Thirteen

Thirteen
Kaelen’s POV

The sound of laughter filled the lounge — loud, fake, and irritating.

The air smelled like expensive cologne and entitlement.

I sat back on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, eyes fixed on nothing in particular while the others talked.

This was the Legion Lounge — our little kingdom within the school.

Only those with red-stitched badges were allowed in.

Power had its privileges.

Across from me, Selene tossed her perfectly styled hair and let out a dramatic sigh. “I swear, that Mirella girl is getting on my nerves,” she said, rolling her eyes. “She acts like she doesn’t understand how things work here.”

I didn’t respond. I didn’t have to.

One of the guys, Rylan, leaned against the pool table, smirking. “Relax. She’s new. She’ll learn. They always do.”

Selene turned sharply toward him. “No, this one’s different. She’s loud. Bold. Stupidly brave for someone who comes across as timid. I hate it.”

Rylan laughed. “You hate every girl who doesn’t worship you.”

She glared at him. “At least they know better than to cross me.” Then she looked at me, her tone shifting to a fake sweetness. “What do you think, Kaelen?”

I kept my eyes on the window. The view outside was nothing special — just the courtyard, the same students walking around like puppets. “I don’t think,” I said flatly.

Selene scoffed. “You’re boring. Always are.”

“Then stop asking questions you don’t want answers to,” I said. My tone was calm, but her jaw twitched.

She leaned closer, smirking. “Or maybe you’ve got a soft spot for her.”

That made Rylan laugh. “Kaelen? A soft spot? Yeah right.”

Selene ignored him. “You were quiet that day in class, you know. Usually, you’d shut her down with a look, but you didn’t.”

I finally turned my eyes to her. “You already got away with framing her once,” I said coldly. “Don’t push your luck. The board almost expelled you before your father stepped in.”

She rolled her eyes again. “So what? She deserved it. She raised her hand on me.”

“She defended a scholarship girl,” I said. “You beat the kid in front of the entire class. What did you expect?”

Her eyes narrowed. “You sound like you’re protecting her.”

I looked away. “I’m protecting my patience. Don’t do anything life-threatening. I’m not cleaning up another one of your messes.”

Selene clicked her tongue and leaned back, pretending to pout. “You’re no fun anymore.”

The room went quiet for a while. The others drifted into smaller conversations — games, money, weekend parties. I didn’t join in. My thoughts weren’t there.

They were on her. Mirella.

I didn’t know much about her before she came.

Just that she was from one of those good families families that thought money could buy access to this school’s world.

But that day — when she stood up to Selene — something had shifted.

No one ever did that. Not in front of everyone.

She was foolish, sure. Brave, but foolish. To think the school would ever believe her word over a Legion’s? That was suicide.

And yet… she did it anyway.

I remembered the look in her eyes that day — not fear. Just anger. Controlled, sharp anger. Like she’d been holding it in for too long.

It made me curious.

When the conversation in the lounge turned back to gossip, I stood up. “I’m leaving.”

Selene shot me a glare. “We’re not done talking.”

“I am.”

I didn’t wait for her response because she sure as fuck didn't get to tell me what I could and couldn't do.

I pushed the glass doors open and stepped into the hallway.

The quiet that came instantly was a sharp contrast to the noise behind me.

And that’s when it happened. I collided with someone rounding the corner. Books spilled to the floor, papers scattering like leaves.

“Sorry,” the person muttered.

Mirella.

Of course.

She bent quickly to gather her books. I could’ve helped, but I didn’t. Not because I didn’t want to — but because I didn’t know what to say.

She didn’t even look at me. Not once. Just muttered a quiet “excuse me” and brushed past.

Her perfume lingered after she left — soft, like apples and something faintly floral.

I hated that I noticed.

\~~~

The next day, during class, I made sure I sat beside her.

Everyone was arranging their seats to fit in normally and I thought why not do the same.

Everyone looked shocked.

Even Selene’s jaw tightened across the room.

I told myself it wasn’t personal. I just wanted to understand her. To study her.

That was what I did — observe, learn, control. And she had entered my territory now.

But Mirella seemed tense. Her shoulders were stiff, her eyes locked on her notes like the paper had all the answers in the world. Every time my hand brushed the desk too close to hers, she shifted away slightly.

She thought I didn’t notice. But I did.

When the teacher started talking, she scribbled without really listening. Her fingers tapped against her notebook — nervous, restless.

“Relax,” I said quietly.

She flinched. “I am relaxed.”

“Then stop trying so hard to look like it.”

She frowned, not replying.

Good. Let her be angry. Anger made people honest.

When the teacher announced a group project, my decision came easy. I heard Selene’s voice behind me, sweet and poisonous as always.

“Kaelen,” she called, smiling. “You’ll join my group, right?”

The entire class turned to watch.

I didn’t look at her. “No,” I said, my voice calm. “I’m joining Mirella’s group.”

The silence that followed was almost satisfying.

I could feel Selene’s rage from across the room, could hear the whispers ripple like wildfire.

“Did he just—?”

“With her?”

“She must’ve done something.”

I ignored all of it. I leaned back in my seat, eyes fixed on the front of the class, pretending none of it mattered.

But truthfully? It did.

I wanted to see how she’d react under pressure. How far she’d go before breaking.

I told myself it was curiosity. Nothing more.

Study her, then crush her.

That was the plan.

At least, that’s what I kept repeating.

But the way her eyes darted toward me, confused and wary, made something shift inside me — something I didn’t like.