Hunter's Attraction

Class...Again

Tuesday and Wednesday were uneventful for the most part. Lily spent most of her time examining syllabuses and organizing her schedule. Thursday was a different story. Thursday, today, she would see... them—Jean-Pierre, his girlfriend, and his two other friends. I am not ready for this.

***

Lily sighed heavily as she stood before the classroom door. This was high school all over again! Only the roles were reversed. Now, she was the loner student afraid to enter the classroom, and they were the ‘popular’ kids.

"Come on, Lils," she muttered to herself. "You’ve got this."

Pasting a smile onto her face, she entered the classroom beaming, ready to take on the day. The sound of their laughter hit her first, too familiar, sending a pang of insecurity through her. She found her seat, eyes shifting toward them. Would they even notice her? Or worse, would they remember her?

Her smile wavered for a split second. It was a battlefield of sorts, except she wasn’t sure if she was an intruder or an observer. Either way, it felt like everyone was watching.

***

Jean-Pierre tapped his pencil on the desk somewhat nervously. “What’s wrong?” Julian smirked at him. “Nervous about seeing your girlfriend?” he teased.

“Buzz off, Julian,” Isabel glared. She’d been testy ever since JP admitted to having a chosen mate. “Did you get a chance to ask your mom about the mate bond?” Isabel asked JP in a kind tone.

“No,” JP answered, “she worked a double. Didn’t get home until this morning.”

“What about your aunt?”

“I’ve barely seen her the last two days,” he answered with a shrug.

“Maybe there’s something in the archives. I’ll ask our godfather,” she looked over at her twin, Diego.

“Why do you care so much?” Julian chuckled knowingly. “Afraid of a little competition.”

“Shut up, Julian,” Isabel growled.

“I don’t hear you denying it,” he laughed. Isabel began cursing Julian in Spanish, only stopping when JP said, “She’s here.” Jean-Pierre turned in his chair and faced the door, expecting Lily to walk in at that very moment. But she didn’t. The door remained closed. Jean-Pierre furrowed his brow. Lily was there; he could smell her. Is something wrong? Should I check on her? Wait…what! Jean-Pierre frowned. He didn’t care. No, I need to apologize.

“I thought you said she was there,” Julian said.

“Maybe she’s too afraid to come in here,” Isabel smirked.

“Enough,” JP finally said. “Leave her alone.”

“There’s that mate bond at work,” Diego joked.

“Shut up, Diego,” JP said as Lily entered the classroom. She was wearing pink again. It must be her favorite color. Her ponytail was perfect; she was perfect. Lily paused, briefly making eye contact with him, before clutching her book closer to her chest and briskly walking to her seat at the front of the class…which was right in front of him. Jean-Pierre followed her with his eyes. He needed to make this right. He needed her to look at him. “Hey, Lily,” he tapped her on the back with his pen. Lily turned, just enough to convey she heard JP. “I want to apologize for the other day.”

“It’s fine,” she replied before facing forward, her voice tight, betraying none of the anxiety she felt from being so close to him.

Jean-Pierre frowned. That was not the answer he was expecting. And she didn’t even look at him. What was her deal? Why do I care? Why does it matter so much to me? It shouldn’t. But the thought of her being upset gnawed at him, twisting his gut. He had to apologize.

“Good morning, class,” the professor greeted everyone as she walked in. “Just give me a moment, and we’ll begin the lesson.”

***

Lily scooted her chair over to make room for Julian. “How can she expect us to finish Great Expectations in two weeks?” Diego complained to the study group.

Lily smiled. “Well, it’s a group project.”

“We know,” Isabel groaned, rolling her eyes.

“I mean,” Lily’s smile faltered, “we can split the reading into sections. Then we each write a summary of our sections.”

“Oh... I get it,” JP said. Lily glanced at him, her heart skipping unexpectedly before she glanced away. Why are my cheeks heating? Am I blushing? “Then one of us puts it together, organizes it, edits, etc.”

“Exactly,” Lily said, offering a tentative smile. “First, does everyone have the book? I actually have the exact edition the professor suggested.”

“Ooh,” Isabel mocked. “Did daddy buy it for you?”

