Boys Like Him

Invisible

The rest of the afternoon crawled and spiraled all at once. I tried! God, I tried to hold onto Mariah's words like a lifeline, but the moment we stepped out of Bean & Brew and headed back toward campus, reality slapped me straight across the face.

Whispers.

Not subtle ones either.

People turned, stared, and nudged their friends. Phone screens angled in my direction. The air around me prickled with attention I absolutely did not ask for. My heart hammered against my ribs.

"Is that her?"

"No way. That's the girl from the court video, right?"

"Bro! she stood up and screamed like she was giving birth."

"I saw it on t****k. It's at four million likes already."

I felt the blood drain straight from my skull. My knees wobbled. I shot Mariah a look of pure horror, and she, because she was evil, bit her lower lip, trying not to laugh.

"Don't you dare," I hissed, swatting at her.

She failed miserably. "I'm sorry, but you were so into it you didn't even see your life flashing before your eyes."

"Mariah..!"

"I know, I know," she giggled, hooking her arm through mine as we walked. "Deep breaths, babe. Own it. At least you were cute."

Cute. Great. Perfect. Amazing. I would've preferred invisible.

By the time I reached my next class, the hallway felt like a funnel of buzzing noise and darting glances. I had barely stepped through the door when a girl I'd never spoken to in my life appeared in front of me, her face lit up like Christmas morning.

"Sorry... uhm, hi...random question." She clasped her hands together. "Are you dating Lloyd Luxen?"

I blinked, not this again. "What? No."

She leaned closer. "But we saw you two at the court today. He NEVER lets girls sit on the bleachers. Like, ever. And you guys were talking. And he smiled, like actually smiled. So... can you confirm or deny? Please? Give me the scoop!"

The scoop?

Before I could process the sheer absurdity of that, two more girls squeezed in.

"Wait, so you're not dating him?"

"Are you sure?"

"I saw a different angle of the video. Did you know it's viral?"

My stomach dropped. "Viral?" My voice cracked like a twig.

"Oh yeah," the blogger chirped. "Your 'WOOH!' was so loud it echoed. People are remixing it with beats."

Mariah choked beside me, coughing violently to mask a laugh.

I wanted to disappear into the tile floor.

"No," I affirmed, holding my books tighter. "No, I'm not dating him."

They all exchanged looks that said sure, Jan, and slowly peeled away, whispering as they went.

I slumped into my seat, burying my face in my notebook. Mariah sat beside me, shaking her head.

"This is only the beginning," she muttered.

"I hate it," I muttered into the paper.

She snorted. "You hate it because you're scared. But also because you're into him."

"Mariah..."

"Shh." She leaned closer. "Remember what I said. Think before you leap. Think before you let him touch your life... or your brain... or your..."

I elbowed her before she could finish.

Her laugh warmed something in me. Even with my humiliation skyrocketing, she made me feel less alone, less stupid, less... lost.

Classes blurred together after that. I tried concentrating, I really did, but every time the professor opened their mouth, all I could see was my face going viral.

By the time the final bell rang, my head was pounding.

Students filed out, and I was still trying to gather my things when a hush rippled through the hallway. A cluster of girls near the door went still.

Mariah nudged me sharply. "Nyelle," she whispered. "Don't freak out."

"What?" I asked, confused, until I stepped into the corridor.

He was leaning against the lockers.

Tall, relaxed, and dripping with confidence, the way water beaded on cold glass. His duffel bag was slung over one shoulder. His eyes locked onto me the instant I appeared.

A flutter broke loose in my chest.

Students slowed as they passed, whispering. Staring. Making it impossible to pretend he wasn't the axis, the hallway suddenly rotated around.

He pushed off the lockers and walked toward me with that lazy, predatory grace of his. "Hey," he mumbled. "Let me take you home."

My breath caught. "Lloyd, I...I don't think..."

"I know," he cut in gently, stepping closer. "I know you want to avoid attention right now. I get it." His eyes softened, unexpectedly sincere. "But trust me this time, okay?"

My pulse fluttered painfully.

Mariah nudged my ribs. "Go," she whispered. "And remember what I said."

I swallowed. Hard.

"Okay," I whispered. "Fine. Just... just a ride."

His smile was small but devastating.

I turned to Mariah, who wiggled her brows and mouthed, Don't forget the vibrator.

I nearly died.

"Goodbye," I hissed at her through gritted teeth.

She winked, utterly delighted.

Lloyd opened the passenger door of his car for me like it was the most natural thing in the world. I slid in, cheeks flaming, and heart pounding.

As he rounded to the driver's side, more heads turned, followed by more whispers and stares.

I sank into the seat, exhaling shakily.

God help me.

I told myself to breathe normally.

I failed.

