FOR THE SAKE OF YOU

She's All Over Him

The next few days were piled of schoolwork and strange encounters with Clyde. I kept my distance, mostly. Sure, he kept offering me rides, kept acting like he was trying to get me to open up, but I wasn’t that naive. I knew how this worked. Clyde Hans didn’t get involved with people like me.

But, of course, that didn't stop me from noticing the way he still seemed to hover around, like he was just waiting for me to bite.

And it wasn’t just him. It was Darcy, too.

Darcy Lane was always on the prowl for attention, and today was no different. She strutted down the hallway like she owned the place, her eyes scanning the crowd as usual. But today, her gaze locked on Clyde the second she entered the room.

My stomach churned at the sight. She wasn’t subtle, either. Darcy was the type who made sure everyone saw her outfit, perfectly put-together, with an air of superiority that radiated out of every pore. She was gorgeous, and she knew it. And when she caught sight of Clyde standing by the lockers, she practically melted into the group of girls around her, giving him a teasing smile as she sauntered over.

“Clyde, darling!” she cooed, reaching out to casually touch his arm. “I’ve missed you.”

He didn’t flinch, though he didn’t exactly push her away either. Instead, he looked at her with that same lazy smirk that made my insides twist. Darcy was just one of the many girls who threw themselves at him, and I could practically see the way she was all over him, like a lioness claiming her prey.

I looked away, feeling the bitterness settle in my chest.

“That girl needs a reality check,” Vicky said beside me, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I turned to look at my best friend, Vicky, who had been by my side the whole time, her usual laid-back demeanor intact. Her eyes followed Darcy’s every move, rolling as Darcy practically threw herself at Clyde.

“Do you think she actually believes Clyde’s into her?” Vicky asked with a snicker. “I mean, we both know he’s a manwhore, and Darcy is just another target for him. What a joke.”

I bit my lip, trying to keep my emotions in check. I didn't want to engage, but I couldn't help it. “She’s not the only one throwing herself at him.”

Vicky raised an eyebrow, her gaze narrowing as she saw the tension in my face. “Are you seriously going to play that game? You? The girl who’s been avoiding Clyde for weeks?”

“I’m just saying... I don’t need him in my life. Not when he’s like that.” I felt the heat rise in my face, my own words betraying me. I hated that I even cared. “He’s a player, Vicky. A manwhore. And I’m not going to be one of his stupid flings.”

Vicky laughed, a playful glint in her eye. “So you like him then? That’s the vibe I’m getting. Or is it the fact that he’s a walking red flag that’s more appealing?”

I shot her a glare, but it was hard to keep up the charade. I didn’t want to admit it, but yeah, maybe there was a part of me that was attracted to Clyde. It didn’t change the fact that I wasn’t about to get caught up in his games.

It was hard enough dealing with my own feelings, especially when I was constantly surrounded by people like Darcy. She was perfect in every way—at least on the outside. Silky hair, flawless skin, and a reputation that screamed “untouchable.”

But Clyde? He didn’t do relationships. He didn’t do commitment. And I wasn’t about to be another notch on his bedpost.

“I just don’t want to be like one of those girls,” I muttered, mostly to myself. “I don’t need to be another one of his conquests.”

Vicky’s expression softened, and she bumped my shoulder with hers. “Look, you’re not one of those girls. You’re smarter than that. And besides, if Clyde’s dumb enough to not see that, then it's his loss.”

I half-smiled at her, appreciating the support. But even as I tried to brush off my feelings, I couldn’t deny the tension that had been building between Clyde and me. He was starting to get under my skin, and I hated it. It wasn’t that I wanted him, but I didn’t want to feel like I was invisible either.

“Clyde’s probably the last person I need to be wasting my time on,” I muttered, more to reassure myself than anyone else.

But as Vicky and I moved down the hallway, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was lying to myself. I didn’t want to care about Clyde, but something about him, his cocky attitude, and the way he made me feel... well, it just made things more complicated than they needed to be.

And then there was Darcy, of course.

She had her sights set on him, and I knew it was only a matter of time before he’d fall right into her trap. Clyde and Darcy? They were like fire and gasoline. Together, they were explosive, and everyone around them could feel it.

But me? I wasn’t the kind of girl who was going to fight for his attention. Not when there were girls like Darcy around—girls who were perfect for him in every way. Bruh, why do I have to be this insecure.

