First Impressions

Put to The Test

Warning: This chapter is unbelievably sweet and tender. It may just give you cavities.

Despite their best efforts to keep their relationship hidden, the inevitable happened sooner than they had anticipated.

It was late one evening when Eloise and Lesso were discovered together by one of the other staff members, Professor Aric. He had been passing by Lesso's quarters when he heard voices from inside, and out of curiosity—or perhaps suspicion—he had paused to listen.

Eloise and Lesso had been deep in conversation, their voices low and intimate. They hadn't heard the faint creak of the door as it had opened slightly, revealing their close proximity and the unmistakable tension between them. It wasn't until Eloise had reached out to touch Lesso's hand, her expression filled with affection, that Aric had realized what he was witnessing. The tender kiss that followed erased any doubts he may have still had.

The next morning, the news had spread like wildfire. The rumors that had once been whispered in hushed tones were now openly discussed, and the entire school was abuzz with the scandal. Eloise and Lesso had become the center of attention, their every move watched and scrutinized by both students and staff.

Dovey was the first to confront them. She called Eloise and Lesso into her office, her expression a mixture of concern and disappointment as she addressed them.

"Eloise, Leonora," Dovey began, her tone gentle but firm. "I'm not here to pass judgment on your relationship. But you must understand the position this puts us in—the position it puts you both in."

Eloise felt a knot of guilt tighten in her chest, but she forced herself to meet Dovey's gaze. "We never meant for it to become a problem," she said quietly. "We tried to keep it discreet, but..."

"But these things have a way of coming to light," Dovey finished for her, her eyes softening with sympathy. "I understand that emotions can be difficult to control, but you must consider the consequences of your actions."

Lesso remained silent, her expression stoic as she listened to Dovey's words. Eloise could sense the tension radiating from her, the inner conflict she was struggling to keep hidden.

"What do we do now?" Eloise asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dovey sighed, leaning back in her chair as she considered their situation. "For now, we will do our best to manage the fallout. But you both need to be mindful of your behavior, especially in front of the students. We cannot afford to let this affect the stability of the school."

Eloise nodded, though she felt a sense of unease settle over her. She knew that their relationship had crossed a line, and that line had been exposed for all to see. But she also knew that she couldn't give up what she had with Lesso—not when it meant so much to her.

After the meeting with Dovey, Eloise and Lesso returned to Lesso's quarters, both of them lost in their own thoughts. The tension between them was palpable, and Eloise could feel the weight of their situation pressing down on her.

"I'm sorry," Eloise said quietly, breaking the silence. "I'm sorry that this has caused so much trouble."

Lesso looked at her, her expression softened by a flicker of vulnerability. "It's not your fault, Eloise. We both knew the risks, and we both chose to take them."

Eloise felt a pang of guilt, but she nodded in agreement. "But what do we do now? How do we move forward from this?"

Lesso sighed, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "We stay strong. We face this together, just like we said we would. And we prove to everyone that our relationship doesn't define us—it only makes us stronger."