Chapter Two
1566 Words
Noira was unraveling.
She didn’t want to admit it, but ever since her run-in with Lucas at the library, she had been on edge. Questioning her planned life, decisions she had made in the past.
Whenever she stepped onto campus, she found herself glancing around, wondering if she’d see him again and having a feeling seemingly close to disappointment when she didn’t see him.
It had to stop.
Lucas Carter was a making her question her decisions. He was a distraction she could not afford to have.
And so, she did what she does best— threw herself into her schedule, making sure every minute of her day was accounted for as usual.
Classes. Assignments. Meetings. Aaron.
It worked—for a while.
But then Friday rolled around, and Melanie had other plans.
“You need a night out.”
Noira groaned as Melanie dragged a dress out of her closet, holding it up triumphantly.
“I really don’t,” Noira argued, already exhausted at the thought.
Melanie ignored her, tossing the dress onto the bed. “Yes, you do. "You’ve been weird all week.” She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t even deny it. You’ve been lost in your own head, you barely laughed at my ‘hot professor’ conspiracy theory, and you didn’t even argue with me when I took the last slice of pizza. That’s borderline concerning behavior.”
Noira sighed. “I’m just busy.”
Melanie flopped onto the bed. “You’re stressed.” She poked Noira’s leg. “So we’re fixing it. One night. Drinks. Dancing. Maybe even some bad decisions, if you’re feeling adventurous.”
Noira hesitated.
She wasn’t so sure why she had been so off lately. But she had a sinking feeling that one particular person had something to do with it.
And maybe a night out was exactly what she needed.
“Fine,” she muttered.
“As if you have a choice.”, Melanie said gleefully.
The club was loud, packed, and pulsing with energy.
Noira was never much of a party girl, in fact the few parties she had been to were either very important or she was dragged by Melanie or Aaron. Tonight however, she decided she’d let herself go just a little—sipping her drink, swaying to the music, letting Melanie drag her to the dance floor.
She was trying to distract herself from thoughts of “him” and it was working.
For the first time in days, her mind wasn’t tangled in thoughts of him.
Until she turned her head—
And locked eyes with Lucas Carter.
Hair slicked back, signature— almost too tight shirt nursing a glass of wine.
Of course he was here, she mentally scolded herself.
Melanie, oblivious to Noira’s internal panic, leaned in. “That guy is staring at you.”
Noira swallowed hard. “Ignore him.”
Melanie gave her a sly look. “Ignore that? No chance. He’s hot.”
“Mel.”
“What? Just saying.”
Noira should have turned away. She should have focused on anything but Lucas Carter.
Instead, she met his gaze head-on.
And to her horror, he moved.
He pushed off the bar, cutting effortlessly through the crowd, headed straight for her.
Noira’s heart pounded.
She could walk away. Pretend she didn’t see him.
But she didn’t move.
Lucas stopped just close enough to be heard over the music. “Didn’t take you for a party girl.”
His voice was smooth, teasing. Making her toes curl while her fingers curled around her drink. “I’m full of surprises.”
Lucas tilted his head slightly, as if he were studying her. “Are you?, I’d like to find out.”
Melanie cleared her throat loudly, grinning. “Hi. I’m Melanie. Noira’s best friend.”
Lucas barely spared her a glance. “Lucas.”
Melanie nudged Noira with a look that screamed explain later, then turned back to Lucas. “You two know each other?”
“No,” Noira said at the same time Lucas said “Yes”.
Lucas hummed, like he found her denial amusing. “That can change.”
She needed to shut this down. Now.
Just then Noira heard someone call her name through the music.
“Noira?”
Her stomach dropped as that voice could only belong to one person, she turned, and saw Aaron standing just a few feet away with an unreadable expression.
Aaron’s eyes flicked between them. “Noira, who is this?”
Melanie cleared her throat. “Aaron! Hey! Crazy running into you here.”
Aaron barely acknowledged her. His gaze stayed locked on Noira. “What’s going on?”
