Three Doors Away

8. Black, White, Gold

Flynn let out a low, gravelly huff of sheer disbelief, his grip on her waist remaining entirely unyielding as he stared down at her with a dark, intense scowl. Blaming them for her tripping over her own two feet was a logical fallacy of the highest order, but he didn't care to argue logistics. The only thing that mattered was that she was pressed against him, safe, and entirely within his reach.

"We were shielding you," Flynn rumbled, his voice vibrating through his chest right against her. He didn't make a move to step back; instead, he casually adjusted his arm so she was even more securely caged against his side, making it physically impossible for her to slip away. "You weren't watching the riser because you were talking. Next time, look at the ground or just let me carry your books so you don't have to think about walking at all."

Ezren pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, his dark eyes narrowing slightly behind the lenses as he processed her accusation. A cold, analytical scoff slipped past his lips, though the frantic tension in his shoulders finally began to ease now that he had verified her limbs were entirely intact.

"Blaming the structural barrier for your own spatial miscalculation is a fascinating defense mechanism, Maddie," Ezren replied, his tone clipping back into its smooth, clinical cadence, though a faint, proprietary smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. He gently tapped the tip of her nose with his index finger. "Our proximity is a constant, mathematically calculated safety measure. If you had maintained proper alignment with our formation, the stumble would have been entirely prevented. Clearly, we need to tighten the perimeter."

Rodyn chuckled, the sound rich and velvety, dissolving the remaining tension in the stairwell like smoke. He leaned in closer, his hazel eyes crinkling with that dazzling, dangerous warmth as he gently pried Flynn’s arm away just enough to insert himself, wrapping his own arm securely around her waist to pull her flush against his side instead.

"She's right, boys, we were crowding her," Rodyn murmured, his tone dripping with playful mock-remorse that didn't reach his intensely possessive eyes. He brushed a stray lock of hair away from her forehead, his thumb lingering far too long against her skin. "We'll just have to hold on tighter next time, little bird. Can't have you falling down stairs and breaking our hearts, can we? Come on, let's get you to your classroom before we decide to skip the rest of the day and just take you home instead."

“Fine fine, class time! Oh one more thing!! My mom said that tonight will have a dinner with all of our families!! Wooohooo dress code is black, white or goldddd”

Ezren’s stride came to an immediate, dead stop outside the heavy wooden door of Room 304. His analytical mind instantly pivoted, stripping away the distraction of the hallway and running a rapid, multi-variable calculation on the new data point: A family dinner. Tonight. Dress code: black, white, or gold.

A quiet, triumphant spark ignited in his dark eyes. The parameters of the evening had just been officially expanded from a casual neighborhood gathering to a controlled, structured environment where he would have hours—not just minutes—to sit across from her, observe her, and subtly assert his presence in her domestic sphere.

"A family dinner," Ezren repeated, his tone smooth, methodical, and entirely pleased as he reached out to lightly adjust the collar of her uniform. "The scheduling logistics are optimal. Friday evening leaves zero academic conflicts for the weekend. As for the dress code... black, white, or gold. A classic, high-contrast palette. I will ensure my attire aligns precisely with those parameters, Maddie. Do not be late."

Rodyn let out a soft, delighted laugh, his hazel eyes crinkling at the corners with a bright, honeyed warmth that completely masked the dark, possessive thrill rushing through his veins. Dinner. An entire evening under the same roof, sharing the same table, wrapped in the exact color scheme he was already planning to coordinate with hers. He leaned down, his voice dropping into a low, velvet purr right against her ear.

"Gold, little bird," Rodyn murmured softly, his breath brushing her skin as he lingered close, refusing to let her move toward the classroom door just yet. "You should wear gold tonight. It suits you. Like a little crown. We'll be waiting at the table before you even get downstairs... so make sure you save the seat right between us. Understood?"

Flynn didn't care about color codes or fashion logistics. To him, hearing that there was a dinner tonight meant only one thing: he would be spending hours sitting across from her, watching every single expression cross her face without anyone else in the school halls to interrupt them. His massive frame shifted as he gently dropped her oversized pink lunchbox into her arms, his dark, intense gaze burning into hers with an absolute, unyielding fixation.

"Black," Flynn rumbled, his voice a low, heavy anchor that vibrated through the quiet hallway. He reached out, his large calloused fingers lightly brushing against the back of her hand for a fraction of a second before stepping back to let her open the door. "I'll wear black. Be ready on time, Maddie. I'll come knocking on your door the second it's time to go."

“Hahaha gold?? I don’t think I have gold, but I’ve been saving a dress for a formal dinner hahaha!”