TWO
1097 Words
EMERY VALE'S POV:
I knocked on the door and pushed into Professor Long's office, eyes scanning everywhere.
"Oh, Vale." He muttered, not sparing me a glance. He never did.
He unlocked his drawer and pushed the file towards me, "there,”
He wasn't vocal like the students, but I could detect the disdain in his voice.
He too, like the rest of the students, is wondering why I was allowed back to the school.
I took a step forward and grabbed the file from his table. "Thank you, Sir," I said and started walking towards the door.
"Vale," He called, and I slowly turned around to face him, his eyes accessing me. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Not him too. I nodded once and turned towards the door.
As I made my way down the corridor, I was scrolling through my phone and then let out a frustrated sigh as I bumped into someone.
"Oh.... I'm so sorry," The voice mumbled frantically as she bent to pick my file from the floor. She stood and smiled. "I'm sorry, I wasn't looking."
I shook my head, taking the file from her. "I wasn't looking either."
She was shorter than me, the rim of her glasses pushed on the bridge of her nose, and a stack of textbooks in her hand.
She was....... Different. Not Vogue material like every other person in Empire College. Different in a good way.
"I'm Lila," She rushed out, almost as if she needed to get the wires out immediately.
I nodded once. "Emery.."
Her smile flattered, like she already knew my name and the weight and bad luck that came with it.
"You're back." She mumbled carefully. Too careful.
"So it seems," My voice came out sharper than intended.
Almost defensive.
She smiled, her blue eyes twirling delightfully.
"I'm happy you're back," She uttered, glancing around. "This school feeds off weakness, don't give it to them."
She wasn't taunting me like everyone else. It was more like advice, one that came two years too late.
"Thanks," I muttered, already walking past her. I couldn't afford to get attached to anyone yet. I couldn't afford to pull them into hell with me. Not when the whole school is watching to see if I crumble.
The murmur got louder as I pushed into the cafe with my tote bag tightened around my shoulders and a couple of textbooks in my hand. I saw an empty table at the far end and walked towards it.
As I dropped my things on the table, I made my way towards the counter. "I'll have a cappuccino, please."
The barista nodded and got to work. After a while, she froze mid-pour, eyes flicking past me.
The whole cafe was dead silent.
Silence anywhere around Empire College meant only one thing.
"Empire College must be losing its standard," a voice drawled behind me. Sharp enough to cut the air. "Letting Vale back to this school,"
Killian Cross.
I briefly close my eyes. Why does he infuriate me so much?
Gasps rippled as his words carried through the cafe, he stood beside me, his elbows on the counter.
Phones hovered in midair, students recording the next drama to gossip over.
Waiting to see me fall. To see me burn.
Empire doesn't just take, it archives.
And how can he sound apathetically methodical while talking? He sounds so different from the way he did earlier. He..... He sounded like a robot.
"True," I said, voice steady even though my grip on the cup trembled. " Empire must have lost its damn mind since you're still here,"
The crowd gasped. Shocked and nervous as everyone held their breath, waiting for Killian's reaction.
His expression remained blank. An expressionless Killian Cross is scarier.
And then she slid next to him, looping her manicured fingers over his shoulders as if she belonged there.
Blonde waves, designer heels clicking against the tiles, a laugh that was too soft and sweet to be real. Savannah Hartford, Empire's golden girl.
She tilted her head at me, eyes dripping with venom, and smiled. "I didn't believe it when I heard of your return, scandal queen."
My jaw clenched. Oh please. "Savannah."
Her lips curved, but it wasn't from kindness. "Careful, Vale. Empire doesn't forgive and it doesn't forget."
The crowd hummed in approval as if she had just scored a point in some championship.
Killian doesn't move. He didn't blink. They both walked towards a spare table and sat, while I stood there like a God forsaken mannequin.
I tightened my grip around the cup until the heat almost bit into my palm. "Well.... Maybe Empire should get a life." I said flatly.
Gasps scattered through the Cafe, loud murmuring followed.
I was careless with that.
Savannah laughed, her voice reigning in the murmurs, "Still the same Vale, I see. Too loud. Reckless mouth with nothing to back it up." She yab.
I tilted my head, a sharp smile dusting over my lips. "And you're still the same Hartford. Always playing second."
The cafe became silent.
Where is the cheer for me too? I scored a point!
Her face flickered, the smile faltering before she caught herself.
She leaned closer to Killian, nails digging into his chest as she hovered her lips over his.
She wanted to remind me that she has him. The audacity. I had him first!
Killian finally stirred. He didn't blink. He didn't breathe, then his chair scraped against the floor. He dropped his cup on the table and marched towards me with purposeful strides. I backed up, my back hitting the counter as he stood in front of me.
He grabbed my jaw harshly, his thumb crushing the bone of my soft jaw in a soft and painful motion. "A year, Vale." He whispered into my ear, "I give you a year to get out and get lost. You better get lost before my graduation. If not, your father may receive the saddest news known to mankind."
When they left, the Cafe roared back to life.
With shaky hands, I lifted the coffee to my lips and took a sip.
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
Killian might be a devil, but I will dine with Satan if it means defeating him.
The Echelon got me once, they won't get me again.
I need him to know that this is a totally different Emery Vale. Not that 20, naive girl.
Let them whisper, let them bet on my downfall.
They'll find out soon enough that Emery Vale doesn't break twice.
- Writer