The cafeteria was loud, filled with the usual chatter and clatter of trays. I had just sat down at a corner table with Vicky, feeling like I could finally breathe for a minute, when I heard it.

“Did you hear?” a voice said, just loud enough for me to catch it. “Clyde’s getting bored with Darcy. Looks like she’s not as exciting as he thought.”

I glanced up, trying to keep my face neutral, but inside, I felt a strange mix of relief and irritation. Darcy Lane was used to being the center of attention. She was pretty, popular, and every guy at this school wanted to be seen with her. But it was almost like Clyde’s disinterest made her seem less untouchable—more like a normal girl who was falling for the wrong guy.

Vicky was already smirking beside me, having caught the same tidbit of gossip. “Looks like Darcy’s going to have to find another toy to play with,” she said. Her tone was dripping with sarcasm, but I knew she wasn’t wrong.

I didn’t want to think about it too much. The thought of Clyde and Darcy was... messy, and I wasn’t in the mood to deal with it. The last thing I wanted was to get caught in their drama.

“Let’s just eat and move on, okay?” I muttered, pushing my tray of food forward.

But of course, that’s when he walked in.

Clyde entered the cafeteria like he owned the place. His usual swagger was on full display as he made his way to the lunch line, completely oblivious to everyone else around him. Darcy, however, was not as indifferent. She was watching him closely from her table, clearly waiting for him to notice her.

And he did.

His gaze flicked over to her, and she immediately brightened, getting up to walk toward him with that confident, almost predatory stride of hers. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

“You know,” Vicky said casually, not missing the way I was eyeing the two of them. “It’s kind of funny. You act like you don’t care about Clyde, but there you are, watching him like a hawk.”

I shot her a look. “It’s not like that, Vicky.”

“Right. Sure,” she said with a sly grin. “Keep telling yourself that.”

I sighed and focused on my food. It wasn’t that I had any lingering feelings for Clyde, but seeing him so easily fall into Darcy’s trap made me feel... something. Maybe it was jealousy, or maybe it was just frustration that he had this effect on everyone. People like him didn’t care about anything but what they could take.

Just then, I felt a presence next to me, a shadow falling over my table. My stomach tightened, and I didn’t even need to look up to know who it was.

“Hey, Luce.”

I barely looked up, but I could feel Clyde’s smirk as he stood by my side. “What do you want, Hans?”

“Just came to say hi,” he said, his tone too casual. “I see you’re already busy judging me from across the room.”

I didn’t answer right away, my mind racing. I wasn’t about to let him get to me, but I wasn’t going to play along with his games, either. Not with Darcy watching us. She was standing at the edge of the cafeteria, clearly looking at us with a raised eyebrow, waiting for Clyde to take the bait.

“Not judging,” I said flatly, finally lifting my gaze to meet his. “Just... minding my own business.”

“You sure about that?” Clyde leaned in a little, his voice lowering as if sharing some secret. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re a little curious.”

I took a deep breath, pushing the irritation aside. “I don’t care what you think, Clyde. Honestly, you should go back to your fan club,” I said, motioning over to Darcy and her friends, who were now watching us.

He smirked. “Nah. I’m good here. But if you want to go back to ignoring me, that’s fine too.”

I didn’t give him the satisfaction of a response. Instead, I focused back on my lunch, trying to calm myself down. Clyde might’ve thought I was playing hard to get, but I knew better than to get sucked into his world. He was trouble, the kind of trouble that seemed fun at first but would leave you burned in the end.

But just as I was about to get up and leave, Darcy made her move. She walked up to our table, her heels clicking sharply against the floor, and stood next to Clyde with an air of dominance that made my stomach churn.

“Clyde, darling,” she said in that fake sweet voice of hers. “I was wondering if you’d like to sit with us? The table’s a little empty without you.”

Clyde looked at her, then glanced over at me, as if waiting for my reaction. Darcy’s presence was always an act of conquest, and she was showing off to me like she had something to prove.

I didn’t care.

I stood up without a word and grabbed my things, purposefully avoiding both of them as I made my way toward the door. I wasn’t about to sit there and watch their little show. Clyde and Darcy? They were perfect for each other—rich, beautiful, and shallow. They didn’t need me in their messy world.

But just before I walked out, I heard Clyde’s voice behind me, low and slightly frustrated.

“Not even a goodbye?”

I didn’t turn around.

“You’re right, Clyde. I’m not the one who needs to say goodbye.”