The Imperfect Girl

Chp. 11- Revelations

(Adeline)

Just another day, another morning of me trying to navigate campus without drawing unnecessary attention. 

I kept my head down as I walked, my hair tied up in a simple ponytail. It wasn't for fashion—more for function. Less fuss. No distractions.

Or so I thought.

A sudden snap of tension against my scalp had me freezing mid-step. 

My ponytail unraveled, and I whipped around to find Damon standing there, rubber band in hand, grinning like the cat who'd just swallowed the canary.

"Good morning, Addie," he said, casually twirling my hair tie around his finger like it was the most normal thing in the world.

I glared at him, reaching for the band. "Give. It. Back."

He raised an eyebrow, holding it just out of reach. "Why would I do that? You look better with your hair down."

"I look better when you're not around."

He smirked, unaffected. "Ouch. That hurts, Addie. I thought we were getting along."

"We are. As well as a cat and a vacuum cleaner," I shot back, crossing my arms. I could feel the breeze ruffling through my now-loose hair, and it was driving me insane. 

I hated wearing my hair down in public. 

Too much attention.

"Oh, come on. Lighten up," Damon said, finally handing me the rubber band but not without flicking it right before I grabbed it. "You're so tense."

"Well, unlike you, some of us are here to study." I muttered, redoing my ponytail with swift, practiced movements. 

"Right, your whole 'books over boys' mantra," he teased. "I'm starting to think you've got a thing against fun."

"Maybe I do," I retorted, not missing a beat. "You know, that whole academic success thing? It's kind of addictive."

"Or," Damon said, sliding effortlessly into step beside me as I continued walking, "you're just waiting for someone to pull you out of your shell."

"Wow, Damon," I deadpanned. "You should really write for Hallmark. That was touching."

He chuckled, hands in his pockets, unfazed by my sarcasm. "I don't write cheesy greeting cards. But I could make an exception for you."

I rolled my eyes. "Lucky me."

(Damon)

There was something about her that kept pulling me in. 

Adeline—Addie—wasn't like the other girls. She wasn't impressed by my looks, my charm, or my very clear ability to be hilarious. 

No, she kept this armor of sarcasm around her that I just couldn't crack.

And honestly? That made her even more interesting.

Pulling her hair tie was a spontaneous decision. She just looked so... stiff, so uptight with that ponytail yanking her head back like a teacher's pet ready for her first class. It was begging to be undone.

So I did it. No regrets.

"You really don't like me, do you?" I asked, even though I knew the answer.

She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye. "You're only just figuring that out?"

I can swear I saw a stifled smile and her lips twitching.

"Still trying to get a read on you," I said with a shrug. "You're a mystery, Addie. I like mysteries."

"Well, here's a spoiler alert—you're not going to solve this one."

"Challenge accepted."

(Adeline)

He was relentless. Absolutely relentless. Damon's teasing, the way he'd just casually invade my space like it was his right to be there—it was maddening. But what was worse? Some part of me actually looked forward to it.

Not that I'd ever let him know that.

"Listen," I said as we neared the lecture hall, "some of us have to actually go to class. You know, learn things."

"And some of us," he replied, "have mastered the art of looking busy without actually doing anything."

"Well, you've certainly mastered the 'without doing anything' part."

"Hey, if it works, it works."

I finally shook him off as I reached my building, but I could still feel his smirk lingering as I disappeared through the door. 

Damon would be back. 

He always was.

And part of me hated that I didn't entirely hate it.

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