His soft hum vibrates through the space between us, the quiet chuckle he lets out against my earlobe sending a shiver down my spine. His voice is low, dangerous, as he leans in closer, his breath warm against my skin.
"You can keep lying to yourself...
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Song : we fell in love in October | girl in red
𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐗𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐀 • 𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐒𝐁𝐘
••••••••••••
I wave goodbye to my chemistry teacher, slipping out of the classroom with a sigh that deflates my whole body. My shoulders finally drop.
Freedom.
Test days were always hell, but today? I bombed so hard they could name the crater after me. Chemistry was never my strong suit, but having a good teacher made it bearable- barely.
Halfway through the test, I stared at the paper like it was written in another language. Which, to me, it might as well have been.
That's when I knew I didn't stand a chance unless I pulled something.
So I raised my hand, cheeks flushed with shame, and asked if I could take it another day. Miraculously, she said yes.
The dead brother card never fails. I should feel bad about it. I don't.
I shake the guilt from my brain as Harrison catches my eye.
"Harry!" I call out, and he turns around with that familiar goofy grin. I grin back. "Nicotine treating you well?"
He bumps my shoulder lightly. "Shut up. He's sweet."
I roll my eyes, snorting. "Didn't say he wasn't." We start walking together, steps syncing without thought. Neither of us looks at the group clustered around the lockers- Lucy front and center, as always.
"But," I tease, dragging the word out.
He groans. "I know." He reaches into his locker, pulling out his lunch like we're not talking about the guy who could be starring in a mafia biopic. "The whole gangster thing should be a turn off."
"But?"
He checks over his shoulder, lowers his voice. "But it's hot."
I grin. Of course it is.
Nico James isn't like the other boys at Versailles. He's older. Quieter. The kind of guy who speaks slowly, like every word has weight.
And everyone knows- knows -he's involved with the Association.
Versailles is for rich kids with connections and legacies. I'm neither.
But Harrison? He's had a crush on Nico since freshman year. And while I've only met Nico a handful of times, I'll admit- he's ...disarming.
He treats Harrison kindly. Speaks to both of us with this strange, careful respect. But you don't need to be an insider to know that Nico isn't clean.
