Celestial: Fallen

Chapter 10-Unraveled Tensions

I haven't talked to Nick for four days now. He pissed me off that day, and it seems like he's been avoiding me too. Not that I mind. It's fine by me. The silence gives me space, a rare sense of independence I've come to appreciate—though the sting of our unspoken tension still lingers.

Deciding to walk to school today felt like the right move. The weather is just crisp enough, and the cool air fills my lungs as I pace my way toward campus. The walk gives me time to think, to clear my head. Sometimes, these moments of solitude are exactly what I need.

I reach school thirty minutes early for my first class, which is typical for me. Joshua or Leroy should be here any minute, I think. To kill time, I decide to head to the pantry and grab a sandwich—my stomach's been grumbling since I left our place. As I sit by the window, sandwich in hand, I stare out onto the field. My phone buzzes, and it's a text from Joshua. We start texting back and forth, mostly our usual banter.

That's when I spot him.

Clayton, out on the field, running through his morning routine. I feel my stomach churn. Why now? I was just starting to enjoy my peaceful morning. I quickly look away, but curiosity gets the best of me, and my gaze locks onto him. He jogs over to his coach, exchanging a few words, then turns in my direction.

My heart sinks.

Before I can process it, Clayton's jogging straight toward the pantry. My instinct is to pretend he doesn't exist, so I focus back on my phone and my half-eaten sandwich, hoping he'll pass me by. But no. He sits at the next table, his presence suffocating.

"Hey, Arwen," he says, his voice soft, trying to be casual.

I don't even acknowledge him. Why should I?

"I know you're mad at me," he continues. "I know you probably hate me now. I'm sorry."

His words swirl around me like empty promises. I glance at him briefly, then return to ignoring him, more focused on finishing my sandwich than his apologies.

"You know what, Clayton? I really don't care," I say, my voice dripping with indifference. "So, just let it go. Live your life, and I'll live mine. We were never friends, and there's no reason for this."

He's silent for a moment, and I think, finally, he's going to leave me alone. But then he speaks again, almost whispering. "That's the problem. I'm an idiot. I wanted to be your friend, but more than that... I like you, Arwen."

I look up at him and laugh, the sound bitter. "You're a joke. You blew your chance, Clayton. I'm not dumb enough to let you get close again." I stand up, ready to walk away, wanting to leave him and his pitiful apologies behind.

But as I turn to go, he reaches out to grab me.

Before I can react, a familiar hand stops him. I spin around to see Jaimes standing behind me, his grip firm on Clayton's arm, eyes blazing with an intensity that makes my pulse quicken. I can feel Jaimes' presence like electricity in the air, and suddenly, my heart is racing—not from fear, but from something else entirely.

"Hello, asshole," Jaimes says, his voice low, deep, and filled with that dangerous calm I've come to associate with him. "Don't you think it's too early to be pestering my girl?"

My breath catches in my throat. Did he just say my girl? I try to pull my arm from Jaimes' grasp, but his touch is both gentle and firm, keeping me grounded. I look around. A crowd of students has gathered, their eyes wide, undoubtedly hearing every word Jaimes just uttered.

Clayton sneers, clearly not intimidated. "Oh, Sullivan. I thought you were dead. I heard Latrelle gave you a good beating last night."

I freeze, noticing the faint bruises on Jaimes' face for the first time. He doesn't even flinch at Clayton's words. My instinct is to reach out to Jaimes, but before I can say anything, he gives me a look that says, Not now.

Jaimes takes a step toward Clayton, his body tense. "I'll show you what a real beating is if you don't back off." His voice is ice-cold, each word dripping with menace.

Clayton doesn't seem fazed, laughing bitterly. "You're all talk, Sullivan. Why don't you run back to your mommy?"

And that's when it happens. In the blink of an eye, Clayton's on his knees, clutching his bloody nose, gasping in shock. Students gasp, and some start recording. Panic rises in me, my hands flying to Jaimes' face.

"Oh my God, Jaimes, what did you do?" I whisper, my voice trembling.

"Next time, back off," Jaimes growls at Clayton. He wraps his arm around me protectively, steering me out of the pantry as the whispers and murmurs follow us. My heart pounds in my chest, but this time it's not just fear—it's something else, something I can't quite place.

Joshua is waiting in a vacant classroom, his eyes wide with concern when Jaimes leads me inside before he left. "Oh my! Babe, are you okay?" he asks, brushing my hair back like a mother hen.

"I'm fine. Just a little... shaken," I admit, still trying to process everything that just happened.

Joshua shakes his head with a smirk. "Should I be jealous? Two guys fighting over you—girl, you're living the dream."

I give him a look, rolling my eyes. "Are you nuts? They're not fighting for me, Joshua. Clayton is just being a jerk, and Jaimes—well, I don't even know what he wants."

Joshua chuckles, but there's a seriousness in his eyes. "Yeah, but why's Jaimes always around when you need saving? Don't you find that a little... telling?"

I open my mouth to respond, but the words fail me. Why is Jaimes always there?

When I finally get home, Nick is sitting on the sofa. He stands up the moment he sees me, his face tense.

"What the hell happened today?" His voice is tight with frustration.

I walk straight to the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water. "It's nothing, Nick. You don't need to worry about it."

"Nothing?" He laughs bitterly. "The entire university is talking about you and those two idiots."

I can't help the coldness in my voice as I respond. "Well, I'm not harmed, and that's what matters."

Without waiting for him to say anything else, I head to my room and close the door. This isn't us. We never used to be like this, but I'm tired of explaining myself. I just want to be seen as capable of making my own choices.

If Nick can't accept that, then maybe this silence between us is the price I'll have to pay.