Harper stared at him, shocked.
He said every word like he meant it, and butterflies flitted through her stomach, stupidly responding to the warmth in his voice. Although he was probably acting, she felt like he actually cared—and she liked that feeling.
"What do you mean by that, Babe?" Hazel Freeman questioned Logan, yet her gaze burned Harper's skin.
Hazel could not believe Logan chose a simple nobody over her—his typical type of girlfriend. They were meant to be, she knew that for sure.
Of course, she caused their breakup, but he had to understand. She had to stir up drama on campus a little.
She expected him to come begging.
She thought he was obsessed with her.
But?
Turns out he wasn't.
He chose some boring Dean's daughter over her.
Hazel wanted to slaughter Harper at that moment—that second.
And Harper saw it.
The way Hazel's eyes twitched to her clenched fist on the handle of her handbag and her brown eyes lingering on Harper.
Harper swallowed hard, a knot forming in her stomach. She felt her heart throbbing wildly.
Harper didn't know why, but she felt intimidated by Hazel's mere presence.
The fear that Hazel could hurt her took control anytime Hazel was there. Yet for an unknown reason, Logan's presence made her feel a warmth of protection.
Maybe some troubles were needed crucially in some situations.
Hazel's eyes remained on Harper for a long period, like how a hungry man would stare at food, before she looked away, her brown eyes finding Logan's sculptured face.
"Logan, talk to me!" she whined, but her subtle sharpness in her tone didn't vanish fully.
"What do you want me to say, Hazel? We're no longer dating, so why can't you get that?" Logan spoke.
His expression?
Indifferent.
Harper couldn't tell if he was acting or if he actually meant it.
She just stood there, eyes on the ground, heart racing.
"Logan, I'm sorry, okay? But we can still work, right? You're too perfect and she's a mistake in your life. Logan, perfection and perfection should be together," Hazel cried, eyes pleading.
Logan smirked.
She was obsessed with him.
No, no one needed to tell him that because he knew.
When they were in a relationship, Hazel Freeman was clingy and his slightest interaction with a girl would make her look like she was bathed in jealousy.
Tsk tsk tsk.
Too bad he never liked her.
He had to date her for popularity content. For him to live a life where he would never have to remember the past.
But the past seemed to run back to him.
"You think?" he scoffed.
The sharpness in his tone made Harper look up at him.
What was the meaning of his sudden possessiveness?
Was he just joking around or what?
Logan Hayes himself didn't know.
He felt he had to.
Harper always seemed to shrink around Hazel—and Hazel used it like a weapon. Logan couldn't let that slide. He had to protect her. That's what any fake boyfriend would do—make a fake date look real, right?
Without thinking, Logan took Harper's hand and her heart skipped a loud beat.
A sudden warmth spread across her skin where his fingers lingered.
And she looked up at him.
Their eyes met.
Gazes locked.
Neither of them wanting to break eye contact first, and the campus went quiet.
A hue of pink graced her cheeks as she stared at him, and to him, it made her cuter.
"WTF, Logan!"
Hazel, who was overheating with anger at the mere glance at their little romantic scene, yelled.
She was losing her mind.
Harper immediately looked away, her face bright red.
"Hazel, Harper isn't a mistake," he stated, tightening his grip on her hand slightly before walking past Hazel.
Hazel couldn't move out of shock.
The moment they both left, the students gathered dispersed.
Alexis and Alexa, who were surprised, also placed their hands on Hazel's shoulders.
"Get your nasty hands off of me!"
Hazel yelled at them, causing them to flinch.
Fuming, Hazel walked away.
Alexis was the first to speak, "Thank God I'm not depressed like her."
Alexa nodded in agreement before they both dashed towards Hazel.
Harper and Logan walked silently down the short hallway, their hands still pressed together.
Their silence felt too heavy.
Harper was surprised. The whole defend thing shocked her.
And Logan?
He couldn't believe himself.
He actually defended Harper while no one asked him to.
Looking down, he realized they were still holding hands, and he let go suddenly, causing Harper's heart to skip a beat.
"Wow, so you've always wanted to hold my hand?" he drawled.
"You were the one who held my hand," Harper defended herself.
Logan grinned. "See you later, princess." He waved, trying to act as nonchalant as possible.
"Why?" Harper inquired softly.
She had been already fighting the urge to ask why he was being so possessive.
"Why why?" Logan joked, causing Harper to roll her eyes at him.
For a fact, he knew what she was referring to but was unsure of how to answer.
"Why did you try to protect me?" Harper blurted, her eyes averting from his.
Logan paused for a while, his eyes flickering as he searched for an answer.
"Because I'm just doing my job," he stated simply.
Moving a few steps closer, he lifted her chin, taking her features in and realizing how cute she was once more.
His touch burned her skin as her stomach practically twisted.
She wanted to push him away, shout at him—anything—but her eyes stayed locked on his ridiculously captivating face.
"Don't think too much, princess. I'm just doing my job... so do yours," he warned.
His words hit her. He was right—it was just a fake relationship and the rules were no feelings, yet here she was having feelings...
Weird feelings.
"I'll do my job. I'll not tell anyone that you—"
Suddenly, his index finger pressed her full lips, sending a surge of emotions within her.
Logan's gaze was locked on her lips.
Not changing.
Unwavering.
He felt like pulling her even closer and tasting it. And having it tainted with his. For a moment it felt like he couldn't resist and she noticed it.
She couldn't comprehend what she observed, but it was a change in his motion—the way he just licked his bottom lip and swallowed. His eyes flickered from her mouth to her eyes repeatedly and it made her feel weird.
She moved back slightly, staring at his finger, which made realization hit him.
He had made her see his vulnerability.
"I know. I'll keep my mouth shut," she spoke with faint confidence as she stuttered slightly.
Logan wet his bottom lip. "I'll walk with you during my free period to attract attention."
Logan stated and strode off, his hands in his pockets, like he was trying to hide the fact he'd just let something slip.
Harper just stared at his retreating steps. Her thoughts a jumbled mess before she remembered... she was late to class.
She bolted to Mathematics class like Sonic