~5~
1646 Words
Cassie
I was late again.
Not terribly late, but late enough that I had to practically run through the corridor with my books pressed against my chest, praying that the teacher hadn’t arrived yet.
My shoes slapped against the polished floor as I hurried past groups of students chatting by their lockers.
I glanced at the clock hanging above the corridor.
“Please, just give me five more minutes.”
I was beginning to hate that clock.
Actually, I was beginning to hate mornings in general.
Trying to balance school with my side jobs was becoming more difficult by the day. Between classes, assignments, tutoring Andrew… which he wasn’t even attending… and the little jobs I took whenever I could find them, I barely had enough time to breathe.
But what choice did I have?
Mom needed help.
Her salary from the pack kitchen barely covered our basic expenses, and I refused to sit around pretending that everything was fine when I knew she was struggling.
The scholarship covered my tuition, but it didn’t magically pay for food, transportation, books, or the other little expenses that seemed to appear every day.
So I worked.
Whenever I could.
I took whatever honest job was available.
It wasn’t glamorous, but neither was watching my mother sacrifice everything for me.
If working meant I could take some of that weight from her shoulders, then I’d do it.
Even if it meant arriving at school half-dead every morning.
I finally reached my classroom.
I slowed down and took a deep breath before pushing open the door.
Thankfully, the teacher wasn’t there yet.
I released a sigh of relief.
One disaster avoided.
I adjusted my books in my arms and walked toward my usual seat.
Then I stopped.
My brows furrowed.
Someone was sitting there.
I stared at him.
He was leaning comfortably against the backrest, one arm resting casually on the desk while he flipped through something on his phone.
My eyes narrowed.
Wait.
I knew that face.
My mouth fell open slightly.
It was iPad guy.
The same guy I’d bumped into outside Andrew’s residence.
The same guy whose expensive iPad I’d accidentally damaged.
And now…He was sitting in my seat.
I cleared my throat. I knew he heard but he didn’t look up.
I cleared it again and he still chose to ignore me.
“Excuse me.” I muttered.
This time, his eyes lifted.
The moment he saw me, a slow smile spread across his face.
“Well.” His gaze traveled briefly over me before settling on my face. “Isn’t this what they call a coincidence?”
I didn’t return his smile. “You’re sitting in my seat.”
He glanced down at the desk as though he’d only just realized there was a name engraved on it.
Then he looked at me and back at the name.
His smile widened. “Cassandra Blake.”
I stiffened. “You know my name?”
He pointed at the name tag on my uniform. “Your name is literally written there.”
I looked down.
Right.
Of course.
I was already getting irritated. “Then you know you’re sitting in my seat.”
He shrugged and nodded. “Apparently.”
He didn’t move.
I glanced toward the classroom door.
The teacher could walk in at any moment. “Could you please stand up?”
He leaned farther back. “Why?”
“Because that’s my seat.” I repeated, my frustration getting to its highest height.
“I’m aware.” He replied casually.
I stared at him. “Then why are you still sitting there?”
He shrugged. “Because… I like it.”
I blinked. “You like my seat?”
He smiled. “Very much.”
I took a slow breath. “There’s an empty chair over there.” I pointed toward the side of the classroom. “You can sit there.”
“No.” He shook his head in refusal.
I raised my brow. “No?”
“No.” He insisted.
I looked at him incredulously.
Was he serious?
“Why not?”
He shrugged and adjusted well in the chair. “Because I’m comfortable here.”
My jaw tightened. “You’re unbelievable.”
He smiled and faked a bow. “Thank you.”
I rolled my eyes. “That wasn’t a compliment.”
“I know.” He smiled again.
His smile was beginning to annoy me. However, I couldn’t dwell on it as I could already hear whispers beginning around us.
Students were watching and listening.
Some were openly staring while Others were whispering behind their hands.
I hated being the center of attention.
Especially when I was already trying so hard to avoid trouble.
“Please,” I said through clenched teeth. “I don’t have time for this.”
He tilted his head. “You’re worried about being late?”
I nodded, hoping he’d understand and stand up. “Yes.”
