"I warned you once not to look back... But here you are, tempting me again to ruin your happily ever after with her."
My words hung heavy between us, but his smirk only deepened as he leaned in, so close our lips nearly touched. "Maybe I like the ri...
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The Student Council meeting had run smoothly as usual, held in the prestigious glass-walled conference room on the third floor of Fictus Academy's administration building.
Early morning sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting a warm glow on the polished mahogany table where the council members sat. The faint hum of the air conditioning and the soft rustling of papers lent a professional atmosphere, while the neatly arranged plaques on the walls spoke to the academy's long history of academic excellence. My fingers rested lightly on the meeting agenda as I glanced at the time, noting that we were running slightly ahead of schedule.
Each member of the council, neatly dressed in the academy's immaculate uniforms, listened attentively as we discussed the upcoming charity auction and the much-anticipated annual school singing contest on Foundation Day. The contest had always been a highlight of the year, but this time there was an unspoken tension surrounding it, likely due to Wallace's unexpected involvement. Though no one dared mention it directly during the meeting.
My eyes flicked to the clock. 6:53 AM.
"That concludes our agenda," I said with a polite smile, dismissing everyone a few minutes early so we could all prepare for our first class.
"Thank you for your hard work. Let's aim to finalize everything by Friday." Ethan added.
The council members nodded, gathering their things as the sunlight caught the gold details on their blazers. After a few words exchanged about some last-minute details, I stood, my chair gliding back smoothly, and left the room.
The grand hallways of Fictus Academy were bathed in light from the massive skylights above, giving the school an open, almost cathedral-like feel as I headed toward my first class. My shoes echoed against the marble floors as I walked. The familiar sounds of lockers slamming and chatter formed the background noise of another day in the elite academy. Students milled about, most of them chatting in groups by their lockers, others focused on their phones.
I walked calmly, head held high. Everyone noticed me. They always did. Their gazes followed me like a ripple in the sea of students, whispers, nods, and knowing glances.
I was halfway to my first class when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to find Harold, a boy from the year above me, standing behind me with a slightly awkward smile. His tousled brown hair and the ever-present glasses slipping down his nose gave him an air of casual charm. He adjusted his glasses before speaking, his smile faltering as if unsure of his next words.
"Hey, Desiree," he greeted, running a hand through his hair. "I wanted to talk to you about the charity auction. I was thinking of volunteering, but I'm not sure where to start."
I internally scoffed. He's a senior. Shouldn't he already know how things work by now? Yet I maintained the sweet, approachable expression I was known for. "That's great, Harold. We could always use more volunteers. Hasn't Blake handed out the flyers to all seniors yet?"
