FOR THE SAKE OF YOU

The Unexpected Side

The following week was... strange. I kept telling myself I was done with Clyde. We were working together on a project, and once it was over, I’d go back to my usual life—no more distractions, no more unnecessary thoughts.

But of course, things weren’t that simple.

Clyde had been different since we finished the project. He still wasn’t the most talkative, but there was something new about him. He started showing up in the mornings before school, sitting on the steps near the entrance like he was waiting for someone. I tried to ignore it at first. Maybe he was just killing time before class, right? But as the days went by, it became clear that he was waiting for me.

It was a little unsettling, to be honest.

One morning, I was running late as usual, scrambling to get my things together. As I stepped out the door, I saw him there, sitting on the steps, looking as nonchalant as ever. But there was something different in his gaze today.

“Luce,” he said, and I nearly stumbled at the sound of my last name. I wasn’t used to hearing it from him. “You need a ride?”

I paused. Clyde Hans? Offering me a ride? I knew we’d worked together on the project, but this was... different. His offer was casual, but I wasn’t about to jump to conclusions.

“Uh, I’m good,” I replied quickly, trying to avoid eye contact. “Thanks, but I’ve got it.”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that answer. “You sure? It’s no trouble.”

I shook my head, almost feeling embarrassed. “I don’t need you doing me any more favors.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, just looked at me with that same unreadable expression. Then, he stood up slowly, dusting off his jeans. “Alright. Suit yourself.” He shrugged and turned to leave, but then, as if something caught his attention, he stopped and looked back. “You know, you’re a lot harder to figure out than I thought.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that. I wasn’t sure I even wanted to.

The rest of the day was a blur, but I couldn’t shake his words. I’d been avoiding him lately, trying to focus on school and other things, but for some reason, his presence lingered in my mind. It felt like we were on the edge of something, but I had no idea what.

The next morning, it happened again. He was there, waiting for me. I tried to tell myself it was no big deal, that maybe he was just being nice. But every time I saw him, there was this nagging feeling, like something was shifting between us, something I couldn’t control.

"Ready to go?" he asked with a casual smirk as I approached the steps.

This time, I didn’t answer right away. I just stared at him, trying to figure out what his deal was. He was Clyde Hans, the rich, untouchable bad boy who never cared about anyone—except now, it seemed like he cared about me. Or at least, he was trying to act like he did.

But I couldn’t let myself get carried away. The last thing I needed was to be another girl caught in his orbit. It wasn’t just that I didn’t want to get involved with him—I knew it was inevitable. Every girl at school was fawning over him, especially Darcy Lane.

Darcy was perfect, the kind of girl who made everyone around her feel small. Beautiful, popular, and, well, a major b***h. She and Clyde? They were like a power couple in the making. They were both untouchable—charming, wealthy, and effortlessly attractive. They went well together, and everyone knew it.

I wasn’t blind to it. I wasn’t about to let myself get tangled in whatever it was Clyde was trying to do, especially when there were girls like Darcy around, who were far better suited to him than I would ever be.

“Fine,” I said, my voice more curt than I intended. “I’ll take the ride.”

Clyde didn’t seem to mind my sudden shift in attitude. He only smirked, looking pleased. “Good. Let’s get going, then.”

The ride to school was strangely quiet. Clyde didn’t try to make small talk, and I didn’t either. But it wasn’t the uncomfortable silence I was used to—it was almost peaceful. Still, I couldn’t ignore the fact that I had no idea what was going on between us. What did this mean?

When we arrived at school, he didn’t just drop me off and leave. Instead, he parked the car and stayed there, eyes focused on the front gates. I wasn’t sure if he was waiting for me to speak, or if he was just lost in his thoughts.

“So…” I started, not knowing what else to say. “Why the sudden interest?”

He looked at me, the smirk returning to his lips. “Just wanted to see if you’d cave. Didn’t think you would.”

I rolled my eyes, but there was a slight smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Well, don’t get used to it.”

His gaze softened, just for a second. “I won’t.”

I got out of the car, my heart beating just a little faster than usual. I wasn’t sure what had just happened, but something had changed again. Something was happening between me and this boy—and I wasn’t sure if it was good or bad, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Maybe I'm just delusional...Yeah, I'm probably delusional.

And just as I was about to walk away, I glanced toward the entrance of the school. There was Darcy, standing with a group of her friends, looking as flawless as always. Her eyes briefly flicked toward me, and I couldn’t help but feel that familiar knot in my stomach.

I wasn’t like Darcy. I wasn’t part of that world. And I wasn’t about to get caught in some messy situation with Clyde, no matter how much he seemed to be paying attention to me now.