DELONIX [COMPLETED]

Chapter 37

Red Pov

The weird but amazing encounter with Mr. Caddel left me in a state of silence as I swiftly departed from his office, my mind racing with thoughts. As I made my way back towards my group of friends, a realization struck me-I never anticipated having friends in the first place. But that aside, my immediate concern was the perception that I had received special treatment by using my connection with the principal's son to gain entry into the school. I couldn't allow people to think I had taken the easy way in; I needed to find a way to clear my name.

I need to talk to Xavier.

Determined, I headed towards the bustling halls, where a group of guys caught my attention. Among them, I recognized Xavier's voice and made my way towards him.

Taking a deep breath, I summoned the courage to approach him. Xavier had already noticed my presence, and he abandoned his conversation to meet me halfway. "We need to talk," I blurted out, unable to contain the urgency in my voice. I overheard whispers and saw smirks on the faces of his friends, but I pushed past those distractions.

"Of course we do, but not here," he replied, understanding the need for privacy. I grabbed his wrist, signaling my intention, and together we hurried out of the school, seeking a more secluded spot.

Suddenly, a voice interrupted our departure with an unexpected apology. I turned to see who had spoken, my ears refusing to believe what they had heard. "I'm sorry," the voice repeated, its tone soft and filled with genuine remorse. I couldn't help but feel uncertain and vulnerable in that moment.

"What?" I responded, my voice barely above a whisper, unsure of how to process this unexpected apology.

"I'm sorry about the rumors. I had no idea it would escalate this way," he confessed, desperation evident in his eyes. "I wanted to talk to you, I swear, but your friends wouldn't allow me. Not that I blame them." The sincerity in his voice touched me, and I began to question whether I should give him the benefit of the doubt.

"It's okay," I said, trying to regain some composure, though I folded my arms defensively.

"No! It's not, Red!" His voice rose, surprising me with its intensity. "People think you're a slut, and that's bullshit!" Finally, I was relieved that he didn't act like a complete jerk.

"We need to put a stop to these rumors, Xavier. The Elders can't find out about any of this," I pleaded, realizing the gravity of the situation. But I couldn't reveal the true reason behind my urgency. Not yet.

"Why?" he asked, confusion etched on his face. Little did he know that my life depended on keeping the Elders in the dark, and any misstep could result in dire consequences.

"I can't tell you," I replied, feeling the weight of guilt settle over me. His eyes reflected a mixture of sadness and understanding.

"Okay, I get it," he said, though I knew he didn't truly comprehend the severity of the situation.

"What are we going to do about Avery?" I asked, frustration creeping into my voice. "You might not know how to handle her."

"Huh! Why would you think that?" he retorted, clearly annoyed by my assumption.

"Well... she managed to completely alter the perception of you within the entire school in, what, 24 hours? But I might have a plan," he said, checking an imaginary watch on his wrist. The intensity in his gaze both frightened and excited me, as I wondered what he had up his sleeve.

"How?" I asked, curiosity and a hint of fear evident in my voice as I locked eyes with Xavier. His intense gaze sent shivers down my spine, but at the same time, I couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation, wondering what he had up his sleeves.