Sub Rosa Ties ( A High School Dark Romance)

Zera

My eyes were swollen as I woke up. I had dreamt of opening my eyes to find Gerard beside me in bed, but reality presented an empty, tousled sheet by my side.

Last night didn't unfold as I anticipated. Neither our kissing nor the near make-out session. Certainly not my sudden panic triggered by the voices in my head.

A sense of embarrassment washed over me at the thought of facing Gerard. He had seen every inch of my body, even though we weren't dating. The uncertainty of our relationship status left me wondering about what it had evolved into.

I shrugged off the bedsheet, realizing I was dressed in shorts and a large t-shirt.

"Nice work, Zera. Gerard Callon is now your personal stylist," I muttered to myself, ending it with a slight yawn.

I stood up and headed to the bathroom, only for the words "I'm sorry" to echo in my head.

His voice. He had said it to me as he hugged me last night. What exactly is Gerard playing at?

His hug was the warmest I had ever experienced. It brought a sense of comfort and a feeling of protection. In that moment, nestled against his broad chest, I yearned to stay there as long as possible-perhaps all day.

I shook my head vigorously. "Snap out of it, Zera. He's not interested in anything beyond your body. Last night was just a coincidence; anyone would've done the same in that situation," I attempted to convince myself, but deep down, I couldn't ignore the undeniable feelings and attraction whenever I was around him.

He triggered emotions in me that I had never felt before. His deep, rough voice echoed in my memory.

The intense sparkle in his deep blue eyes when he stared at me, the lingering gaze on my lips, the tattoos on his arms, the definition of his muscles-I gulped hard, trying not to think too much about him.

Swiftly, I undressed and stepped into the shower, making a mental note to visit the hospital before heading to school.

♡♡♡

My day at school has been relatively smooth so far. No sign of Gerard, and I haven't received any messages from him. And, honestly, I don't want to. Not after everything that happened between us last night.

"You're unusually quiet today," I shifted my gaze from my book to my left, where I heard the familiar voice. Large blue eyes peered at me.

It was Sarah.

"What?" my voice croaked.

"You've been acting strange today. I called you last night, but you didn't pick up. Is everything okay?" Her eyebrows furrowed in concern.

I nodded slowly. "Yeah, I'm good. It's just that..." I hesitated, considering whether to share the details about Gerard. "A lot of things have been going on lately." Twisting my pen in my hand, I attempted to shift my attention to the book on my desk, but she quickly grabbed my right arm.

"What things?" she peered at me closely.

"Zera," we both turned to see Caroline standing unusually close.

"Mrs. Ana would like to see you. "Now," she swirled her red, undulating waves a little too much, drawing both Sarah's and my attention.

Without saying anything, she spun on her heel and walked away. I sighed and got up from my seat. "I will be back," I whispered as I circled Sarah's chair and exited the classroom, but I could feel her eyes on me.

♡♡♡

"You have to let me know if anyone else has bothered you since the last incident," Mrs. Ana said, her eyes examining me. She claimed she had seen me leave Mr. Collins' office that day and was aware that I was the reason for Gerard's actions.