Forgotten (Falls Elite #1)

33

Lex

I let out a sigh as Tate disappears from view, leaving me alone under the bleachers. My mind swirled with his words. So this whole "fake girlfriend" thing was to avoid being forced into something with Cleo. It wasn't exactly the grand revelation I'd been expecting, but it explained a lot.

Whatever. A few more appearances, and then I could go back to my usual life—away from Tate and his messy family drama.

I stuffed the remaining candy into my bag and headed to class, my sneakers crunching softly against the gravel as I left the shadows of the bleachers behind.

The days that followed blurred together. Exams consumed most of my time, and when I wasn't staring blankly at textbooks, I was hanging out with my friends, trying to pretend life was normal.

To my relief, Pearl kept her promise. She'd stayed out of my way entirely, and while I should've been grateful, the sudden peace felt... strange. I wasn't used to it.

Monday arrived before I knew it, dragging with it the usual monotony of school. I sat in the middle of my history class, staring blankly out the window. The sun peeked through the clouds, casting golden light on the soccer field, and my mind wandered far from Mr. Peters' droning lecture.

"Miss Carson?"

The voice barely registered.

"Lexi Carson!"

I jolted upright, my wide eyes snapping to the front of the classroom. Mr. Peters loomed over my desk, his hands planted firmly on the wood.

"Miss Carson, what do you think you're doing?" he demanded, his voice sharp.

"I—uh—what?" I stammered, blinking up at him in confusion.

"Why are you ignoring me every time I call your name?" His tone was clipped, irritation dripping from every word.

Ignoring him? I hadn't even realized he'd called on me. Swallowing hard, I glanced around the room, my cheeks burning under the weight of everyone's stares.

"I-I don't know, sir," I mumbled.

He straightened, shaking his head in frustration. "Don't let it happen again, Miss Carson."

"I won't, sir," I said softly, sinking lower in my seat as he turned back to the board.

Laughter rippled through the room, quiet but unmistakable. My eyes darted to the sound, landing on Sage and her posse. Their faces were alight with smug amusement, and Sage smirked when she noticed me looking.

I clenched my jaw and tore my gaze away, but my traitorous eyes flicked to Tate. He wasn't laughing, but he was watching me, his hazel eyes locked on mine.

Something about his stare made my skin prickle, and I narrowed my eyes in response. His lips twitched, amusement flashing across his face, and he shook his head slightly as if he found the whole situation funny.

I scowled, breaking the connection and focusing on my notebook. Prick. Let him laugh. I didn't care.

But even as I tuned out the rest of Mr. Peters' lecture, I could still feel Tate's gaze lingering.

The Next Day

The following afternoon, I headed to the pet store for my shift. The air was warm, the smell of fresh-cut grass lingering as I unlocked the shop's door.

The hours were long, and the work was repetitive, but I didn't mind. Being surrounded by animals was a welcome escape from everything else.

I was in the kennel, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a bunny nestled in my lap, when someone cleared their throat behind me.

I glanced up, and my heart stuttered for half a second before annoyance took over. Tate stood at the entrance to the small enclosure, his hands shoved into his pockets, hazel eyes fixed on me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Just checking out the place," he replied, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

I huffed. "Well, I'm working. So if you're not here to adopt a pet, you can leave."

He ignored me, slipping into the kennel and settling into the chair across from me. He grabbed a bunny from the pen and gently placed it in his lap.

"Cute, isn't it?" he asked, stroking the rabbit's soft fur.

I watched him, momentarily distracted. His usual smirk had softened into something genuine, and for a second, I saw a side of Tate I didn't recognize.

"Yeah, they are," I admitted, my voice quieter than I intended.

His eyes flicked to me, the faintest smile curling his lips. "How long have you been working here?"

"A few weeks," I replied, tilting my head slightly. Why was he even asking?

He nodded, still petting the bunny. His touch was gentle, almost reverent, and the sight of it made something twist in my stomach. A strange, fluttery feeling that I quickly shoved aside.

For a while, neither of us spoke. The silence that stretched between us wasn't awkward but oddly comfortable, like we'd found a momentary truce in the company of bunnies and the soft hum of the shop.

"You're good with animals," I said eventually, surprising even myself with the observation.

He chuckled, the sound low and warm. "Don't sound so surprised, Lex."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at my lips.

For the first time in what felt like forever, the world outside faded away, leaving just the two of us and the soft purring of tiny animals.

But as the minutes ticked by, a small, nagging thought crept into my mind. This version of Tate—the one who smiled and gently cradled a bunny in his hands—wasn't the same Tate I knew.

And I wasn't sure if that made him less dangerous... or more so.