Chapter 20: Stuck In The Middle

ELOWEN BENNETT

I stood frozen in the hallway, heart still hammering against my ribs.

No one had ever defended me like that before.

Not once.

Not when Liora and Dax betrayed me. Not when Tasha poured her drink on me at the party. Not even when people laughed after I fell in the cafeteria. Andrew had stepped in without hesitation. He had caught Tasha’s wrist mid-air and told her not to hit me.

It felt surreal.

I blinked up at him, still trying to process what just happened. “Thank you,” I whispered, my voice a little shaky. “Really. No one’s ever done that for me.”

Andrew gave me a gentle smile, rubbing the back of his neck like he was a bit embarrassed by the attention. “It was nothing. She had no right to try and hit you. That was way out of line.”

Before I could say anything else, heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Alaric appeared out of nowhere.

He moved fast, his tall frame cutting through the small crowd that had gathered. His expression was dark, jaw tight, and those deep blue eyes burned with anger. Tasha was right behind him, looking smug and furious at the same time.

Alaric stopped directly in front of Jace, towering over him.

“Never touch my girlfriend like that again,” he warned, his voice low and dangerous. “You don’t put your hands on her. Ever.”

The hallway went quiet. Students nearby pretended to look at their phones but were clearly listening.

Andrew didn’t back down. He met Alaric’s glare evenly, his voice calm but firm. “She was about to hit Elowen. I stopped her. That’s it.”

Alaric’s eyes flicked to me for a split second, something unreadable flashing across his face, before returning to Jace. “Stay out of things that don’t concern you.”

Tasha crossed her arms, smirking. “Exactly. Mind your own business, new boy.”

Everything happened so fast. Alaric gave Andrew one last hard look, then turned and walked away with Tasha clinging to his arm. The crowd slowly dispersed, whispering excitedly about the almost-fight.

I stood there, stunned, trying to make sense of what had just occurred. Why did Alaric show up right then?Why did the brief look he gave me feel heavier than all his words?

Andrew turned back to me, concern softening his features. “You sure you’re okay?”

I nodded slowly, still a little shaken. “Yeah… I think so. That was intense.”

We started walking together toward the next class, the tension in the air slowly fading. I appreciated how Andrew didn’t push or make it awkward. Instead, he changed the subject naturally.

“So,” he said with a small smile, “you never told me what kind of fantasy you like best — high fantasy with big worlds or more character-driven stories?”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and fell into the conversation. It felt good to talk about something normal. Something safe.

As we walked, I learned more about him. He was indeed a hockey player, a forward from his old school in Canada. He had transferred here mid-year, but when I asked why, his answer was vague.

“Needed a fresh start,” he said casually, shrugging one shoulder. “Things got complicated back home. Coach here offered me a spot on the team, so I took it.”

He didn’t go into detail, and I didn’t press. But my instincts the same quiet intuition that had always kept me safe by noticing things others missed told me there was more to the story. Something heavier. The way his smile faltered for a fraction of a second when he mentioned “complicated” made me wonder what had really brought him here.

Still, I liked talking to him. He listened when I spoke about my favorite books. He asked real questions instead of just waiting for his turn to talk. For the first time in weeks, I didn’t feel invisible.

We stopped outside my next classroom.

“Thanks again,” I said softly, looking up at him. “For stepping in earlier. You really didn’t have to.”

Andrew smiled, warm and genuine. “Anytime, Elowen. And hey if you ever want to talk more about books or just need someone to sit with at lunch, you know where to find me.”

I nodded, feeling a small spark of hope I hadn’t felt in a long time. “I’d like that.”

He gave me a little wave and continued down the hallway.

As I walked into class, my mind was spinning with everything that had happened in the last twenty minutes. Andrew's kindness. Tasha’s anger. And Alaric’s sudden appearance and warning.

Why had Alaric reacted so strongly? Was it really just because Andrew's had touched Tasha’s wrist? Or was there something else behind that cold glare he gave me?

I sat down at my desk and pulled out my notebook, but my thoughts kept drifting.

Part of me was grateful for Andrew. He had defended me when no one else would. But another part, a confusing, stubborn part couldn’t stop thinking about Alaric’s silence earlier and the way he had looked at me for that brief second.

The bell rang, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I sighed quietly and tried to focus on the lesson.

Whatever was happening between Alaric, Tasha, and now Andrew, I had a feeling it was only going to get more complicated.

And I was stuck right in the middle of it.