GAME OF HEARTS

CHAPTER THREE

ELENA's POV

The day after the school fair felt... off. It wasn’t the usual dull start to the day filled with boring lectures and half-hearted attempts at paying attention. No, today was different. I could feel the shift as soon as I entered the classroom. The air was thick with whispers, and the students' eyes lingered just a little too long. As I walked in, I could practically hear the collective thoughts running through their heads: What’s going on between Elena and Lucas?

I flicked my hair with practiced grace, making sure I looked every bit the queen I felt like. All eyes were on me as I casually took my seat, perfectly aware of the attention. They could talk all they wanted. It wasn’t my fault that I was the center of gossip today.

Mara, of course, wasted no time in sliding into the seat next to me, her face lit up like a Christmas tree.

“Besh” she whispered, practically vibrating with excitement. “You have no idea. Everyone’s talking about you and Lucas.”

I leaned back in my seat, not even trying to hide my amusement. “Mara, please. What are they saying now?” I could already guess—something about Lucas and I being involved in some sort of flirtation game, no doubt.

“Girl" Mara said with a grin that was borderline manic, “they’re calling it The Battle of the Casanovas."

I let out a small laugh, rolling my eyes. “The Battle of the Casanovas? Seriously?”

“Yes! Everyone’s talking about how you and Lucas are constantly going at it. Like, there’s actual competition between you two to see who’s the better flirt.” She was practically bouncing in her seat now. “People are even betting on it.”

I scoffed, tossing my hair over my shoulder. “Oh, please. Lucas is all talk. He doesn’t know the first thing about playing this game with me.” I shot her a knowing glance. “You know me. I never lose.”

But Mara wasn’t done. “Are you sure about that? Everyone’s saying it’s getting real serious. Like, you two are really going at it.”

I raised an eyebrow, leaning back in my chair. “Mara, let them talk. It’s all just noise. Lucas may be cute, but he’s not nearly as clever as he thinks he is. Trust me, I’ve seen his type a hundred times.”

Mara looked at me with a mix of disbelief and excitement. “So, you’re telling me you’re not into him?”

I smirked. “Please. If I wanted him, I could have him by lunchtime. He’s nothing special.”

Just then, the door opened, and in walked Lucas, his presence filling the room with that cocky, arrogant air he always carried around like a badge of honor.

“Hey, gorgeous” he said, his voice smooth and casual as he walked by my desk. He didn’t even look at anyone else, his eyes fixed on me.

I leaned back in my seat, a small smirk tugging at my lips. “Oh, Lucas. Is this your way of saying you missed me?”

He grinned, taking the seat directly behind me. I could feel his gaze on the back of my neck as he leaned forward just enough for me to hear him. “Missed you? Elena, you’ve been on my mind all morning. Couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

I pretended to be unimpressed, my lips curling into a playful grin. “Oh really? I didn’t know you were that obsessed with me, Lucas. I guess I should feel honored.”

“I can’t help it. There’s just something about you,” he said, his voice low and teasing. “Can’t get enough of that confidence.”

I laughed, crossing my arms. “Oh, please. If I had a dollar for every guy who said that, I’d be rich by now.”

Lucas chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter. “Yeah? But I bet you’ve never met anyone like me before.”

I tilted my head, eyes narrowing in mock suspicion. “Oh? You think you’re special?”

“I know I am” he replied with that infuriatingly cocky smile. “And I’m willing to prove it.”

I rolled my eyes dramatically. “Prove it? What are you, some kind of magician? I’m sorry, but I’m not impressed by tricks. Try something more original, and maybe you’ll catch my attention.”

Lucas leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest, his gaze never leaving mine. “Challenge accepted. Let’s see how long you can resist me.”

At that moment, the bell rang, signaling the start of class, but the teasing atmosphere between us didn’t wane. If anything, it only intensified.

Throughout the lecture, Lucas didn’t stop with the subtle jabs and playful remarks, each one designed to get under my skin. Every time the teacher would pause for a moment to take a breath, I could feel his eyes on me. And honestly, I wasn’t doing much to hide my attention from him either.

I leaned forward slightly, just enough to catch his eye without anyone else noticing. “So, Lucas, do you always act like this?” I asked, my voice just above a whisper.

“Act like what?” he asked innocently, his grin never faltering.

“Like you own the room” I said, my tone teasing. “Like you can make anyone fall for you with just a smile.”

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “If you think I’m just smiling, Elena, then you’re missing the bigger picture.”

I raised an eyebrow, my lips curling into a smile. “Is that so? Well, you can save your charm for someone else. I’m not falling for your tricks.”

He chuckled softly. “We’ll see about that.”

The rest of the class passed in a haze of banter and quiet jabs. Every time I glanced at Lucas, his eyes were locked onto mine, as if daring me to break first. But I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction.

---

When the bell rang to signal the end of class, I was ready to escape the tension in the room. But as I stood up to grab my things, I noticed the girls from earlier—the ones who were part of Lucas’s fan club—hovering near my desk.

“Elena” one of them said, her voice dripping with sweet venom. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with Lucas lately.”

I looked up at her, unbothered, as I grabbed my books. “And?” I said with a shrug.

Her smile faltered slightly, but she didn’t back down. “We just wanted to make sure you know your place. Lucas doesn’t belong to you, and you’re not his type.”

I smirked, narrowing my eyes. “Lucas doesn’t belong to anyone. If you’ve got a problem with that, maybe you should take it up with him.”

Another girl stepped forward, her voice high and defensive. “You think you can just waltz in here and steal him from us? You’re not even his type!”

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “Sweetheart, I don’t have to steal anything. If Lucas is interested, it’s because he wants to be. He doesn’t need your permission.”

The room grew tense as the girls glared at me, but I wasn’t intimidated.

Before any more words could be exchanged, Lucas stood up from his desk, his expression changing from playful to serious in an instant. He strode over to my side, his posture confident, almost protective.

“Enough” he said, his voice firm. “Elena doesn’t owe anyone an explanation. And if you’ve got a problem with her, you can take it up with me.”

The girls faltered, their expressions shifting from anger to surprise as they processed what he had just said. Lucas had always been the guy everyone admired and idolized, but seeing him stand up for me, especially against his fan club, was a shock to everyone in the room.

For a moment, there was silence. Then the girls slowly backed off, their faces red with embarrassment. Without saying another word, they turned and walked out of the room, their heads down.

I looked up at Lucas, a surprised smile tugging at my lips. “Well, that was... unexpected.”

He shot me a quick grin, leaning against the desk. “What can I say? I like to keep things interesting.”

I raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in my eye. “You certainly do.”

“And you love it” he said with a wink.

I shook my head, my laughter bubbling up despite myself. “Maybe I do" I said, my voice soft but teasing. “But don’t get any ideas. You’re still not getting me that easily.”

“I never said I would” he replied, his voice low and full of promise. “But I don’t back down from a challenge, Elena. Not when it comes to you.”

And just like that, the game was on.