Noira opened her mouth—
But Lucas spoke first. “We were just talking.” His voice was casual, with a hint of amusement and pointedness.
Aaron’s jaw tightened. “About what?”
Lucas smirked. “Why? Something wrong, boyfriend?”
Noira’s stomach dropped.
Aaron’s eyes darkened. “You know who I am.”
“Hard to miss,” Lucas said, cool and unaffected. “Noira’s mentioned you.”
Aaron turned to her. “Has she?”
Noira clenched her fists. Lucas was playing with him, with her, and if she didn’t shut this down, it was going to spiral fast.
“We might have run into each other a few times,” she said quickly.
Aaron’s gaze flicked back to Lucas, searching for a reason not to believe her.
Lucas only smiled.
A slow, lazy, infuriating smile.
Noira needed to end this now.
“I need some air” she said, surprising herself , grabbing Aaron’s hand with pleading eyes before he could say another word. “Come with me?”
Aaron hesitated a little, before letting her pull him away.
Outside, the cool air hit her skin, grounding her.
Aaron exhaled sharply. “Who is he?”
“No one,” she lied.
Aaron gave her a look. “Noira.”
She crossed her arms. “We met at the networking event. Then I ran into him at the cafe. We don’t know each other like that”
Aaron didn’t seem convinced. “He acts like he knows you.”
“He acts like that with everyone.”
Aaron ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “I don’t like him.”
Noira huffed. “You don’t even know him.”
“I don’t need to. "He’s…” Aaron hesitated, as if searching for the right word. “Dangerous.”
Noira blinked. “Isn’t that a little dramatic?”
Aaron shook his head. “Noira, guys like him? They don’t just talk to people like us. He wants something.”
Something in his words made her stomach twist.
Because deep down, she knew he wasn’t wrong.
“But what does she have that Lucas might want?,” she thought in her head.
Aaron dropped her off at her apartment not long after.
Noira was exhausted, mentally drained from the night. But when she stepped inside, Melanie was waiting.
With a look.
“So.” Melanie flopped onto the couch. “Care to let me know what the hell that was?.”
Noira let out a groan. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Melanie grinned. “Yeah, well, I do.”
She patted the seat next to her. Noira sighed but sat down.
“Okay,” Melanie said. “Spill.”
Noira rubbed her face. “There’s nothing to spill. Lucas and I met at the networking event. He’s… annoying.”
Melanie wiggled her brows. “Hot annoying.”
Noira shot her a look. “Not the point.”
Melanie waved a hand. “Fine. Whatever. But Aaron definitely thinks there’s something going on.”
Noira leaned back against the couch. “I know.”
Melanie studied her. “So? Is there?”
Noira’s pulse skipped. “No.”
Melanie hummed like she didn’t quite believe her.
And maybe Noira didn’t quite believe herself either.
Because no should have been an easy answer.
So why did it feel like a lie?
Monday.
Noira was determined to put the weekend behind her.
She stuck to her routine, avoiding distractions. Avoiding Lucas.
But apparently, the universe had other plans.
Because when she walked out of the library that afternoon, there he was—leaning against a sleek black car, arms crossed, watching her walk out like he had been expecting her.
Her breath caught as she saw him. “What are you doing here?”, she quipped.
Lucas smirked. “Waiting for you.”
Noira stiffened. “Why?”
“We need to talk.”
“No, we don’t.”
Lucas pushed off the car, stepping closer. “I think we do.”
Noira clenched her jaw. “Lucas, there’s nothing to—”
“I have a proposition,” he said before she could complete her sentence. “And I think you’re going to want to hear it.” he added.
"I don't want to," she said, her heart beating fast.
"You’ve not heard it yet," he stated with a serious look she didn’t think she’d seen in him before then.
She looked away almost too quickly, chastising herself for almost drowning in those beautiful eyes.
"I don't care Lucas, I do not want to hear whatever it is you have to say, have a good night."
And then, she ran.
- Writer
