CHAPTER SEVENTEEN _ THE CRACKS IN THE WALL
929 Words
What?"
"I'm not attending the ball."
"Why not?"
"It's not my kind of event."
"But everyone will be there."
"Exactly."
She frowned.
"You're seriously going to spend the biggest night of the semester hiding in here?"
"I wasn't planning on hiding."
He gently tapped the book in front of him.
"I'll probably be reading."
Olivia shook her head in disbelief.
"You are unbelievable."
"So I've been told."
She leaned forward.
"You'd rather read dusty old books than dance?"
"Yes."
"You'd rather listen to silence than music?"
"Yes."
"You'd rather spend the evening alone?"
Owen hesitated.
"...Probably."
Olivia studied him for a moment.
There was no arrogance in his voice.
No bitterness.
Just honesty.
She smiled sadly.
"You know..."
"I think you're afraid."
Owen frowned.
"I'm not afraid."
"Then prove it."
He met her eyes.
"I don't need to prove anything."
Another silence settled between them.
This one was different.
Gentler.
Olivia couldn't explain why, but every conversation with Owen made her see another side of him—a side hidden beneath the quiet, intelligent exterior everyone else overlooked.
The more she learned about him...
The more fascinating he became.
She smiled softly.
"One day," she whispered, "I'm going to convince you to stop hiding from the world."
Owen looked out through the stained-glass window, where the afternoon sunlight painted colorful patterns across the floor.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"We'll see."
For reasons neither of them understood...
Neither noticed that someone standing outside the library doors had seen the entire conversation.
And that someone quietly walked away.
The Winter Ball.
It was all anyone could talk about.
Mia practically glowed with excitement as she walked beside Asher, her heels clicking confidently against the pavement. She was already imagining every eye in Valoria Academy fixed on her.
"I've already decided what I'm wearing," she announced proudly. "Silver gown, crystal heels, diamond earrings... Everyone's going to lose their minds."
Asher walked beside her with one hand tucked into his pocket.
"Hm."
She smiled, not noticing.
"And when we walk into the ballroom together..." she continued dramatically, spinning in front of him. "...we'll officially be the best-looking couple in the academy."
"Yeah."
She stopped spinning.
"Did you hear anything I just said?"
"Huh?"
Mia folded her arms.
"I asked what color suit you're wearing."
"Oh..."
He blinked.
"I don't know."
She frowned.
"You don't know?"
"I haven't thought about it."
"Since when do you not care about something like this?"
"I just..."
His sentence trailed away.
For a brief second...
Olivia's face crossed his mind.
The frightened expression she wore after failing the rescue simulation.
The way she'd forced a smile despite everyone whispering behind her back.
The determination in her eyes even after humiliating herself.
Without realizing it...
He smiled.
A tiny one.
But Mia caught it.
Her heart sank.
"Asher..."
He looked up.
"What?"
"Who are you thinking about?"
"No one."
She stared into his eyes.
"You've been acting strange ever since that rescue simulation."
"I've just been tired."
"Tired?"
Her voice sharpened.
"You've barely listened to anything I've said for the last five minutes."
Asher rubbed the back of his neck.
"Sorry."
"No."
She stepped closer.
"This isn't just about today."
"You keep staring off."
"You keep zoning out."
"And every time..." she said quietly, "...it's after Olivia shows up."
Silence.
Asher looked away.
He didn't answer.
That was all Mia needed.
Her jaw tightened.
"So it is her."
"What?"
"The new girl."
"Mia—"
"No."
She laughed bitterly.
"I knew it."
"You've been watching her."
"You're imagining things."
"Am I?"
She folded her arms again.
"You defended her after the simulation."
"You kept looking at her."
"And now you can't even focus when I'm talking."
Asher sighed.
"I just feel bad for her."
"That's all."
"Do you?"
Mia searched his face.
For the first time since they'd started dating...
She wasn't sure.
She took a slow step backward.
"If you hurt me..."
Her voice was calm.
"...I'll make sure she regrets ever coming to Valoria Academy."
Without waiting for an answer...
She turned and walked away.
Asher watched her disappear into the crowd.
He should have gone after her.
Instead...
His eyes drifted toward the academy library.
Toward the place where he'd seen Olivia disappear only minutes earlier.
He let out a slow breath.
"...What is happening to me?"
Unbeknownst to either of them...
From the second-floor balcony overlooking the gardens...
Wyatt had witnessed the entire conversation.
A faint smile crept onto his face.
"So..."
he murmured.
"The cracks are finally starting to show."
He turned and disappeared into the shadows, already thinking about how he could use this against Omar... and against Olivia.
- Writer
