In his crossfire

CHAPTER TWO:*Mixed signals*

The lunch bell rang. Students rushed out, buzzing with energy. Amara trailed behind, tossing her bag over one shoulder.

Eli caught up to her. “Want to check out the courtyard? It’s chill out there.”

Amara shrugged. “Sure. Lead the way.”

They sat on a bench under a tree. Eli was charming, funny, a little too smooth.

Eli: “So, why Westbrook?”

Amara:“Long story. Let’s just say... fate has a twisted sense of humor.”She wasn't sure she wanted to disvulge personal informations about her to someone she just met barely 24 hours.

Eli (laughs): “Fair enough.”

But as he laughed, Amara’s eyes flicked to his hand—a small scar just beneath his thumb. It looked… recent.

Her gaze narrowed slightly. “That from basketball or something more interesting?”

Eli blinked. “Uh… dog scratch. My aunt’s crazy poodle.”

Amara forced a smile, but her gut twisted. Something didn’t add up.

Moments later, Zayne passed nearby. He glanced toward them—just once—but his expression was hard.

Amara watched him walk away.

Eli: “Ignore him. He acts like he owns the place.”

Amara: “Maybe. Or maybe he sees something the rest of us don’t.”

---

The next day felt… off.

Amara sat in her usual seat, chewing on the end of her pen while the teacher rambled about literary symbolism. Her gaze drifted toward the window—and then toward the back of the room, where Zayne sat, silent as always.

He hadn’t spoken a word to her since that first day. But today, she felt it. His eyes were on her. Watching. Measuring.

She shook the feeling off, trying so hard to focus on her notes.

“Amara,” the teacher snapped. “Since you’re so deep in thought, care to explain the significance of the river in this chapter?”

Amara straightened. “It’s probably just a metaphor. Flowing water, change, rebirth. The usual deep stuff.”

A few chuckles rippled through the class. The teacher gave a tight nod and moved on.

After class, Eli caught up with her by her locker.

“Smooth answer,” he said. “Almost made literature sound cool.”

She grinned. “Don’t get used to it.”

He leaned in a little too close. “So… you doing anything after school?”

Amara tilted her head. “Besides pretending I don’t notice people being weird around me? Nope.”

Eli blinked. “Weird how?”

Before she could answer, a voice cut in.

“Stay away from him.”

Amara turned, startled. Zayne stood a few feet away, arms crossed, jaw tight.

She blinked. “Excuse me?”

Zayne’s voice dropped low. “He’s not who he says he is.”

Then he walked off, not waiting for a reply.

Eli’s face stayed calm, but his hand curled slightly at his side. “Guy’s obsessed with acting mysterious.”

Amara laughed it off, but her chest tightened.

Something wasn’t right.

And suddenly, she was caught between two boys with secrets—and no idea which one was telling the truth.

The hallway emptied slowly, leaving Amara standing by her locker, still processing what just happened.

"Stay away from him."

Zayne’s words echoed in her head, but she shook it off.

“Don’t mind him,” Eli said, brushing it off with a half-smile. “Zayne’s always like that—talks in riddles and mood swings. It’s his thing.”

Amara chuckled. “Well, he definitely nailed the ‘brooding antihero’ energy.”

Eli leaned against the locker next to hers. “Seriously, don’t let him get in your head. People love the drama, but it’s all noise.”

And she believed him. Eli had been nothing but kind since day one. Maybe a little too perfect, sure—but she needed someone to lean on, and right now, he was it.

And To be honest,Amara thinks she has started to have a little tiny crush on Eli because he is nice to her .

“Wanna walk out together?” he asked.

She nodded. “Let’s go.”

As they left the building, Zayne watched from across the courtyard. He didn’t follow. He just stood there, silent, the wind catching the edge of his hoodie.

He wasn’t giving up—but he was waiting.

For what, Amara didn’t know.

But she would.

Soon.