Chapter 81 Chapter 1: Elva

Chapter 81 Chapter 1: Elva
Elva:

Luckily, Nixie, Anna and I both got paired as roommates. Our room is a bit wide, it is located on the fourth floor, in the quieter wing. There’s a heavy velvet curtain blocking away the moonlight, our beds arranged neatly, an array of books. Reading tables and chairs, a kitchenette, the other door leads to the bathroom and that’s basically it.

We all slump on the bed, too tired to unpack. I couldn’t even say the exact moment I fell asleep.

\--

The next day, the sound of the electric bell wakes me up. I sit upright, eyes wide with panic, but then I remember that I am only at the academy. I check my phone and realize it’s just six in the morning, seriously? They expect us to wake up right now, I take a glance at Anna and Nixie, they are both still sleeping, looks like the jarring of a bell isn’t enough to wake them up.

I decide to close my eyes for a brief moment only to be awoken by the gentle tap in my shoulder.

“What happened?” I say, rubbing my hands together.

“We are late for the morning class, that’s what.” Anna says, scrolling through her phone. “Apparently, we have creative arts before breakfast and I heard the new professor can be feisty.”

What the hell? How can we be late to our very first day of class? We dash towards the bathroom, hurriedly trying to get ready as Anna is brushing her teeth; Nixie is doing her morning skin care routine while I am in the shower. We hurriedly get dressed in our uniforms.

We are basically running in the hall at full speed.

“This was not how I imagined our very first day.” Anna is breathing frantically, apparently since the school is so fucking big, we are using the e-map on our phone.

“Do you think there is like a large sea somewhere? I feel weird and need to go in my siren form.” Nixie is panting, sweat on her temples. Did I forget to mention that my best-friend is a half siren, half werewolf? If she doesn’t get near the water, she gets all uncomfortable and pale like a vampire? Actually, the school can’t find out about this since this is an only werewolf pure blood academy. If they find out that Nixie is a half-siren, I fear for what they might do to her.

“Less talking, more running. I’m sure we’re going to figure something out.” I say to them, walking faster than the bunch. Nixie mutters something like nerd and Anna laughs along to it. I just roll my eyes as we approach the class. 

Okay, deep breaths, Elva. What’s the worst thing that can happen?

Nixie pushes the door open; she’s the confident one, the one who can tell you to fuck off with those scary silver eyes.

It turns out the class is already in session and the Professor is explaining something on the slides. Oh boy. Everyone looks at us with a raised brow as the professor sighs.

“The late trios,” she says, sharp eyes fixated at me. “Please take your seats and I trust that you won’t be late anymore to my class. I don’t take tardiness quite so easily.”

We apologize as we slip to the back seat, paying attention. I bring out my creative arts textbook, placing it on the table.

“Nice shoes.” The girl with the short pink hair beside me says, beaming. “I am Andrea by the way.”

“Nice to meet you.” The professor keeps on talking and while Andrea seems really nice, I need to concentrate so I can pass this class.

“So as you all know, Professor Larson retired earlier this year and as your new professor, I want to give you guys a special welcome project to the academy.” Everyone erupts into groaning including Nixie who looks like she almost wants to cry. As for me, I live for this kind of thing, so don’t blame me if you catch me smiling. 

“For this project, you will be working on a paired project. Something raw, something that screams who you are inside. Art, music, poetry- I don’t care what you create, but it must be created together. One soul, two voices.”

“Partners have been pre-selected.” Professor Callista says and yes, I did end up finding out all the professors’ names on the school website. “Fate chose them for you.” She thinks it’s funny but no one actually laughs. She goes behind her desk to fetch out a file, “okay, let’s have the names. We have Nixie paired with Anna...” she continues calling the name and I eagerly wait to hear my name, thinking who’s going to be my partner.

“And lastly, we have Elva Costa paired with Alex Vale, please identify.” I shoot my hand up in the air hurriedly, but unfortunately my partner who’s supposed to be Alex Vale doesn’t signify.

“Alex Vale?” The professor calls out but the class is silent. That’s when the door opens and he walks in. He’s tall, damn tall with tousled dark brown hair that reaches the length of his ears; he’s wearing the button up shirt without the blazer, showing off his ripped muscles.

Everyone stares in surprise, including Professor Callista.