He scoffed. “Then sit somewhere else.”
I stared at him. “You’re telling me to leave my own seat?”
“Exactly.” He nodded.
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I looked around the classroom.
There was another empty seat at the back.
Fine.
I wasn’t going to stand there arguing with an i***t when class was about to begin.
I picked up my books and marched toward the back.
As I passed him, he gave me a small wink.
I stopped.
Slowly, I turned my head.
He was smiling.
I glared at him and he only smiled wider.
“i***t,” I muttered.
I dropped into the empty seat and pulled out my notebook.
At least I could get through one class without another problem.
Or so I thought.
The classroom door opened and Andrew Morgan walked in.
My eyes immediately found him.
He looked around the room with the same arrogant confidence he carried everywhere. Then his gaze landed on me.
For the briefest moment, our eyes met. His expression immediately hardened. Then he looked away as though seeing me had offended him.
I rolled my eyes.
The feeling was mutual.
I couldn’t stand him either.
Andrew was inconsiderate, arrogant, spoiled, and completely impossible.
And I still couldn’t understand how he had managed to attend class today.
What had convinced him to actually show up?
A miracle?
A threat?
Or had his father finally gotten tired of his nonsense?
Before I could think about it any further, the teacher walked into the classroom.
“Good morning, everyone.”
The room quieted.
I lowered my eyes to my notebook.
Finally.
A normal class.
At least for the next hour.
~~~~~~~~
The moment the teacher dismissed us, I packed my books.
I didn’t even bother waiting for anyone.
I just wanted to leave.
Westbrook High was impressive from the outside.
Beautiful buildings. Expensive facilities. The best teachers. Everything anyone could want from a prestigious school.
But the students?
That was another story.
Most of them behaved as though their wealth and family names made them gods.
And if you weren’t born into the right pack, they made sure you knew exactly where you stood.
I walked through the corridor, heading toward the library.
At least books didn’t judge me for being an omega.
“Cassie.” I heard someone call.
I stopped.
I knew that voice.
Slowly, I turned around and I saw Andrew walking toward me.
I sighed. “What now?”
He stopped several feet away.
His expression was unreadable.
Before he could say anything, another voice came from behind me.
“Cassie!”
I closed my eyes.
No.
Please.
Not him too.
I turned around.
The irritating boy from earlier was walking toward us.
The iPad guy.
I stared at him.
“Seriously?”
His eyebrows lifted. “What?”
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
How were they both here?
And what did either of them want from me?
The stranger stopped beside us.
His gaze moved between Andrew and me.
Then Andrew looked at him.
For the first time, I noticed something change in Andrew’s expression.
It was subtle, almost invisible, but his eyes sharpened. His posture straightened.
He studied the newcomer carefully, then smirked. “You must be the new boy.”
The stranger smiled. “I guess everyone knows me already.”
Andrew said nothing.
The stranger extended his hand.
“Leonard…”
Andrew turned his attention away from him before he could finish.
His eyes landed directly on me.
And suddenly, whatever conversation he had been about to have with Leonard no longer seemed important.
“I’ll be expecting you today.”
My brows pulled together. “Expecting me where?”
He didn’t answer.
He simply held my gaze for another second before turning away.
I watched him walk down the corridor.
My stomach sank.
Today?
Was he finally planning to attend tutoring?
Or was he planning something else?
I had no idea.
Behind me, Leonard chuckled.
I turned toward him.
He was still standing there, watching Andrew disappear around the corner.
“Your friend seems pleasant.”
I frowned. “He’s not my friend.”
Leonard’s eyebrows rose. “No?”
“No.” I hugged my books tighter against my chest. “And trust me. You don’t want to be involved with him.”
A strange smile appeared on Leonard’s face. “That’s interesting.”
“What is?” I frowned.
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
I narrowed my eyes.
There was something about this guy that I couldn’t quite figure out.
He was too relaxed.
Too confident.
And after what had happened between him and Andrew just now, I had a feeling there was much more to him than met the eye.
He looked toward the corridor where Andrew had disappeared, then back at me.
“See you around, Cassie.”
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD