Trapped Beneath His Blue Gaze

Collision

The quad returned back to their normal activities as she left. The noise- laughter, footsteps, chatter around increasing by the second but my eyes stayed on her retreating figure until she disappeared past the fountain. Charles Miller walked beside her, still talking to her. I felt like a predator whose eyes had been set on new prey. Leaning back against the bench, I felt Cassian’s stare before he spoke.

"What was that, man?" he asked, tugging off his sunglasses. His tone was half amusement, half disbelief.

"Nothing."

Dante whistled under his breath. "Didn’t look like nothing. Poor girl looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole." Tossing a coin into the air and catching it, he continued. "Scholarship kid, right? Can’t believe they still let them in."

"Careful now," Cassian said lightly. "You sound like your father."

Dante grinned," Relax. I just meant- look at her. She doesn’t fit."

A pang of discomfort shot through me at his words but I shoved it away quickly. Dante was saying the truth; she didn't fit in West Cliff.

Axel stood nearby, silent as usual. He didn’t laugh or add to the conversation. He rarely did; he just watched, eyes unreadable, arms crossed over his chest.

"If she didn't hide behind those hideous clothes, we might know if she is worth the glance," Dante continued.

I stiffened.

Straightening my jacket, I said, tone cold, "Drop it."

Dante fell silent. Cassian's brow shot up in surprise and confusion. "Sure. Just saying- it’s rare to see you take interest in anyone. Even if it’s to make a point."

"I didn’t," I replied monotoned.

"Right," he smiled faintly, clearly not buying it. A wary expression, one I'd come to know all to well crossing his face before he turned away.

My jaw clenched.

Moments later, they all drifted back into their own conversations; Cassian talking about some new car, Dante complaining about his suspension from previous week while Axel checked his watch like he was counting minutes until he could leave school but I tuned them all out.

I didn't understand it but my mind kept circling back to that look on the new girl's face- not just fear but defiance. Most people here flinched when I spoke. She didn’t. She met my eyes and threw my words right back at me.

It wasn’t a smart move but it was something. I ran a hand through my hair, unsettled by the weird flicker of interest. I was mostly detached. Not one to waste thoughts on people, especially a scholarship girl who’d probably be gone by mid-semester.

Still-

The bell rang, sharp and distant. The quad started to empty. Cassian slapped me on the shoulder as he passed. "You’re coming to Blake's class, right? Or are you skipping again?"

Professor Blake's classes were always boring for me because they were a repetition of what I already knew. However, only my friends knew that was my reason for not attending; others thought I was being nonchalant and I couldn't care less. I was tempted to decline again but then I remembered her walking in the direction of the classroom and I was automatically intrigued. Was she taking the same class as I was?

"I’ll be there," I replied.

Cassian looked shocked at my reply. "Miracles do happen," he muttered, grinning before heading off with Dante.

Axel lingered. "You okay?"

I grunted.

He gave me a look that said he didn’t believe me but didn’t press. "Your father texted me again. Said to remind you about the board meeting this weekend," he said dryly.

We both knew it was a touchy subject so he didn't lay any emphasis on it.

"Noted," I responded.

Axel nodded once and began striding towards the entrance. "Still coming?"

"Yeah," I replied but lingered behind, letting the last few students disappear into the buildings.

The sun was higher now, glinting off the glass windows of the main hall. Everything looked perfect, polished, expensive and untouchable. Just like it was supposed to.

I’d grown up inside these walls. Everyone here knew who I was before they met me: Raze Calloway, West Cliff owner's son. The Calloway's name carried weight, respect, fear or whatever you wanted to call it but it also came with expectations I never asked for.

Control the image.

Never falter.

Never break.

Keep your secrets locked away.

Most days I managed. Some days I didn’t.

I pulled my phone out, ignoring the dozen missed calls from my father. He’d probably lecture me later about staying focused and keeping appearances. As if I didn’t already spend every day pretending the world made sense.

My head felt too loud, the way it sometimes did when everything pressed in at once. I needed space, quiet but then her face flickered through my thoughts again.

By the time I made it to class, she was already there. Sitting at the edge of the class up ahead, hood up, looking down at her notebook like she was trying to disappear into it. I took the empty seat reserved for me by my friends at the end of the rows but didn’t glance in her direction. Not once. However, the awareness remained, like gravity.

As usual the open stares, wary looks and whispers increased on my arrival. It never got old. I ignored them as usual, idly fiddling on my sketchbook while Cassian and Dante bickered by my side and Blake rambled on about state structures.

Halfway through the lecture, Professor Blake asked a question about state structures but no one answered. It wasn't unusual. But just as he turned around with his signature huff, a quiet voice spoke up. "Checks and balances."

That voice. My head shot to the side, instantly landing on her.

Her head peeked out of the blue oversized, worn-out hoodie she had on, tone clear, calm and confident.

Blake nodded approvingly. "Correct. Rebecca Taylor, is it?"

"Yes Sir," she answered softly, earning a satisfied grunt from Blake.

As though sensing my stare, she turned, catching my gaze, something unreadable flickering in her eyes before looking away quickly.

Something tightened in my chest: an unfamiliar mix of irritation and- curiosity.

When class ended, I walked out first, keeping my expression neutral. Cassian, Dante and Axel trailed behind me.

"Guess you found a new hobby," Cassian said, smirking as he came to a stop beside me.

"What are you talking about?"

"The girl."

I gave him a look that shut him up, mostly but Dante just snorted, clearly not believing me either. "Whatever you say, man. Just don’t scare this one off too fast. Makes the place boring."

Axel rolled his eyes and started walking toward the parking lot. "You two sound like idiots."

Cassian laughed. "Come on, Axe. Admit it, you're curious too."

Axel didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. His silence said enough.

Cassian lingered. "You good though?" He asked, giving me a concerned, meaningful look. A look that held secrets, truths and lies.

"Yeah," I answered, my tone sharper than intended.

Just at that moment, my phone dinged with a message. Pulling it out, I stared down at the message displayed on the screen. "Raze, I need to speak to you. Come to my office as soon as possible."

"Your dad? Mom?" Cassian asked, judging from the distasteful expression on my face.

"Mom," I answered. "Y'all go ahead without me. This might take a minute."

He hesitated for a brief second, expression concerned but finally nodded. "Alright. I'll tell the others."

I lingered, watching them leave then turned to head towards the office block when my eyes landed on the fountain where Rebecca had stood hours ago. The wind shifted, carrying faint laughter from the courtyard. I could still hear the way she’d said her name- quiet, careful, like she already knew it didn’t belong here.

Maybe that’s what caught my attention. Not the clothes, not the voice but the fact that she didn’t belong and didn’t seem to care. People at West Cliff played by unspoken rules. Rules made by the Kings and she hadn’t learned them yet.

"Rebecca Taylor," I said under my breath, testing the sound of it as I made my walked down the pathway.

I wasn’t sure what it meant yet or why I noticed her. I told myself it was nothing. She was a nobody. Still, as a faint smile tugged at the corner of my mouth, I muttered to myself, "Let's see how long she lasts."

The words came out soft, almost thoughtful but even I could hear the edge beneath them.