“That’s me, Alex Vale.” His smirk is intimidating as he strolls to the backseat beside me.

“Holy crap,” Nixie turns her head and mouths, “so hot.”

There’s something about him that I can’t quite pinpoint. A hint of familiarity perhaps, my mind is screaming that I know him from somewhere, but I can’t quite remember. As I try to think, the bell rings loudly and everyone grabs their bags, trooping out of the class. I watch Alex as he strolls out.

Fuck, fuck...I know him, but from where?

I join Nixie and Anna outside of the class and we begin walking to the dining hall for breakfast.

Anna walks beside me, tapping on her phone. “Apparently, his father is the Alpha of a pack in Britain, didn’t you hear that sexy British accent he said when he pronounced his name? Like damn, girls.” Nixie and Anna giggle. “You hit the jackpot, for real, Elvs.”

My mind is still wandering to where I know him from and I don’t even hear what they’re saying. When we get to the dining hall, it’s already filled with students, final year students and fresher troops in the hall, holding plates of food, chatters and laughter resounding from every corner.

I spot him immediately, sitting alone at the back, the light casting a shadow across his sharp features, that is something about him seated there, calm and unbothered that disturbs me.

I take a deep breath, turning to Nixie. “Can I skip breakfast with you guys for today? I need to talk to him about the project stuff.”

Nixie makes a face, “go get your man, girl. We support you.”

“Please stop.” I cover my face with my palms; I am probably going to end up dying of embarrassment. Sighing, I head over his way, the scent of roasted meat, fresh bread and simmering herbs swirls in the air, the chatter of clatter of cutlery calms my pounding heart.

“Hey.” I say, regretting it immediately. Who says ‘hey’ without proper introduction? He looks up at me from his food, with those very brown eyes, something crosses in his eyes. Familiarity, he knows me too.    

“Princess,” he says and I widen my eyes. Shit, I remember him! He’s my knight in ordinary clothes, he saved me when I was getting attacked and we had the craziest ride of my life with him as the driver.

Alex Vale. That’s the name of my knight in ordinary clothes.

“Thank you for saving me.” I slip easily into the seat facing me. “I don’t think I ever thanked you enough.”

“Are you still poking your nose into other people's business?” he asks, making me smile.

“I resigned from that a long time ago. So, I guess you’re my partner, huh? We have to work on a project together.” I say, pulling out my phone. “I was thinking we could create a painting or music. Do you play any instruments?”

“Shh, princess.” He says, picking up his fork and eating. A few bites of mashed potatoes, then a piece of bread he tears with his fingers, his movement is slow, deliberate and I can’t help but look at him.

Why is watching him eating so...mesmerising?

My gaze flicks back to him at the way his jaw flexes as he bites into a piece of meat.

Oh my Goddess. Get a grip.

He grabs my phone and types in his number, dropping it back on the table. “I will text you my dorm address, let’s meet later in the day.” He stands up, pushes his chair aside and walks out of the dining hall leaving me stunned.

Oh crap.

\-

Hours later, I stand in my dorm, opening the wardrobe. I stare at the cream sweater and drop it on the bed, like it’s an offensive colour.

Anna is on her laptop, doing goddess know what, Nixie is out, looking for a perfect place to have a cool dunk to make her comfortable. “You are going to end up making out with him.” she states like it’s the obvious.

I roll my eyes, this is nothing but just us brainstorming out our project, nobody is absolutely going to make out. I decide to go with the oversized burgundy knit sweater that slips off one shoulder and black faux leggings, paired with ankle boots.

I breathe in, turning to Anna. “How do I look?”

She stares up. “You look insanely beautiful.” Anna’s compliments give me everything I need, sighing. I grab my backpack that’s filled with my creative arts textbook and laptop and leave the room.

Here goes nothing.

\--

Alex:

I know every single fucking thing about her.

Every little detail, she doesn’t know it yet that she has a stalker, it’s not like the stalker that shows up in your house, watching your every detail. No, mine is more mature. Ever since I saved her from that robber, and we had that intense car ride, I couldn’t seem to take her off my mind.

I searched up every single detail about her. I know that she’s the last daughter of her parents; she has an elder brother, and twin sisters. She also likes to poke her nose into other people’s business and that she’s fucking beautiful.

Which is why when my father asked me to pick an academy, I picked the pure blood academy all the way in America leaving my elder brother who’s set to become Alpha soon in Britain just so I can see her every time. 

