Biology felt longer than my entire life.
I was supposed to be paying attention to Mr. Hawkins' lecture about the circulatory system, but my brain had other plans — most of them starring a cold, distant senior with motorcycle boots and a jawline you could use to cut glass.
Xavier Cage.
Last night, he was warm and sleeping in my bed. This morning, he was ice-cold and didn't even look at me. Not even once. Not even a grunt of acknowledgement.
Beside me, Sid leaned over, nudging me with her pencil. "You're in another dimension again."
I blinked. "Huh?"
"Yep. Your eyes get all soft and blurry when you'rethinking about something else ."
"I'm not—!" I paused. "...Shut up."
Tyler, sitting on my other side, didn't even glance up. "Is she spiraling about Tall, Dark and Scowly again?"
"Probably." Sid chimed.
"I'm not spiraling," I snapped. "He's just… rude. And weird. And confusing."
"And hot," Sid added helpfully.
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to," Tyler said, flipping a page in his notebook. "It's written all over your face. In, like, glitter pen."
I groaned and slumped in my seat.
"You know," Sid said, lowering her voice dramatically, "I've been thinking. What if there's, like, a secret cult running the school? Mt. Olives is ancient, rich, spooky. Makes sense."
I gave her a look. "Not everything's a conspiracy."
"But it could be," she said, wiggling her eyebrows. "Maybe Cage is part of it. Ooh! Maybe he's actually a mind-controlling illusionist. That's how he got you past the school gates last night."
"Really sid? First it was aliens now this?"
"I'm serious!"
"No, you're delusional."
"I prefer the term 'open-minded.'"
Tyler groaned. "Can you guys keep your ridiculous theories down? I'm trying to pretend I care about heart valves."
I smiled despite myself.
Still, the moment she mentioned the gates… the memory flickered.
The way they just opened. The security staff not even blinking. It was off. Definitely suspicious. Maybe not mind-control-level suspicious, but something was weird. I'd told Sid before — Mt. Olives had a vibe. The kind you can't explain but feel deep in your gut. Plus all the things I found out in the library and the strange eye coloured students? Everything was weird.
And Xavier? He was the weirdest part of it all.
----
The sun had started to dip by the time we made our way back to the dorms, the long stone path glowing soft gold beneath our shoes. Sid was twirling a pencil between her fingers, balancing her books like they were stacked cupcakes. Tyler had one AirPod on.
As we passed the old bell tower, the loudspeakers crackled to life.
"Attention students," came Principal Hunstenberg's unmistakable voice — "A reminder that the annual Mt. Olives Charity Ball will be held tomorrow night at Romley hall. Formal dress code is required. Attendance is optional but encouraged. Midterm exams begin the following morning. Have a wonderful evening, my lovelies."
The announcement clicked off with a buzz.
"A charity ball?" I asked, frowning. "Like… gowns and tuxedos and glass slippers?"
Tyler snorted. "Exactly like that. Minus the slippers. Add some champagne and way too much perfume."
"It's fancy," Sid added, without her usual dramatic flair. "Big, sparkly, and completely overhyped."
"Do people actually go?" I asked.
"Most of them," Tyler said. "It's Mt. Olives. Even if you hate it, you show up just to keep your name relevant. It's the social event of the semester."
I raised a brow. "So... a peacock parade disguised as a fundraiser."
"Exactly," Sid muttered, hugging her books tighter.
Tyler smirked. "Plus, people pair off like it's a reality dating show. Always some scandal. Last year, someone got slapped before the opening dance."
Sid kept quiet. Too quiet.
I glanced at her, curious, but she avoided my eyes, pretending to adjust the strap of her bag.
"I might skip," I said, changing the subject for her. "I've got Mr. Pierce's stupid assignment due tonight. "
"Come on," Tyler said. "You're new. You have to go at least once. Even if it sucks, you'll look great, eat terrible punch, and get great people-watching material."
"Ty's right," Sid added quickly, her voice just a bit too high. "It's... fun. Sort of. I mean, if you lower your expectations. A lot."
Something about the way she said it made me frown.
I didn't push.
Sid didn't like people seeing her cracks.
"I'll think about it," I said instead.
As we turned toward the dorm path, a familiar voice called out, "Cutie!"
I didn't have to turn around. That voice was unmistakable.
"Blondie," I replied without missing a beat.
Nathan Lawson caught up to us, looking golden and perfect as always. His hair glinted in the sun, and that charming, easy-going smile was firmly in place.
"Hey, Sid. Tyler." He greeted them both before turning to me. "Haven't seen you around much lately."
"Busy," I said. "You know, trying to survive Mr. Pierce's academic torture."
He laughed. "Classic Coco."
Sid's eyes widened as she took him in. I could practically hear her brain short-circuiting.
"You heading to the ball tomorrow?" he asked casually.
"Still thinking about it," I said. "Assignments and all that."
"Well, hope you show," he said easily. "Wouldn't be half as fun without you."
He wasn't flirting—at least, not really. It was more like… fond teasing. Still, there was a warmth in his eyes that hadn't faded, even after I'd gently turned him down.
I felt a twinge of guilt.
"I'm surprised you don't have a date," I said, arching an eyebrow. "What's the matter, Prince Charming? Run out of glass slippers to hand out?"
He grinned. "Maybe I'm holding out for the one who keeps calling me Blondie."
That made Tyler snort, and Sid covered her mouth to hide a squeak.
Then the air shifted.
I felt it.
A pull. A weight. A temperature drop that didn't match the afternoon sun.
He was behind us.
I didn't have to look—I felt him. Like a shadow stitched to my skin.
Xavier.
He leaned against a tree just a few feet away, arms crossed, his black t-shirt hugging every lean muscle like it had been painted on. His face was unreadable. Too blank. Too still.
But his eyes—those deep, dangerous eyes—were locked on Nate.
Nate straightened slightly. Not flinching. But not as relaxed as before either.
"Cage," he said.
Xavier gave him a single, sharp nod. "Lawson."
That was it.
The temperature plummeted another degree.
I shifted my weight, glancing between the two of them.
"Okay," I said, trying to sound casual. "Well, this isn't tense or anything."
No one laughed.
Sid was practically vibrating beside me.
Tyler sighted Paris from afar and excused his now pink self.
Gosh they were so cute.
I turned to Xavier. "Are you here for a reason or just—lurking?"
He looked at me. Briefly. His gaze flickered to my face and then away again, as if I were nothing more than air.
The coldness in that glance stung more than I wanted to admit.
"Just passing through," he said flatly, eyes already on Nate again.
Right.
The tension was thick enough to choke on.
After an awkward beat, Nate cleared his throat. "Well, I'll see you around, Cutie."
"Later, Blondie," I replied with a small smile.
He jogged off down the path, but I felt Xavier's eyes follow him all the way.
When I looked back at him, his expression was steel.
I sighed. "Seriously?"
He said nothing.
I started walking toward the dorms again, muttering under my breath, " How the heck did I get caught up in all this drama. "
Sid scurried beside me, absolutely giddy.
"Did you see that?" she whispered. "Oh my god, Coco, he looked like he wanted to murder Blondie!"
"Yep," I muttered. "Like I said—drama."