Roommate Badboy - Wicked Academy

34

Jason lay still for a moment, his gaze resting on Stella, who was still asleep beside him. Her warmth, the faint scent of her hair, and the peace on her face were a stark contrast to the storm that had raged through the previous day. After everything that had unfolded, it almost felt surreal. She looked untouched by the chaos, as if the world outside couldn't reach her in that moment.

Jason shifted slightly, his mind racing over the weight of the revelations from yesterday, the growing tension between them and the secrets still buried deep. But for now, in this quiet morning, there was only her.

Then, the sound of the ticking from the pocket watch on the nightstand pulled him from his thoughts. His eyes darted to it, and his stomach sank. He reached out, fingers brushing against the cool metal as he checked the time. He cursed under his breath.

The events of the previous day had left them both utterly drained, their sleep so deep that neither of them stirred in time to wake up.

His hand instinctively reached for her shoulder, gently shaking her. "Stella," he whispered, his voice soft but urgent. "We're late. You need to wake up."

She stirred at the sound of his voice, her brow furrowing as she blinked against the dim light. She looked disoriented at first, as if the remnants of her sleep was still clinging to her thoughts. Then, the panic hit, she shot up in bed, her breath quickening as she realized they were running out of time.

"Jason, we're late!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with urgency. She scrambled out of bed, rushing to get dressed. Her hands moved with haste, tugging at her clothes, her movements frantic.

Jason laughed softly, but there was a dark edge to his amusement. "If we weren't in such a rush, I'd be enjoying this a bit more..." he said, his voice dropping low as his gaze lingered on her a moment too long, his eyes unmistakably scanning her as she changed.

But then, his tone shifted, becoming unexpectedly serious. "Can't have you going through the day on empty," he added, swiftly tugging on his uniform as well.

Within moments, they were both ready, though not without a few hurried missteps. Jason caught her hand as they rushed toward the door, glancing back toward the room, Jason's eyes briefly settled on the closet. The book was hidden, tucked away, out of sight. For now, it would remain forgotten, at least until they had a moment to catch their breath.

Together, they hurried down the hall, the sounds of the academy's bustling breakfast just within reach.

Laughter, voices overlapping, the steady clatter of plates and silverware echoing through the dining hall. Jason sat among his teammates, the familiar rhythm of breakfast grounding him, while Stella shared a table with Friedrich and Ruby, forcing herself to stay present.

She exhaled sharply, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear, and forced a smile as Ruby spoke. Distraction. That's what she needed. Anything to quiet the chaos inside her head, even if only for a moment. So she nodded along, let herself get pulled into the conversation, pretending, just for now, that the world wasn't unraveling around them.

Unfortunately for her, the brief escape was over before it truly began.

A sudden, unnatural stillness swallowed the room. Every sound vanished. The scrape of utensils, the murmur of conversation, even the rustle of movement, gone.

Jason froze mid-motion, a piece of bread halfway to his mouth. Around him, everything had stopped.

Forks hung suspended in the air, lips parted in the middle of words, hands frozen in the act of gesturing. A glass of juice, tipped too far, hung impossibly in place, the liquid inside defying gravity.