Am I obsessed with this girl I barely know? Hell yes.

I take a look at my dorm, it looks okay enough. The knock on the door rattles me a bit. I walk towards the door and open it and damn, there she is, frowning at me.

I take my time to study her features, the way her hair frames her face. Her jaw is sharp and delicate, and then her freckles.

Goddess, I didn’t notice it before. The freckles line up the slope of her nose, I want to count them and memorize them.

She stares at me, textbook in hand, frowning boldly at me. “Can I come in?”

“Right.” I cough, making space for her so she can enter my room. She walks towards the centre, staring around. Thankfully, my roommate, Aidan is out, hopefully with his girlfriend or whatever. I didn’t bother asking but he did say he was going to come in late so I have the room all to myself for the next few hours.

“Make yourself comfortable.” I say and she widens her eyes at me. I then realize that’s a very shitty thing to say because of the way she’s looking at me, like she doesn’t trust me. 

Hell, I don’t like that look in her deep green eyes. I want something else there, it feels stupid, I know but I just don’t like her looking at me like I am just like any other dude.

“So we can start.” She drops her backpack on the floor and sits on the chair, dropping the textbook. “I was thinking of us doing some research first; find something that we both can agree on.”

I sit on the edge of the bed, watching her talk. She seems so focused, her cheeks are flushed, probably from the cold.

“Or we can just talk about something else.” I suggest, making her pause.

“Like what?” Is that amusement in her voice? Nevertheless, I continue talking.

“Like how good you look right now,” I say boldly, I can tell she’s not expecting that because her cheeks flush a deep colour of crimson.

“This project covers our grade for this term, we can’t mess this up.” She stands up from the chair and starts to pace around but my hand wraps around her wrist and I pull her back. She stumbles lightly and before she can react, I pull her straight onto my lap. She stares at me in panic, her green eyes so, so wide.

She attempts to stand up, but I pin her in place.

“Relax.” I say gently, using my pinkie to brush the pad of her wrist ever so delicately.

She closes her eyes, taking two deep breaths.

“I am relaxing,” she shoots back. I can smell the faint vanilla on her skin, the hint of her shampoo and her natural scent makes my pulse loud.

“I won’t do anything without your permission.” I say, my voice getting rougher by the minute.  The statement makes her blush so hard. “Anything you want, princess.” Half of me expect her to crawl out of my lap but she just stares at me in this strange way, like she’s trying to understand me.

No one has ever looked at me that way.

“Elva?” I say quietly, my hand around her waist, holding her just enough to know that she’s safe. “Can I kiss you?”

Seconds passed.

Then-

She leans in slowly, so slowly, I think I am imagining it.

Her lips brush mine and it lit something inside of me. I let her take the lead, my hand still where it is, but when she groans softly into my mouth and slides her fingers into my hair, I lose it. I kiss her back with the same intensity, fuck. I really need this.

Her hands tug at my shirt, pulling me closer like she needs more. She moans again and I swear that sound she just made makes my heart run a thousand miles.

We are interrupted by an aggressive knock, Elva breaks the kiss hurriedly but I hold her in place. “Stay.” My voice is rugged, the door opens and she walks in with her red shiny hair and black maxi dress.

Shit, why is Nadine here?

“Alex? What’s going on? Who’s this?” Her eyes flicks over to Elva and she blushes, she really does blushes a lot. “Why in the hell are you sitting on my boyfriend’s lap, bitch?”

“Boyfriend?” Elva looks at me in surprise, something flickering across her face. Betrayal and hurt, the look breaks me. Hurriedly, she stands up like she’s on fire.

“No,” I say immediately, jaw tight. “She’s not.”

“Alex, babe- don’t be shy, we did spend last summer together or has your memory gone fuzzy with all those tongue action?” Nadine asks.

“I-I am-so-sorry,” she scrambles with her words, grabbing her backpack as she shoves her laptop into it. “I didn’t know he had a girlfriend, I swear. I thought that-”

“Get out.” Nadine coldly says.

Elva is backing towards the door, hurt evident in her face. It’s like she’s disappointed in me.

“Wait, Elva.” I say, moving towards her.

“I knew you were trouble,” she says. “I just didn’t think I’d be so stupid about it.”

And then, she’s gone.