Chapter 29 DETENTION
Chapter 29 DETENTION
Lily’s POV
The classroom felt alive with voices of people as groups formed around us, but our table felt really tense.
Thankfully, Jake was here.
He leaned back in his chair, looking pleased with the whole arrangement. “Four of us… plus Damien should be solid. We’ve got the star football player, the swim captain, the cheer captain, the human perspective, and…” He glanced at Damien. “Whatever you bring to the table.”
Damien Vale didn’t even blink. He was leaning back in his seat with his arms crossed, staring out the window not minding any of us. He had sharp features, dark hair that fell slightly over his forehead, and an aura that screamed “I’d rather be anywhere else.”
I remembered seeing him around school before, always alone, reading something far advanced than our grade level. He transferred mid-semester, and no one seemed to know much about him except that he kept to himself. Always.
“Integration,” Damien said flatly, still not looking at us. “Vampire-human social dynamics. Historical context, biological implications, cultural friction, ethical gray areas. Forty percent of the grade. We should start with primary sources instead of whatever group project nonsense most people will throw together.”
Wow.
Caitlyn, who had slid into the seat beside Alexander, let out a soft laugh. “Someone’s ambitious.”
Alexander said nothing. He was sitting directly across from me, elbows on the desk, staring at a point just past my shoulder.
Jake nudged my knee under the table. “You okay? You’ve been quiet.”
“I’m fine,” I said, forcing a smile. “Just thinking… about the project.”
Mr. Cassel finished assigning the last groups and returned to the front. “You have until the end of the semester. Presentations will be in front of a panel from the other schools. Make it count.”
The bell rang and immediately everyone stood. Jake grabbed my bag before I could, slinging it over his shoulder with a grin. “Come on. I’ll walk you to your next class.”
As we stood, Caitlyn brushed past me on purpose, her shoulder bumped mine. “Try not to drag the group down, human,” she whispered. “We all know you’re only here because of the boys.”
I didn’t respond. Alexander’s head snapped up at her words, but he stayed silent.
The four of us plus Damien moved into the hallway together. Jake kept his arm around my waist, chatting easily about football practice and how we could meet after school to brainstorm the project. Caitlyn walked on Alexander’s other side, leaning in to say something that made him nod once.
The bond pulled at me the entire way. Every time Alexander’s arm brushed mine accidentally in the crowded hall. I hated how aware I was of him. By the time the final bell rang, I was exhausted.
Jake had practice, so I walked toward the library alone. Or at least, I tried to.
“Lily.”
Alexander’s voice stopped me in the empty corridor. He was leaning against the wall near the side exit, arms crossed waiting. The late afternoon light coming through the windows showed the sharp lines of his face.
I swallowed. “What do you want?”
He pushed off the wall and walked toward me slowly. “We need to talk…”
What does he want to talk about? Before I could respond, Jake called out smiling.
“Hey. You two talking about the project already?”
Alexander stepped back instantly. “Yeah. You know, Just coordinating.”
Jake reached us and slipped his arm around my waist again. “Good. We can all meet at my place after practice tomorrow. Caitlyn and Damien too.”
Alexander nodded once, his expression blank. “Sounds good.”
Jake kissed my cheek. “I’ll text you later, babe.”
He walked off toward the field. Alexander stayed for a second longer, his eyes on me.
“Be careful with Caitlyn,” he said quietly then turned and followed Jake down
the hall.
What did he mean by that?
ALEXANDER POV
I had completely forgotten about detention by the end of the day… because of her. Then again, that wasn’t entirely true. I was the one who got myself into it.
The classroom was empty when I got there except for the two of us, a bored third-year named Marcus who had gotten detention for something involving the science lab and a Bunsen burner, and Mr. Cassel, who spent the first seven minutes explaining exactly what we would be cleaning and then left.
Marcus immediately put his head on the desk and went to sleep. Caitlyn picked up a cloth and kept staring at it.
I started wiping down the back row of desks.
We worked in silence for four minutes. Which was, for Caitlyn, an unusual thing.
"You almost kissed me," she said all of a sudden, arms crossed.
"No.”
"Alexander."
"I didn't almost kiss you, you did,” I said, still wiping the surface. “I was already turning away when Cassel walked in."
She was quiet for a moment.
"You used to not turn away. Back then—”
"That was a long time ago,” I cut in.
"It was just eight months ago.”
"Which is a long time.”
She stopped wiping. I kept going.
"You almost made a mistake," I said quietly. "That is all that happened. I am sorry if it felt like something else."
When I straightened up and turned, she was looking at me.
"I know," she said after a moment. "I know it was not anything."
She looked at the cloth in her hand. "I just wanted it to be something," she said quietly. "For one second. I wanted it to be something again. C'mon Alexander we could just—”
“Stop,” I snapped. “Respectfully, Caitlyn… you should fuck off.”
I didn’t wait for a reaction. I grabbed my bag, shoved it over my shoulder, and walked past her toward the door. But as I reached it, her hand caught my wrist.
For fuck’s sake. Why wouldn’t she just let me leave?
“Detention isn’t over yet.”
“I’m done. I don’t care.” I pulled my wrist free and stepped forward.
One step, then another. But before I could reach the door, something stopped me.
A strange pull twisted deep in my chest. My breathing caught immediately.
What the hell?
I slowed down, trying to keep moving, but the feeling only got worse. My hand reached the doorknob for support. I took a slow breath.
“What’s wrong?” Caitlyn asked quickly, moving in front of me. “Alexander… what is it?”