In his crossfire

CHAPTER EIGHT:*Pillow talks & subtle truths*

It was nearly 7 p.m. The sun had dipped low, casting a golden haze through the curtains of Amara’s bedroom. The faint aroma of her aunt’s cooking wafted in from the kitchen. On the floor, surrounded by open notebooks and snack wrappers, sat Amara and Lila — homework half-finished, minds elsewhere.

“Well,” Lila said, popping a grape into her mouth, “today was... spicy.”

Amara groaned, flopping onto her pillow. “Please don’t start.”

“Oh, but I must,” Lila grinned. “You roasted Brielle in front of the whole class, and Zayne came to your defense like some dark, brooding knight.”

“He didn’t come to my defense,” Amara said quickly. “He just—didn’t want drama.”

Lila raised an eyebrow. “Right. So the school’s most antisocial guy suddenly decided today was the day he’d stand up for justice… specifically when you were getting heat? Uh-huh.”

Amara threw a pillow at her.

Lila caught it with a giggle. “I’m just saying... he doesn’t even talk to people. But with you? He sat beside you, asked if you were okay, stared at Brielle like he was two seconds away from throwing hands—girl, please.”

Amara bit back a smile, then shook her head. “You’re overthinking it.”

“I don’t think I’m thinking enough,” Lila said dramatically. “That look he gave you was not a ‘just classmates’ look. It was more like... "if-anyone-touches-you-they-die" kind of vibe.”

Amara rolled her eyes but felt heat rise to her cheeks.

“And,” Lila continued, lowering her voice, “you didn’t look too bothered. In fact, I saw that smile when he walked away.”

Amara tried to play it off. “He surprised me, okay?”

“Mmmhmm,” Lila said, narrowing her eyes playfully. “Well, keep acting like he’s just some random classmate. But I’m watching this unfold like it’s my favorite K-drama.”

Amara threw another pillow, both of them collapsing into laughter.

As the laughter faded, Lila added softly, “Just be careful though. Zayne’s cool... but mysterious. And mysterious comes with secrets.”

Amara nodded slowly, staring at the ceiling. “Yeah. I get that.”

But even with the warning, part of her didn’t feel afraid of Zayne’s secrets.

It felt like she "wanted" to know them.

---

The next afternoon, just after the final bell, Amara was heading toward the school gates when she heard footsteps behind her.

“Amara! Wait up.”

She turned to see Eli jogging to catch up, his messenger bag slung over one shoulder, his usual grin more subdued than usual.

“Hey,” she said, surprised. “You’re not heading to practice?”

He shrugged. “Skipped today. Wasn’t really feeling it.”

Amara tilted her head. “You okay?”

Eli hesitated, then gave her a small, almost shy smile. “Can we walk? Just… talk for a bit?”

They started down the sidewalk together, the street quiet except for the hum of distant traffic and birds in the trees.

After a moment of silence, Eli finally spoke. “You know, I’ve been thinking a lot lately.”

“About?”

“About how people show up when it matters.” He glanced at her. “You’re new, and already you’ve got people picking sides over you. That says something.”

Amara blinked. “I didn’t ask for that. Especially not from Brielle.”

“I know,” he said softly. “But what Zayne did today… I guess I didn’t expect him to step in.”

Amara glanced sideways at him. “Are you… upset about it?”

“No,” Eli said quickly. “Just… caught off guard. I’ve known you longer, that’s all. I was the first person you trusted here.”

There was something in his voice — not jealousy exactly, but something close.

Amara stayed quiet.

Eli looked ahead, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “Back home, I was invisible. Nobody cared what I did or how I felt. But when I met you, it felt different. Like maybe someone finally saw me.”

She stopped walking.

“Eli…”

He turned toward her, vulnerability written all over his face. “I’m not trying to make things weird. I just want you to know… I’ve got your back. Not because I want something. Just because I care.”

The air between them was thick. Amara didn’t know what to say.

She nodded slowly. “Thank you.”

Eli smiled again — not the usual cocky grin, but something softer. He stepped closer and gave her a quick hug. Just enough to linger.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” she murmured, still processing.

He walked off with a satisfied look, but as he turned the corner, the softness in his eyes faded.

He was playing the long game.

And he was just getting started.