“Isabel!” JP’s voice was sharp. She waved him off dismissively.

“My brother’s girlfriend has it,” Lily replied, trying to ignore Isabel’s tone. “She owns lots of books. She loves reading.”

“I think I’m gonna have to visit the library,” Julian mumbled. “I don’t even know if we own books.”

“I’m sure your family owns at least one book,” Lily teased.

Julian’s grin widened, but there was something playful in his eyes. “Maybe you can come to my house and help me look?”

“Are you done?” JP’s voice was tight, his gaze locked on Julian. There was no mistaking the sharpness in his tone now. Lily blinked, glancing between the two, sensing the tension between them. Why do they keep doing that? What is going on between them?

Julian, unbothered, flashed JP a cheesy grin. “Just trying to get to know our dear classmate, JP. No need to be so... jealous.”

Jean-Pierre's fists clenched momentarily before he forced a tight smile. “Stick to the project, Julian.”

Lily felt the weight of their exchange, fidgeting as she lowered her eyes to her book. “Maybe we can have the book read by Monday,” she suggested, pulling her day planner from her bag. “And have the rough drafts finished by next Thursday. Does that sound like a good plan?” The group murmured their agreement.

“Should we meet before Thursday?” JP asked, and this time, he focused his gaze on her. Lily’s heart quickened under his attention, and she hated how it made her feel—too aware, too off-balance. She swallowed, her voice softer now. “Hmm...” she frowned, thinking of her commitment to help Lena that night. No way I can tell them I’m a hunter. They’d think I’m insane. “I have work that night,” she said.

JP frowned. “The campus café isn’t open on weeknights.”

“I have two... well, three jobs, actually,” Lily replied.

“Why do you work?” Isabel asked, her tone biting. “Want to see how us poor people live?”

“Isabel, you’re not poor,” JP replied, the edge returning to his voice. Lily looked at him, surprised at the way he seemed to defend her. Is he truly being... nice to me? Maybe he had meant his apology after all. “You’re upper-middle class,” JP added.

“Nah, I think we’re above upper-middle class,” Diego chimed in. “Oh, you haven’t been to the pack—I mean, our house,” he quickly corrected, glancing nervously at JP. “Our house.”

Lily snapped her head up, catching the slip. Did he almost say... pack? She noticed the harsh looks JP, Julian, and Isabel threw Diego’s way. I’m not imagining that, she thought. “Our house is big,” Diego continued, seemingly oblivious to the tension. “Like... enormous.”

“Cállate,” Isabel hissed, glaring at her brother. He stuck his tongue out, causing Lily to smile at their sibling banter. “Is something funny?” Isabel’s sharp attention now shifted to Lily.

“No,” Lily replied, leaning away, “it’s just—you remind me of fights I used to have with my sister.”

“You have a brother and a sister?” Julian asked, shifting the conversation.

“I have two brothers and one sister,” Lily smiled, grateful for the change in topic.

“That’s nice. I’m an only child. Though this dude,” he punched JP’s arm lightly, “is like a brother to me.”

“We’re cousins, actually,” JP clarified.

“Oh,” Lily said, nodding. “Are all of you related?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Isabel’s tone was icy. “You saying all Mexicans look the same?”

“No,” Lily frowned. Does this girl have a problem with me?

"We aren't related," JP quickly said, shooting a scathing look at Isabel. “Diego and Isabel are fraternal twins. But we all grew up together, so we’re more like siblings.”

“That’s nice,” Lily replied, but her mind wandered. If they all grew up together, why did Diego say JP hadn’t been to their house? She pushed the thought aside. Stop it with the conspiracies, Lily. “Well, class should be ending soon,” she said, glancing at the clock. “Maybe we can figure out a time to meet on Monday?”

“That works for me,” JP nodded.

“It’s a fantastic idea,” Julian beamed at her while staring at JP. Once again, Lily caught the unspoken conversation seemingly happening between JP and Julian. It’s as if they’re telepathic. Stop it with the conspiracy theories, Lily, she mentally scolded herself, but the feeling lingered. “Well,” she smiled, “I have a shift I need to prepare for. I’ll see you all on Monday.”