Roommate Badboy - Wicked Academy

13

Author's Note:
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At lunch, Stella sat there, absently picking at her food, trying to process the strange shift in their dynamic. Jason hadn't even looked at her, hadn't come over to tell her it was time for their usual tutoring session. He had been completely wrapped up in his friends, laughing and joking like she wasn't even there. She couldn't help but feel the weight of his avoidance. It was so unlike him.

Her stomach churned as she looked across the room. Jason was sitting at his usual spot, flanked by Noah, Alex, Justin, and the others. The energy around him was as carefree and chaotic as ever, but something about it felt off to Stella. He was purposely ignoring her.

Jason had always been the one to come and get her for their study sessions, but today–nothing. No glance, no sign, no attempt to reach out. Without thinking too much about it, she stood up and walked toward their table.

As she approached, she heard Justin's voices rise in teasing laughter. "Here comes the Ember girl!" He said with a mocking tone. Stella's face flushed, and she immediately felt uncomfortable, the attention making her skin prickle.

Jason, however, didn't seem pleased with how they were treating her. He shot them a glare so sharp that they immediately fell silent, shifting their attention elsewhere. The lighthearted teasing quickly died down, and the air felt heavier with the unspoken tension.

He turned his attention back to Stella, his expression flickering with a hint of surprise. She stood in front of him, uncertain but firm, clearly uncomfortable from the way his friends had treated her. His eyebrow raised as he took in her presence.

Stella hesitated for a moment but then spoke, her voice quiet but clear. "Shouldn't we head to the library?" she asked, her words deliberate, as if to break the awkwardness hanging in the air.

Jason sighed heavily. So much for avoiding you, he muttered under his breath, glancing away briefly, then looking back at her. He had known all along that avoiding her wouldn't work–not when they'd still have to share the same room later.

He stood up, his movements sharp, and glanced at his friends with a brief, almost dismissive look.

"I'm out for a bit," he muttered to them, his voice tinged with the same coldness that had been there all day.

His gaze shifted back to Stella. "Let's go," he said, nodding slightly. Without another word, he followed her as she led the way to the library. The weight of their unspoken thoughts still hung between them, but there was a shift in the air–one that neither of them was quite prepared to confront.

The air in the hidden library was thick with silence as they sat down at the table. Jason flopped into his chair with a heavy sigh, tossing his textbook in front of him like it was a burden he couldn't wait to get rid of. He didn't look at Stella, his gaze directed somewhere else, though she could feel his presence across the table like a tangible weight.

Stella opened her notebook, her fingers tapping nervously against the pages, unsure of how to break the silence. She glanced up at Jason, noticing the way his jaw tightened and how his eyes seemed distant. He was acting strange–distant, almost like he was avoiding her. It was nothing like the usual routine they shared. Usually, he would tease her or make some offhand comment, but today–nothing.

Jason shifted in his seat, letting out an exaggerated scoff. "Let's just get this over with," he muttered, his voice carrying a sharpness that cut through the air.