Lloyd opened the door and sank into the driver's seat beside me, the car dipping slightly under his weight. He tossed his duffel into the back, then leaned back, twisting the key in the ignition.

He turned... to face me, resting his forearm casually on the steering wheel, veins running like sinful maps under his skin. And a lazy half-smile tugged at his mouth.

"So," he drawled, "you really went viral today."

I groaned instantly. "Lloyd."

He snorted. "Nah, nah, don't shy away now. I need you to know something." He shifted toward me, eyes glittering with amusement. "I didn't realize you were such a big fan."

My face went up in flames. "Shut up."

He held up a hand, laughing. "No, but seriously! 'WOAHHHH!'" he mimicked, dramatically pitching his voice higher as he waved both hands like he was conducting a choir. "You jumped like you were summoning the gods themselves."

I covered my face with both hands. "Stop. Please. I beg."

He laughed harder. God, he had dimples. Ridiculous ones. I'd never noticed how deep they were until they appeared like that, softening everything sharp about him.

"Hey," he said after a beat, nudging my arm lightly, "it was cute."

"That makes it worse," I muttered into my palms.

He chuckled, pulling the car out of the parking lot. The city blurred past the windows, bustling sidewalks, honking cabs, and the tang of roasted peanuts from a street vendor drifting faintly into the air when he cracked the window.

"So," he went on, glancing sideways at me, "if you scream like that for a basketball shot... how loud do you get when you're actually excited about something?"

My head whipped toward him. "Lloyd!"

His grin turned wicked. "Relax. I meant like... birthdays, fifty percent off sales, good grades." His brow rose. "What did you think I meant?"

I wanted to melt through the seat. "Nothing. Shut up."

He laughed again, satisfied that he'd flustered me beyond repair.

Silence settled between us.

"So," he drawled, "what's your favorite food? And don't say something boring like rice."

I blinked. "Why does rice offend you?"

"It's a filler," he declared. "It's the edible equivalent of white noise."

That got a laugh out of me. "Well... I like pasta."

"Acceptable answer," he nodded solemnly, then flicked his eyes toward me. "Spicy?"

"God, yes."

He snapped his fingers. "Perfect. Good taste. Strong palate. Passionate woman."

I made a strangled noise. "I literally just said pasta, calm down."

He tossed his head back, grinning. "Okay, your turn. Hit me."

"Favorite color," I threw at him, playing along.

"Easy. Black."

"Of course it is."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"That's every mysterious, brooding guy's default answer."

He scoffed. "I'm not brooding. I'm selective. There's a difference."

"Selective about what?"

He turned down a quieter street, and only then did his voice drop a little. "Where I put my energy. Who I let close."

Something in my chest tugged.

I held his gaze for a moment too long, feeling the weight of that confession, the intimacy of it. He looked away first, jaw tightening the slightest bit.

I cleared my throat. "Uh... favorite movie?"

He smirked again. "Are we doing basic questions now?"

"Yes. Answer."

"Hmm." He tapped the wheel with a finger. "Heat."

I raised a brow. "The one with Al Pacino?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

He shot me a sidelong look. "Because it's about obsession. And wanting something so badly it ruins you."

My breath hitched.

I knew he heard it.

He didn't tease me for that one. He just let the words hang between us like a match waiting to be struck.

I swallowed. "Mine's... Pride and Prejudice."

He hummed softly. "Let me guess, Mr. Darcy?"

I shrugged. "Maybe."

"No. No maybe. You like a man who looks at you like he hates you but actually wants to ruin his entire life for you."

"That's ridiculous," I protested, even though a traitorous part of me whispered you're not wrong.

He laughed, shaking his head. "You're a romantic. Didn't peg you for that."

"What did you peg me for?"

He slowed the car at a red light, turning fully toward me. The fading sunlight painted one side of his face gold, the other in shadows. His eyes flickered with a heat I wasn't equipped to handle.

"Complicated," he replied quietly. "In a good way."

I forgot how to breathe.

The light turned green. He drove on like he hadn't just cracked me open with a single word.

We turned onto our street far sooner than I wanted. The building appeared like a betrayal, rising too quickly. He pulled up in front, shifting the car into park, but he didn't unlock the doors.

He looked at me again.

"I'm glad you came today," he mumbled softly.

My pulse fluttered violently. "I...yeah. Me too."

He exhaled, a small satisfied sound escaping his chest. "Good."

He finally hit the lock button. The soft click echoed through the car like a heartbeat.

"Go on," he murmured. "Before I say something that'll make you run for your life."

I hesitated with my hand on the door handle.

"Goodnight, and thank you for the ride," I replied softly.

He held my gaze. "Night, Nyelle."

I stepped out, legs trembling, heart light and heavy all at once.

And as I closed the door, I swore I heard him laugh under his breath.