The Imperfect Girl

Chp. 33- The People's Person

(Lucas's POV)

I've always been a 'different type' of a people's person.

You know, the kind who sees the real you, even when you don't. 

Adeline? She was no different. The quiet, mysterious girl, always lost in her thoughts—unaware of the fact that I understood her better than she understood herself. 

Honestly, it was almost too easy. She just needed a little guidance. A nudge in the right direction. Away from the likes of him.

Damon, the walking billboard for overconfidence and shampoo, who was always circling around her like she was some prize to hang on his ego shelf. 

And that's where I came in—Blair's 'perfect' little plan was turning out to be my personal mission. 

Damon wouldn't be able to keep Adeline in his orbit for long.

Today, Adeline was typing away on her laptop, probably crafting the next plot twist to blow her secret fanbase's mind. 

And of course, she didn't even notice me when I slid into the seat in front of from her. 

I watched her for a few moments, waiting for her to realize she wasn't alone. When she finally blinked up at me, the look on her face was confusion. 

Cute.

"Lucas?" Her voice had all the enthusiasm of someone who'd just found a hair in their soup. "What are you doing here?"

I leaned back with a smile and said. "Oh, just studying." I glanced at her screen just as she quickly shut her laptop. 

Her eyes narrowed slightly, like she didn't believe me. 

Fair enough. I hadn't touched a textbook all semester.

 "Since when do you sit here?" she asked, suspicion dripping from her tone.

"Since now," I shrugged, pretending to study the stack of books in front of me, none of which I actually intended to read. "What are you working on?"

She didn't answer, just stared at me with that calculating expression. 

Adeline was sharp, but she still didn't get it. 

Damon was just a distraction. 

He wasn't her match.

I was saving her from that future embarrassment, really.

"You know," I said, dropping my voice into what I imagined was a concerned tone, "it's pretty impressive how you block everything out when you're writing. I bet Damon's really into that. You being so... unavailable and unreachable. Guys like him love the chase."

Her expression shifted, and yes, there it was—the irritation. One step closer to severing that ridiculous connection she thought she had with Damon.

"Damon can find someone else to pester," she muttered, "I'm not his babysitter."

Bingo. 

I leaned forward, voice dropping even lower. "Exactly. He's using you, Adeline. Guys like him? They get what they want and then they're gone. You don't want that, do you?"

She crossed her arms, staring at me like she was sizing me up for a mental institution. "And you think you're the expert on Damon?" she scoffed.

I smiled—a knowing, smug kind of smile. "I don't need to know him personally. I know the type. But you? You deserve better. Someone who sees how amazing you are without trying to turn it into some game."

Her eyes flickered, and for a moment, I thought I had her. But then she leaned back, almost bored. "Lucas, I don't need anyone looking out for me."

She doesn't even realize how wrong she is. 

I stood up, keeping my expression casual. "Just think about it. Damon's not who you think he is."

She didn't respond, just gave me a look that said she'd already thought about it and didn't care. Frustrating. But the seed was planted. And with Damon in the picture, it was only a matter of time before it started growing.

(Damon's POV)

The second I saw Lucas sitting across from Adeline in the library, I knew the guy was up to something. 

Lucas? In a library?

Come on. 

It was like spotting a fish trying to ride a bicycle. 

But sure enough, there he was, leaning in like he was giving her life-changing advice. Knowing Lucas, he probably thought he was, being the bad-type of delusional that he is.

I didn't even bother trying to be subtle as I strolled over and leaned against the back of Adeline's chair. "Hey. What's going on here? You look like you're being enlightened."

Adeline glanced up to me, and for a split second, I saw a flicker of relief. 

Lucas, on the other hand, looked like someone had just kicked his puppy. He tensed, clearly not expecting me to ruin his little advice session.

"Nothing," Adeline said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Lucas was just leaving."

I smirked, turning my attention to Lucas. "Oh? Time to go, buddy?"

Lucas shot me a glare that—he thought—could've melted steel, but I just rolled my eyes, something that I picked up from Addie. 

He knew he didn't stand a chance against me, especially—not with Adeline sitting right there.

 Without another word, he grabbed his stuff and slinked away like a cat that just got sprayed with water.

Once he was out of sight, I took his seat and stretched my legs out under the table, settling in like I owned the place. "So, what life advice was he giving you? Did he tell you to follow your dreams or something?"

Adeline rolled her eyes. "He thinks that a guy named Damon Scott is just a player who's going to use me and dump me. Apparently, he's concerned for my well-being." 

She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "It's adorable, really. Expect the player part- he hit right on regarding that."

I couldn't help but grin, even while getting 'applauded' for being a player. 

Lucas thinking he could plant doubt in her mind was like watching a Chihuahua try to scare off a Rottweiler. 

Cute, but ultimately pointless. 

"Lucas gives me the spiders—eek—in my stomach. That guy is two steps away from writing a manifesto."

She shook her head, but I could tell she was holding back a laugh. "Honestly, I don't even think he believes half the things he says himself."

"Yeah, well, as long as you're not buying what he's selling, we're good." I leaned in, dropping my voice to a more serious tone. "You know you can trust me, right? I'm not playing games here."

Adeline sighed, like she was tired of the whole conversation. "Yeah, Damon. I know."

And just like that, the weird tension in my chest eased up. 

Adeline could roll her eyes and be sarcastic all she wanted, but deep down, I knew she trusted me. 

Even if she'd never admit it.

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