. She'd redirected her fury toward Celeste instead.

The subtle ways in which Celeste was being ostracized hadn't escaped my notice.

Celeste, who'd once basked in the glow of her growing popularity, now walked the halls with fewer friends at her side. The whispers and sidelong glances followed her wherever she went, and her invitations to student events had all but dried up.

Jacklyn was too proud to go down without a fight.

That was fine. It didn't bother me.

This was all part of the game, and I was still the one holding the board. Let Jacklyn simmer in her resentment. As long as she stayed on her leash for the time being, I'd let her think she had some semblance of control.

That was the beauty of power. It wasn't about brute force but knowing when and how to wield influence.

As I turned toward the cafeteria, my reflection caught in the glass pane of a nearby building. The faint curve of my lips remained steady, calm, and controlled.

The click of my heels against the stone path was steady, a metronome of my thoughts. I was so absorbed in my musings that I didn't notice Wallace until he stepped directly into my path.

The suddenness of his appearance startled me, and I stumbled slightly on the uneven walkway.

Before I could regain my balance, firm arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me close against him. His warmth and his scent enveloped me.

"That was fast," he whispered, his voice low and rough against my ear.

My pulse quickened as I pulled back just enough to meet his dark, amused gaze.

"What was?"

"You, dealing with Jacklyn." He smirked, his arms lingering a fraction longer than necessary before letting me go. The slight curl of his lips sent an unfamiliar flutter through my chest.

I straightened, smoothing the front of my blazer, willing my pulse to steady.

"Well, I'm efficient."

"Efficient," he repeated, his voice laced with a teasing edge. His eyes, however, betrayed something deeper, something intense. "Alright puppet master. Now all that's left is for you to tell me your favor."

I arched a brow. "Like I said that day, I will tell you when the time's right."

Wallace tilted his head, studying my face as though trying to uncover my secrets. His gaze felt heavy, making it impossible to hold for too long. I turned my head slightly, breaking eye contact.

"I can't wait," he murmured, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

The silence between us thickened, charged and heavy, until he reached out, catching a loose strand of my hair. His fingers curled around it, testing its softness.

"You don't seem like the type to leave loose ends," he murmured, his voice quieter now.

I let my lips curve into a small smile. "Ahuh."

His chuckle vibrated through the stillness, low and rich, a sound that rippled through me like the breeze in the trees.

The courtyard seemed suddenly smaller, the world narrowing to just the two of us. The tension in my shoulders began to ease, even as my heart raced.

"Anyway," he said, his tone shifting into something casual yet curious, "when can I read the rest?"

I blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected question. "The rest?"

"Of your script," he clarified, his gaze steady and intent. "When can I see the rest?"

"You want to continue reading it?" I asked, the faintest flicker of vulnerability slipping into my voice before I could stop it.

"Of course," he said without hesitation as if the idea of not reading it had never crossed his mind.

The sincerity in his words caught me off guard, like a sudden breeze that made my heart shiver.

"You wrote it, so I'd definitely read it. Unless..." His grin spread, teasing, a gleam of mischief flashing in his eyes. "You don't want me to?"

A genuine smile spread across my lips before I could stop it.

"No, I want you to read it."

The grin that spread across his face was unmistakable. It was wide and boyish, disarming in its simplicity. I almost forgot to breathe. 

Wallace held my gaze for just a second longer than expected, something unspoken passing between us before his hand reached for my bag.

Before I could protest, it was already slung over his shoulder, his movements easy, as if we'd done this a hundred times before. And then, before I could make sense of it, he took the books from my hands too. 

My heart did a strange, unsteady flutter.

"Come on," he said. His hand slid gently to my waist, guiding me forward without waiting for a response.

My body tensed briefly at the contact, unfamiliar and unexpected, but his touch was steady and warm. It grounded me in a way I hadn't anticipated. Still, I couldn't ignore the small jolt that shot through me, the unfamiliar sensation of being tethered to something.

As we walked, the rhythm of our steps fell into an easy silence, and I found myself strangely comforted by it.

Wallace began humming a tune under his breath. It was a simple melody, but somehow, it calmed me.

I couldn't help but steal a glance at him, noticing how his focus flickered between me and the path ahead, a strange blend of attention and ease.

"You really care about reading it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. 

I didn't know why it felt so important to ask and why it mattered but there was something about the way he was acting, so unguarded, that made me feel vulnerable in return.

He glanced down at me, his smirk playful but his eyes serious.

"Ahuh, what can I say? You've got me hooked."

I didn't reply, but I felt a faint smile tug at my lips, small and private, like a secret I was keeping just for myself. Just like that day at the beach, I didn't feel the weight of constantly analyzing everything I said, every gesture, every move. With Wallace beside me, I didn't feel the need to be anyone other than who I was at that moment. 

The world felt... lighter.

His humming trailed off as we walked, leaving only the quiet rustle of leaves and the soft scrape of our shoes against the pavement.

Then, as if unable to help himself, he grinned at me, a spark of mischief returning to his eyes.

"You know," he said, voice light and teasing, "I've been thinking about a certain cookie."

My steps faltered for a fraction of a second, but I quickly masked it, pressing my lips into a thin line. "A cookie?"

"Yeah. Shaped like a paw." His voice dropped into that knowing, teasing tone, and I could feel his gaze on me even without looking. "Sound familiar?"

My breath hitched, memories threatening to rise. But his hand at my waist steadied me, grounding me in the here and now. He gave me a soft squeeze, and his voice was gentle when he spoke again.

"Relax, I'm not bringing it up to upset you."

I inhaled slowly, releasing the tension that had gathered in my chest. "Then why are you bringing it up?"

"Because..." He leaned in slightly, his grin widening, but there was something softer in his eyes. "Hey! For your information, I also received a cookie. And Angela herself gave it to me."

I couldn't help but turn toward him, surprise flickering in my chest. "She did?"

"Yup," he said, nodding with an entirely mischievous grin. "It was a little lopsided, looked like a paw that had been run over, but hey, it's the thought that counts."

Despite myself, a reluctant smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

"So, you're saying hers was better than mine?"

"Definitely not," he said, feigning offense as he dramatically clutched his chest. "Yours had character. Besides, Angela's brother practically presented it like a treasure. I think he might've made it just for you."

A bittersweet ache settled in my chest at the memory of the boy's innocent smile. But Wallace's playful tone anchored me, keeping me in the present.

"I suppose it was sweet of him," I murmured, the words barely escaping me.

"Sweet and brave," Wallace added, his voice warm and teasing. "Kind of like someone else I know."

My gaze snapped to his, caught off guard by the softness I saw there. His usual smirk was gone, replaced by something else, something that made my heart beat a little faster, but not in the way I was used to.

"Anyway," he said, breaking the moment with a casual ease, "you've got to admit, it was an unforgettable cookie."

I let out a small laugh, a sound that surprised me, light and unexpected. "Unforgettable is one way to describe it."

"See?" Wallace's grin widened, that spark of triumph in his eyes. "I knew you'd agree."

The weight that had settled on my chest seemed to lift just a little more, the moment becoming easier to carry. 

Adjusting my bag on his shoulder, Wallace tilted his head toward the path ahead.

"Come on, Miss Hart. Can't have you tripping over memories now, can we?"

I rolled my eyes but allowed him to guide me forward, his hand secure at my waist.

☀༉‧

Hey there!

😏 what's next for these two? Any guesses?

__melodyshhh 𓇢𓆸