Eliza tapped her pencil against her notebook, the repetitive thunk-thunk barely keeping her eyes open. Mr. Hayes was still going on about The Great Gatsby, something about green lights and the American Dream, but all Eliza could focus on was the empty seat a few rows back—the one that should've been occupied by Lucifer.
She chewed her bottom lip, eyes flickering to the clock for the tenth time in the last five minutes. After yesterday's chaos in the gym, she expected him to show up late with some smug grin and a snarky excuse, but the seat stayed empty, and the uneasy twist in her stomach got worse with every tick of the clock.
Ava, sitting beside her, leaned over with a smirk that screamed trouble. "Relax," she whispered, eyes glinting. "He probably just ditched. You know how he is—mysterious bad boy who shows up whenever he feels like it."
Eliza scowled, cheeks warming. "He's not—ugh, just shut up," she mumbled, slouching lower in her seat.
Ava snorted, propping her chin on her palm. "Wow, someone's defensive," she drawled. "Don't worry, he's probably fine. Maybe he's off somewhere fighting crime or rescuing kittens."
Eliza groaned, stuffing her face in her arms. "You're the worst," she muttered, voice muffled.
"I know," Ava sighed dramatically, patting her back. "It's part of my charm."
By the time the bell finally rang, Eliza was practically out of her seat before Mr. Hayes even finished assigning the homework. She ignored Ava's teasing catcalls and weaved through the crowded hallways, heart thudding too loud in her ears.
It took less than five minutes to find him. The door to the nurse's office was cracked open, and through it, she spotted Lucifer sprawled on one of the cots, eyes shut and arm draped dramatically over his face like some over-the-top movie scene. The bandage above his brow was a sharp contrast against his skin, and the sight sent a rush of relief so intense that Eliza almost wobbled.
She hesitated, fingers curling nervously around the strap of her bag. She could just… leave. He was fine. Probably. But before she could talk herself out of it, she pushed the door open and stepped inside, clearing her throat awkwardly. "You look awful," she blurted without thinking.
Smooth. Real smooth.
Lucifer cracked one eye open, smirk curling faintly. "Wow," he drawled, voice rough with exhaustion. "Thanks, sunshine. You really know how to make a guy feel loved."
Eliza scowled, cheeks warming. "I didn't mean—ugh, whatever," she grumbled, crossing her arms. "I just wanted to check if you were still, you know… alive or whatever."
He snorted, smirk softening. "Touched," he muttered. "Really."
She huffed, stepping closer despite herself. "You're supposed to be resting, idiot," she scolded, eyes narrowing. "You could've at least texted or something."
Lucifer chuckled, though it was weak and scratchy. "Didn't know you'd care," he mumbled, eyes fluttering shut again.
Eliza rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn't get stuck. "I don't," she snapped, a bit too quickly. "I just—didn't want to deal with Ava's whining if you ended up in a coma or something."
"Uh-huh," he muttered, smirk barely visible but definitely there. "Sure."
She grumbled under her breath, but her eyes drifted to the blanket folded on the nearby chair. After a second of internal arguing, she snatched it up and draped it over him with more force than necessary.
Lucifer's eyes cracked open at the movement, eyebrows arching. "Wow," he said, smirking. "Didn't know you had a motherly side."
Eliza spluttered, face going hot. "I—I do not! I just didn't want you whining about being cold!" she hissed, cheeks practically on fire.
His chuckle was weak but genuine, eyes slipping shut again. "Right," he muttered, voice trailing off with drowsiness. "Whatever you say… Mom."
Eliza's eye twitched dangerously. "Call me that again and I'll smother you with this blanket," she threatened, voice flat.
"Mm. Kinky," he mumbled, voice slurred with exhaustion.
Her face went nuclear. "I—you—shut up!" she sputtered, yanking the blanket up to his chin with a scowl. But Lucifer's breathing was already evening out, exhaustion pulling him under too quickly for him to make any more snarky comments.
Eliza huffed, crossing her arms and glaring down at him. Stupid idiot, she grumbled internally, though the tension in her shoulders eased. She hesitated for a second, eyes flickering to the door, but her feet stayed rooted. Leaving felt… wrong, somehow.
With a sigh, she sank into the chair beside the cot, bag dropping to the floor with a soft thud. Her eyes lingered on Lucifer's face, softer without the usual smirk and sarcasm, the sunlight slanting through the window casting warm patches over his hair.
The urge to brush the hair from his face itched at her fingertips, but she quickly clenched her hands in her lap, cheeks warm. Don't be weird, she scolded herself mentally. You're just here to make sure he doesn't, like… choke on his own tongue or something.
Yup. Totally reasonable. Nothing weird about it.
She huffed, slouching back in the chair with a dramatic sigh. "You're such a pain," she mumbled to no one in particular, but her voice was softer than she intended, the fondness bleeding through despite herself.
Lucifer didn't stir, breath steady and soft, eyes shut and face relaxed.
Eliza's eyes softened, and she allowed herself to relax just a bit, letting the quiet settle warm and easy. Maybe she'd just stay a few minutes—just to make sure he didn't roll off the cot and crack his head open or something.
Yup. Totally reasonable.
She sighed again, slumping lower in the chair, but her eyes stayed fixed on him, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
To be continued....