His Perfect Enemy

HEART ATTACK

Seeing him, standing in the same room as him, felt like everywhere was closing in on me.

Just the same when I researched and discovered everything that happened wasn’t just a coincidence.

It didn’t help matters cause the whole hallway shushed down while he monitored other students' work on the large notice board, barely sparing anyone a glance.

“Do you want to go say Hi?” Samantha said in a quiet voice the first I’ve heard her speak in that tone.

“I can’t, Sam. He won’t even talk to me.”

“So you’ll let this crush consume you? This is his senior year, his last year. It’s now or never Bri!”

“No!” Brielle practically quiet screamed.

So she has a crush on Tobias, how disappointing it was, for the girl who saved my life to be emotionally infatuated with the one person I despise.

Behind them, immune to the whole situation was Ronan, silently pressing his phone and not in a bit interested if his girlfriend was throwing her best friend to the lion's den.

“What do you think, Deana? Should Bri walk up to him?” Samantha asked, dragging me into their back and forth.

“I don’t know. I can’t tell who Tobias is so…”

“Oh! He’s Eastridge President, top honorary student, Brielle and half of the female population’s wet dream and his family owns 70% of the city.”

Of course I knew all of this, except the wet dream part. I grimaced, shaking my head at the thought.

But those girls weren’t lost in their infatuation.

Although Tobias was dangerous, maybe not in the loud, chaotic and reckless way like the guy in the parking lot.

His was more controlled, quieter, the kind that didn’t announce itself but was evident and everyone knew.

Even from across the hallway, I could feel the way the air subtly shifted around him, the way people instinctively kept their distance without being told.

It was power, real power. And the worst part? He didn’t look like a villain. If anything, he looked perfect.

Sharp jawline, chestnut brown hair styled like it had never known disorder. Even his clothes, white pristine shirt rolled up his muscular forearm which was decorated with veins.

A black vest sat on top of the shirt, and black crisp trousers below. Everything screamed sophistication, even down to his shoes.

“See?” Samatha whispered beside me. “Just look at him.” I wanted to comment along the lines of, don’t you have a boyfriend.

But I kept my mouth shut.

My fingers tightened along the strap of my bag, trying to reclaim focus. I didn’t come here to admire him or attest to how physically attractive he was.

I came here for answers, to find the truth and seek revenge if it came down to it.

A loud shout came from the parking lot eventually breaking me from my trance, alongside everyone in the hallway, including Tobias.

His gaze lifted to the door which was a few feet behind where we stood at the corner. As if knowing something and getting annoyed already by it, his jaw ticked.

Then slowly he assessed everyone in the hallway until his eyes landed on me, and lingered, his head tilting slightly.

Great! I’ve been noticed.

I looked away, not from shyness but because staring back too long means acknowledging him.

And I wasn’t ready for that…yet.

“Brielle, can you give me directions to the administration office?” My voice came out steady, even though my pulse did not.

My fairy friend blinked, suddenly thrown off by my question. “Uh!…yeah. It’s by the end of the left corridor just down this hallway. You should ask for the—”

As Brielle rambled on, from the corner of my eye, I saw Tobias’s gaze return to me again, then he said something to the student he monitored working on the notice board.

He turned again, looking like he was contemplating approaching me or the door behind me.

“I’ll find it,” I cut in gently, offering a small smile.

“Thank you for helping me today.”

She hesitated, like she wanted to say something more, but Samantha tugged at her arm again, whispering urgently about him.

Of course whatever she wanted to say died down at the mention of him.

I didn’t wait any longer.

Turning away from them, I adjusted my bag and walked in the direction Brielle pointed just as the nape of my neck tingled again.

Great! An impression has been made.

By the time I made it to the administration office, the bell for the first class had gone off. Already late, I was handed my schedule and a few welcome essentials by the woman in charge of admissions.

After which she heartily welcomed me to Eastridge then hastily ushered me out to proceed to my first class which I was already late for.

The hallway was quiet already, no student insight. The further I walked, the polished floors echoed softly beneath my steps.

The chaos from earlier faded, replaced by something calmer and comfortable.

I exhaled slowly, forcing my thoughts back into place as I made way to the third floor of the building.

No matter how much I tried, my thoughts kept spiraling to the look Tobias gave me.

How his head tilted in what looked like recognition. That was a problem, a very serious one I couldn’t afford at the moment.

Because if Tobias Sterling already suspected something, then I’d be behind in my plans.

Lost in thought, I barely registered another presence until the sound of a whistle pierced the air forcing me to turn around to answer the call.

Dark hair slightly messy, leather jacket still on and loitering like the rules didn’t apply to him, like nothing ever did.

Leaning on a locker is none other than Kross Rivas. My irritation returned instantly.

“Do you have a habit of almost killing people and then following them to get the final job done?” I asked coolly.

His lips curved slightly, like he enjoyed that more than he should.

“Relax,” he said. “If I wanted you hurt, you’d be hurt.”

“Of course, your only purpose is to distribute heart attack,” I say sarcastically, rolling my eyes and turning away to the hallway holding my AP English class.

“You’re new,” he said, pushing off the lockers and falling in step beside me. “And you’ve already managed to catch his attention.”

My brows pulled slightly, stopping at the entrance of my class. “Who?”

Kross only smirked at me, like I’d just confirmed something for him. “You know who.”

Of course I did, but I wasn’t about to give him that satisfaction.

“I think you’re overestimating your importance,” I said instead and opened the door to my first class and entered.

To my utmost surprise, Kross entered after me, garnering the attention of the whole class including the teacher, alongside Brielle who sat at the front row and somewhere in the middle.

Tobias who looked nothing short of royally pissed.