Chapter 4
964 Words
“You—what?”
My heart picks up speed. I take a step back, half-hoping he’ll burst out laughing and say he’s kidding.
But he doesn’t.
Because of course, he’s not joking.
And no, this is not a good thing.
“I said I’ve transferred into your class.”
“Oh god.” I exhale sharply, scratching the side of my head as I stare at the floor like it owes me an explanation.
Lucas just stands there, grinning like a total i***t, rocking back and forth on his heels with his hands tucked into his pockets.
Fantastic.
The one thing I’ve been trying to avoid all year, and Lucas just had to come along and flip it upside down.
Everything was finally settling into place. It was quiet. Peaceful. Predictable. Until he decided to crash it.
I bite down on my nail, checking the time on my watch.
The teacher’s about to show up any minute now.
Without another word, I walk into the classroom and ignore him when he calls my name.
Please don’t follow. Please don’t follow. Please don’t—
To my relief, he doesn't push it. For the rest of the day, he keeps his distance and plays along with our unspoken deal.
Even at lunch, he sticks to it. No jokes, no sneaky glances, no acknowledgment that I even exist.
It’s honestly surprising. I expected him to slip up by now.
Lucas has always been stubborn. Always.
So when the final bell rings and I’m finally heading home, I start to let my guard down.
That is, until someone jumps out behind me and nearly sends my soul flying out of my body.
I swear I saw the light for a second.
Heart pounding, I clutch at my chest and spin around.
And who do I see?
Lucas, obviously. Grinning like he’s just pulled off the best prank of the year.
“How many times do I have to tell you not to scare me like that?” I snap.
“How many times do I have to tell you I don’t listen?”
I shoot him a look.
We’re still within school grounds. Being seen talking to him right now is the last thing I need.
I turn away with a sigh and keep walking, but it doesn’t stop him from tagging along. He matches my pace and walks beside me like it’s no big deal.
“So… how are you?”
That catches me off guard. Not the question itself—just the sudden switch in tone.
Also, he’s towering over me again. I used to be taller, way back when we were kids. Then he hit a growth spurt at eleven and turned into a literal tree.
And no, I’ve never fully forgiven him for that.
“You’re so random,” I mutter, nudging him away from my space.
He laughs and leans away, only to come right back and toss an arm over my shoulders.
Oh, for the love of—
“Hand off,” I growl.
“No can do. Has anyone ever told you you’re the perfect size for a crutch? You’re just so tiny.”
His voice drops into that annoying baby tone, and it grates on my nerves.
“Has anyone ever told you you’re too tall for your own good?”
One of the reasons Lucas is considered the school’s poster boy is his height. He’s probably the tallest guy in our year.
But he doesn’t even play basketball, which somehow makes it worse. Just tall for no reason. Some people have all the luck.
“I swear, you’ve gotten so feisty,” he teases, raising an eyebrow. “Where did my sweet little best friend go?”
I almost roll my eyes into next week.
We’re far enough from the school now—no more people watching.
“She’s still here,” I mutter around a mouthful of rice.
Lucas squeezes me into a side hug. “Of course she is. My sweet little crutch.”
And that’s the final straw.
I shake him off, grab his wrist, and twist it just enough to make him yelp.
“Okay! Okay—ow! I’ll stop! I’ll stop!”
Once I’m satisfied, I let go. Lucas rubs his arm and pouts dramatically.
“You can’t blame me for missing you.”
“You call that missing me?” I scoff. “I call that bullying.”
“I’m the one in pain right now. So really, who’s the real bully here?”
Ugh. He always has a comeback.
“Okay, fine,” I say with a sigh. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to hurt you.”
His face brightens, that pitiful pout replaced by a smug little grin. “It’s fine. You can beat me up all you want. I’ll still say thank you.”
“You always have an answer for everything, don’t you?”
“That’s how conversations work, sweetheart. Unless you didn’t know that.”
“You’re enjoying this way too much.”
He shrugs and grabs the strap of my backpack.
“By the way, I’ve got news. Been dying to tell you.”
I glance at him as he tugs gently on the strap, wordlessly asking me to let him carry it.
“…What kind of news?”
He doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he takes my bag and swings it over his shoulder.
The vibe shifts slightly. Something in his expression changes—like he’s thinking about how to say something serious.
And weirdly enough, even after all these years, there are times when I look at him and feel like I don’t know him at all.
I wait.
Just as he opens his mouth to speak—
“Lucas!”
Someone else cuts in.
- Writer
