Invincible

Playing with Fire

Chapter 4

The days after that lunch with Meur and Maya felt like a strange dream Tori couldn't wake from. She kept waiting for the other shoe to drop—for Alexa to show up with some cruel prank, for Meur to turn his back on her and pretend their conversations had never happened. But instead, things just kept getting weirder.

It wasn't just a one-time thing. The next day, Meur showed up at her table again, this time alone. He didn't ask if he could sit; he just did, dropping his tray next to hers with a casualness that made Tori's stomach twist with nerves. She wasn't used to people being so comfortable around her. The other students watched, whispering, but Meur didn't seem to care.

"Hey," he said as though this were the most normal thing in the world. "You're a hard person to get to know, you know that?"

Tori stared at him, unsure how to respond. It was surreal to have him here again, the most popular guy in school sitting across from her like they were friends. She wasn't sure if she should be suspicious or flattered—or maybe both. "I don't try to be," she said, keeping her voice quiet, hoping it would be enough to satisfy his curiosity.

Meur leaned in, resting his elbows on the table, his dark eyes studying her with that same intensity that made her feel like he was peeling back layers she didn't even know she had. "You've got this whole mystery thing going on. It's intriguing."

A tiny smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and Tori couldn't help but notice how effortlessly charming he was. She glanced around the cafeteria, aware of the stares from other students, especially Alexa and her crew. They sat a few tables away, shooting daggers at Tori with their eyes.

"I'm not a mystery," she mumbled, suddenly uncomfortable with the attention. "I just... keep to myself."

Meur's smile grew, but there was something darker beneath it now, something that sent a shiver down her spine. "Exactly," he said, leaning back in his chair. "That's what makes you interesting. You're not trying to impress anyone."

Tori felt her cheeks flush, unsure if that was a compliment or an insult. She wasn't used to people like Meur giving her compliments at all. But there was a part of her—small and secret—that liked it. She liked the way he looked at her, the way he seemed to see past the walls she had spent so long building up.

But just as quickly, doubt crept in. Why was he really talking to her? Was this some kind of game for him? Meur was notorious for his charm, for the way he could make people feel special one minute and discard them the next. What if this was all just part of a twisted joke?

Tori's thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Maya. She slid into the seat next to Meur, her tray in hand, and gave Tori a polite nod. "Hey, Tori," she said casually, as if they had been friends for years.

Tori wasn't sure what to make of Maya. She was one of the few people in Meur's circle who didn't seem completely obsessed with popularity. There was something quieter about her, something that made Tori feel like she was being watched closely, even though Maya's expression was always calm and composed.

"So, what are we talking about today?" Maya asked, glancing between the two of them.

Meur shrugged, picking up a fry from his tray. "Just getting to know each other."

Maya smiled slightly, but Tori caught the flicker of something in her eyes. Was it curiosity? Or something more? "You know, Meur, you're not exactly easy to get to know either," Maya said, her tone playful, but her gaze sharp.

Tori watched the two of them, feeling like she was on the outside of an unspoken conversation. There was a tension between them, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. It wasn't hostile, but it wasn't entirely friendly either. Maya seemed protective of Meur, like she knew something about him that Tori didn't.

And maybe that was it—Tori didn't know anything about Meur. He was an enigma, constantly shifting between his charming, popular persona and something darker, something more dangerous. The more time she spent around him, the more she felt like she was getting pulled into his gravity, like he was a black hole that would swallow her whole if she wasn't careful.

But despite the warning bells in her head, Tori couldn't stay away. There was something intoxicating about the way Meur looked at her, the way he made her feel like she was the only person in the room. It was a feeling she had never experienced before, and it scared her as much as it thrilled her.

As the days passed, Meur continued to sit with her at lunch, always with that same easy confidence, as though he belonged there. Maya would join them sometimes, her presence steady and quiet, always watching but never intruding. Tori found herself looking forward to those moments, even though she knew it was dangerous to get too close to someone like Meur.

One afternoon, as they sat in their usual spot, Meur leaned in closer than usual, his voice low. "You ever wonder why people act the way they do?"

Tori glanced at him, caught off guard by the question. "What do you mean?"

Meur's gaze was intense, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Like, why Alexa is such a bitch. Why some people can't help but tear others down just to feel better about themselves. You ever think about that?"

Tori blinked, surprised by the question. She had never heard Meur talk about Alexa or any of the popular kids like this before. "I guess... people are just insecure," she said slowly, unsure where he was going with this.

Meur smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Exactly. They're scared. Scared of being weak, of being vulnerable. So they hide behind cruelty. It's pathetic, really."

Tori's heart skipped a beat. There was something in Meur's tone that made her stomach twist—a bitterness that didn't match the charming, carefree persona he usually showed the world. She wondered if he was talking about more than just Alexa.

Before she could respond, Meur leaned back, the dark look in his eyes fading as quickly as it had appeared. "Anyway, enough about that," he said with a smirk. "I think we should do something fun."

Tori frowned, confused. "Fun? Like what?"

Meur's grin widened. "Let's skip the rest of the day."

Tori's eyes widened in shock. "Skip school? Are you serious?"

"Dead serious," Meur said, his voice teasing but firm. "Come on, Tori. Live a little. Don't you ever get tired of being the good girl?"

Tori hesitated, glancing at Maya, who was watching the exchange with mild interest. Maya didn't seem fazed by Meur's suggestion, but then again, she didn't seem fazed by much of anything.

"I don't know," Tori muttered, her heart pounding. The idea of skipping school terrified her. She had never done anything like that before—she always followed the rules, stayed under the radar. But there was a part of her, small and hidden, that was tempted. It would be so easy to say yes, to let Meur pull her into his world, even if just for a little while.

Meur leaned in again, his voice soft but insistent. "Come on, Tori. Don't you want to see what it's like on the other side? Don't you want to stop being invisible, just for a day?"

Tori's pulse raced. She had spent so long trying to disappear, trying to avoid attention, but Meur was offering her something she had never had before—a chance to be seen, to break free from the walls she had built around herself.

Before she could think too much about it, Tori found herself nodding. "Okay," she whispered. "I'll go."

Meur's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "That's the spirit."

As they stood up from the table, Tori's stomach twisted with a mix of fear and anticipation. She knew this was dangerous, that getting too close to someone like Meur could end in disaster. But for the first time in her life, she wanted to take that risk. She wanted to see what it was like to step out of the shadows and into the light, even if it meant getting burned.

And as she followed Meur out of the cafeteria, Tori couldn't help but wonder if she was playing with fire—or if she was about to ignite something far darker than she could imagine.