Chapter 14

AURORA’S POV:

The scratch of pens, the low hum of the overhead projector, and the half-hearted drone of Mr. Haynes lecturing about cell division fill the classroom.

I’m staring blankly at my notebook, pretending to take notes, but my thoughts are still tangled in the locker room incident and the strange, gold-eyed man who vanished like a ghost.

I shouldn’t be thinking about it. But I am.

"Seer," he’d whispered. The word echoes in my head like a bell tolling underwater. I don’t even know what it means. And worse, I haven’t told anyone. Not Jon. Not Arc. Especially not Arc.

A crumpled note lands on my desk.

I blink, glancing down. In messy, rushed handwriting, it says:

You okay? You’ve been zoning out for ten minutes.

- J

I glance up. Jon is two rows ahead, angled just enough to watch me without making it obvious. Our eyes meet. He offers a small, concerned smile. Warm. Comforting.

I smile back, but before I can write a reply, I hear the exaggerated clearing of a throat.

"Oh my god, could you two not flirt in the middle of class?"

I stiffen. I know that whiny voice.

Across the aisle, Celeste is watching me like she’s about to throw something. Her long blonde hair is pulled into a high, bouncy ponytail, her lip gloss practically blinding under the classroom lights.

She’s one of those girls, the ones who think their social status gives them ownership over people. And for some reason, she’s decided Jon and Arc belong in her kingdom.

Not mine.

"Didn't know we needed a third wheel in every interaction between hot guys," she says, louder now, drawing a few laughs from her group.

This b***h literally made herself the third wheel. The f**k is she saying?

Well, not a third wheel but you get what I'm saying.

I grit my teeth. "If I wanted your opinion, I’d ask for it."

She leans in, resting her chin on her hand like she’s trying to look innocent. "Just saying, it’s kinda weird how you’re always around them. First Jon, now Arc? You’re either really desperate or really-"

"Celeste," Jon cuts in sharply from his seat. His voice is low but firm. "That’s enough."

Hehe.

Girl, not the time.

Her jaw clicks shut, but she doesn’t look away from me. Her eyes narrow. "Sure. Defend her. Just wait till she screws you over too."

I pretend her words don’t sting. I’m used to whispers, to people assuming the worst just because I exist in close proximity to guys like Jon or Arc. Still, something about her tone, the venom, makes my chest tighten.

Arc, from his seat in the back corner, doesn’t even look up. He’s sketching something in the margins of his notebook, but I can feel his awareness. Like he’s listening. Always.

Mr. Haynes claps his hands. "Alright, class dismissed. Head to the gym, that should be your next period. Coach Reynolds wants you all dressed out and ready."

Chairs screech against the floor. Students shuffle out in groups.

Jon slows as he reaches me. "You okay?"

I nod, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "Yeah. She’s just... petty. On the bright side, looks like there's someone else ready to take you two out of my hands. Phew."

"Oh, please. You know you are not getting rid of me easily. I don't know about vamp over there though. You want me to talk to her?"

I glance over at Celeste, who’s still glaring at me like she wishes she could set me on fire with her eyes. "No. That’d just give her what she wants. In as much as I am a petty ass person too, I don't have her time today."

He nods, but his jaw is tight.

We make our way toward the gym, the tension from the classroom trailing behind us like storm clouds. Arc brushes past us near the lockers, close enough that our arms almost touch. He doesn’t say a word, but there’s something different in his expression.

Smoldering. Controlled. Dangerous.

As we step into the gym, I get the distinct feeling that today isn’t going to end well.

****_****

The locker room smells like fabric softener and teenage sweat. Girls chat around me, pulling on gym shorts and tying their hair back.

I resist the urge to just start screaming for air freshener cause gurlll...

I sit on the bench, lacing up my sneakers, trying not to feel like the air is pressing in on me.

Cali flops down beside me, tugging her knee-high socks into place. "Hey. You good? I heard about Blondie's blatant jealousy speech today."

"Yeah." I lie with a tight smile.

"You sure? You’ve got that look."

Huh? My face scrunches up in confusion.

"What look?"

"The 'I might punch someone or cry, but I haven’t decided yet' look."

I laugh, and it breaks through the weight on my chest. "Maybe a little of both."

"Well, even though I would be ecstatic if you could punch off Blondie's nose job, save it for the court. Coach just told us it’s volleyball day."

Great. A beautiful day to get constantly pushed around and bump into sweaty beings. Eww.

When we step out onto the polished gym floor, Coach Reynolds already has the net set up. He blows his whistle, clipboard in hand.

"Alright, listen up! Arc and Jon! You are the captains today. Pick your teams."

The room buzzes instantly. Eyes fly to the two of them. Arc’s leaning against the far wall, arms crossed, his dark hair slightly messy like he ran a hand through it. Jon’s standing beside Coach, jaw tight with focus.

Not gonna lie, I'm even finding it hard to make a choice...

Jon steps forward first. "Aurora."

I blink, startled. Then I walk toward him, hearing the little scoffs and murmurs from the other girls. Celeste especially. She’s going to explode.

Hehe. Girl, be gone.

Arc’s eyes narrow. "Cali."

She makes a surprised face but trots to his side.

One by one, players are picked. The teams shape up, both evenly split. Celeste, of course, ends up on Arc’s side.

When the game begins, the energy is electric. The ball soars, bodies move, feet squeak across the court. Jon’s team, my team, starts strong. He sets up solid passes, and I do my best to return and spike with precision.

But Arc’s team isn’t backing down. And neither is he. It becomes more than just a game. It becomes war.

Every time Arc spikes the ball, there’s something behind it. Frustration. Fury. Something that screams he wants me to feel it.

Jon catches on fast. "He’s aiming for you," he mutters during a timeout.

"I know."

"You want me to block you?"

"No," I say. "Let him try."

The next round, Arc slams the ball hard. I dive to save it. My forearms sting, but I keep it in play. My heart pounds. Sweat drips into my eyes.

Celeste sneers from across the net. "Still trying to prove you belong?"

I breathe hard. "Please mind your ball before your nose job gets hit. I'm trying to win here."

The score climbs.

22-22.

Then 23-23.

People are yelling now. Screaming. The gym is a storm of sound. The rise in the energy levels start to get to me and I feel my adrenaline rising alongside.

"Eyes on me," Jon says as we take position again. "I’ll set you up."

I nod, dizzy but determined.

The ball comes. Jon jumps, taps it into the air.

I leap.

Smack it down with every ounce of force I have.

It lands. Cheers.

24-23.

Yes!! Just one more.

But then Arc looks at me. And I know that this is it. It's now or never.

The ball comes flying like a missile. I run for it.Too far.

My ankle rolls. Pain shoots up my leg like fire. I cry out, fall and the world tilts sideways.

I start hearing voices call out my name.

Jon. Cali. Even Arc.

Then everything fades to black.