By Monday morning, the school was practically a war zone. Exam week was in full swing, and the hallways buzzed with stressed-out students cramming last-minute facts into their overworked brains. Some were clutching textbooks with a desperation usually reserved for people hanging off cliffs, while others paced back and forth, muttering formulas like a chant to ward off evil spirits.
Eliza, dark circles prominent under her eyes, dragged herself to her locker feeling like a zombie. After a weekend of studying until her eyes blurred, she was running on caffeine and sheer force of will. She barely managed to stifle a yawn when a hand landed heavily on her shoulder.
"Yikes," Lucifer drawled, leaning against the lockers with his usual lazy smirk. "You look like you just crawled out of a horror movie."
Eliza glared at him through half-lidded eyes. "Wow, thanks," she grumbled, batting his hand away. "That's exactly what I needed to hear right now."
He chuckled, completely unbothered. "Hey, I'm just saying—at least zombies don't have to take finals," he teased.
She rolled her eyes, shoving her books into her bag with a little more force than necessary. "You're the worst," she muttered. "And you're one to talk. You didn't even study!"
Lucifer smirked, unrepentant. "I skimmed some stuff," he shrugged. "That counts."
"Looking at memes doesn't count," Eliza deadpanned.
He gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "How dare you. I'll have you know I actually opened my textbook this time."
She snorted, slamming her locker shut. "Wow, I'm so proud," she drawled, voice dripping with sarcasm. "What a scholar."
He flicked her forehead lightly. "Don't be mean. I might cry."
She rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched despite herself. "Yeah, right," she scoffed, shouldering her bag. "If you cry, pigs are probably flying somewhere."
Lucifer snorted, falling into step beside her. "Whatever, drama queen," he said lazily. "Try not to pass out during the test."
Eliza groaned, already dreading it. "If I do, just leave me to die," she mumbled.
"Noted," he said cheerfully, making her glare.
---
The first two periods passed in a blur of essay questions and frantic scribbling. By the time lunch rolled around, Eliza's brain was one wrong question away from a full system meltdown. She flopped into a seat at their usual table, forehead hitting the cool surface with a dull thud.
"I'm dead," she groaned. "Just bury me here. Tell my parents I loved them."
Ava snorted, prodding her with a fry. "Mood," she grumbled. "If I have to solve one more equation, I'm gonna start throwing things."
Lucifer dropped into the seat beside Eliza, looking way too relaxed for someone who definitely did not study. "Math wasn't even that bad," he said smugly.
Eliza lifted her head just enough to glare. "You literally left half of it blank," she accused.
He shrugged, stealing a fry from her tray. "It's called strategy," he said, smirking. "Why waste energy when you know you're gonna fail?"
She scowled, slapping his hand away. "Get your own!"
"Yours taste better," he shot back, grin widening.
Ava groaned dramatically, flopping back in her seat. "I can't believe I have to witness this every day," she complained, covering her face with her hands. "I didn't sign up for a front-row seat to a bad comedy show."
Eliza huffed. "Then sit somewhere else," she shot back, sticking out her tongue.
"Nah," Ava said lazily, peeking out from behind her hands. "I'm too invested in the drama now. It's like a train wreck—I can't look away."
Lucifer chuckled, popping the fry into his mouth with zero shame.. "She's got a point," he mused, nudging Eliza's shoulder. "We're pretty entertaining."
Eliza groaned, dropping her face into her hands. "I'm surrounded by idiots," she mumbled, voice muffled.
Ava patted her shoulder with zero sympathy. "You'll live."
---
The rest of the day was a blur of test papers and mental exhaustion. By the time the final bell rang, Eliza was practically sleepwalking, bag dragging on the ground and eyes half-shut. She shuffled through the hallway like a zombie, not even noticing Lucifer's approach until he flicked her forehead.
"Come on, sunshine," he snorted, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "I'll walk you home before you pass out in a bush or something."
Eliza was too tired to protest, only managing a half-hearted glare. "Shut up," she mumbled, leaning into his warmth despite herself.
The hallway was still bustling with students, but everything felt muffled, exhaustion making her limbs heavy and thoughts sluggish.
The walk home was quiet, the sky washed in soft sunset hues. Lucifer's arm stayed draped around her shoulders, steady and warm, and Eliza yawned, eyelids drooping.
"Don't fall asleep on me," he snorted, giving her a gentle shake. "I'm not carrying you."
She mumbled something unintelligible, head tipping against his shoulder.
He chuckled, the sound low and warm. "Hopeless," he sighed, but there was no bite to it.
By the time they reached her house, Eliza was practically dead on her feet. Lucifer rolled his eyes, but his smirk softened a fraction. "Go take a nap, drama queen," he said, flicking her forehead lightly.
She scowled weakly, swatting at his hand. "Bossy," she grumbled, words slurred with fatigue.
He snorted, ruffling her hair. "Yeah, yeah," he muttered. "See you tomorrow, Princess ."
Eliza watched him walk away, heart fluttering treacherously despite the exhaustion dragging her eyelids down. She huffed, cheeks warm, and shuffled inside with a tiny, tired smile.
Maybe exam week wasn't completely awful.
To be continued....