soft spot || aric lesso x reader

chapter 7

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**y/n's pov**

[ a week later ]

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you hurry through the woods, your heart pounding not just from the run but from the anticipation of seeing aric again. when you reach the clearing, he's already there, leaning against a tree, his violet eyes catching the moonlight.

"you're late," he says, his voice carrying a hint of teasing.

"patrols," you explain, trying to catch your breath. "they're everywhere."

he steps closer, and you can feel the warmth of his body despite the cool night air. "we can't afford any mistakes," he murmurs, his gaze intense. "everything needs to go perfectly."

you nod, feeling the weight of his words. the trial is only days away, and the girls' school is buzzing with preparations. they've been training relentlessly, convinced of their victory. but they don't know about the seeds of doubt you've been planting, or the traps that aric and his friends have set.

"i'm ready," you whisper, meeting his eyes. "i won't let them win."

his hand brushes against yours, sending a shiver down your spine. "i know you won't," he says softly, his fingers lingering a moment longer than necessary. "we're in this together."

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**y/n's pov**

[ during the trial ]

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the forest is a cacophony of noise as the trial begins. girls and boys dart between the trees, shouting commands and setting off traps. you stick close to the girls, subtly guiding them into the ambushes you've planned with aric.

"are you sure this is the right way?" one of the girls asks, her voice tinged with doubt.

"positive," you reply confidently, even as guilt twists in your stomach. leading them into danger feels wrong, but you remind yourself of their cruelty, their bullying. this is your chance to get back at them.

suddenly, you hear a rustle behind you. you turn just in time to see a boy from the other school charging forward, but he's not alone. aric is with him, his eyes locked on you. for a moment, everything else fades away. there's just the two of you, standing on opposite sides of the battlefield.

"watch out!" you shout, but it's too late. the ambush is sprung, and the girls are caught off guard. chaos erupts, and you use the distraction to slip away, meeting up with aric in the shadows.

"nicely done," he says, his voice low and approving.

"thanks," you reply, your heart racing not just from the fight but from being so close to him. "but it's not over yet."

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**y/n's pov**

[ after the trial ]

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the boys have won, and the girls' school is in disarray. you should feel triumphant, but instead, all you feel is a gnawing uncertainty. you've betrayed your schoolmates, and even though they deserved it, the victory feels hollow.

aric finds you sitting alone by the edge of the forest, your thoughts a tangled mess. "we did it," he says, sitting down beside you.

"yeah," you reply, staring at the ground. "we did."

he touches your hand, and you look up, meeting his gaze. "what's wrong?" he asks, concern flickering in his eyes.

you sigh, the words spilling out before you can stop them. "i don't know. it just... it doesn't feel right. betraying them, even after everything they did to me. and now... now i'm just not sure what to do next."

aric is silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. then he takes your hand, holding it firmly. "we'll figure it out together," he says. "but there's something you need to know."

you feel your heart skip a beat. "what is it?"

"there's a problem," he admits, his voice low. "some of the boys are planning something. something big. they want to take over the girls' school completely, force them to join us or... or be expelled forever."

your eyes widen in shock. "what? that's... that's insane!"

"i know," he says, his grip tightening on your hand. "but they won't listen to reason. they think this is the only way to ensure our dominance."

you pull your hand away, standing up in agitation. "we can't let them do that, aric. it's one thing to win the trial, but this... this is too far."

he stands too, his expression serious. "i agree. but stopping them won't be easy. we'll need a plan."

"a plan," you repeat, feeling the weight of the task ahead. "we'll have to work together, more closely than ever."

he steps closer, his eyes intense. "i wouldn't want to do it with anyone else."

the air is thick with unspoken words and lingering touches; you know that this alliance has become something more, something deeper. but there's no time to dwell on that now. you have a school to save.

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a/n sorry for not writing but the grind is back.

TO BE CONTINUED