Christopher Jacobs Mars's smirk didn't budge as he kept his eyes glued on Louisa. He leaned against the door, his expensive sneakers making this little squeaky noise on the floor. Mrs. Wren, who'd stopped ironing, looked from Christopher to Louisa, totally confused.
"You two know each other?" she asked, sounding a little worried.
Christopher chuckled, a low, condescending sound. "Know each other? We attend the same esteemed institution, Mrs. Wren. Though, I wouldn't exactly say we run in the same circles." His gaze flicked back to Louisa, a silent emphasis on the last few words.
Louisa's mind raced. How much did he know? Was he here by chance, or was this deliberate? She forced a weak smile. "We... have a few classes together."
"Right," Christopher drawled, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Advanced English Literature, wasn't it?"
He looked back at Louisa, like he was trying to make a point. "But then again, some people have a more... borrowed sense of style, wouldn't you say?" He glanced down at Louisa's clothes, then back at her face, a knowing look in his eyes. "But hey, maybe some people just, like, borrow things."
He paused, letting that sink in. Mrs. Wren looked even more confused, her eyes going back and forth between them.
"Is everything okay, Louisa?" she asked, sounding protective.
Christopher just smirked, pushing himself off the door. "Oh, things are just... getting interesting, Mrs. Wren. You know how stuff has a way of, like, showing up? Let's just say, some super expensive crimson dress has gone missing." He took a step closer to Louisa, lowering his voice like it was a big secret, but loud enough for her to hear. "Just a heads-up."
He kept looking at her for a second, that annoying smirk still there, before turning towards the door. "See ya around, Louisa. Wouldn't want to keep you from your... mom's work."
He gave Mrs. Wren this fake polite nod and then just strolled out, leaving Louisa totally frozen, her heart pounding, and this heavy feeling in her chest.
....
The Charterhouse cafeteria was its usual zoo of noise and lunchtime drama. Louisa and Ellie weaved through the crowds, but Louisa had this major knot of nerves in her stomach. That weird run-in with Christopher at her mom's shop yesterday felt like a dark cloud hanging over her head, like she was waiting for something bad to happen.
They got to their table with Scarlet, but Louisa's eyes kept drifting over to where Christopher and his crew were holding court by the windows. His easy laughing just grated on her last nerve. He wasn't staring at her, but there was this total knowing vibe about him, like he was in on some joke she didn't get.
The first few minutes were all fake normal. Ellie was telling this crazy story about their Chem class, and Scarlet was giving them the lowdown on the history assignment. But Louisa couldn't focus. Her eyes kept flicking back to Christopher.
He'd glance her way every now and then, this little smirk playing on his lips, before going back to his buddies. It was like he was holding some secret over her head.
"You good, Lou?" Ellie asked, looking at her with this worried face. "You seem totally spaced out."
Louisa faked a smile. "Yeah, just… that English paper." Total lie, and she knew Ellie wasn't buying it.
This feeling of being watched, like she was just a pawn in some stupid game, was getting to her. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.
"Hey," she said to Ellie and Scarlet, standing up. "Be right back. Gotta… ask someone something."
Her eyes locked on Christopher's table, and she walked over there, trying to act all casual. As she got closer, the laughter around his table died down, and everyone looked at her.
Christopher leaned back in his chair, this slow, smug grin spreading across his face.
"Well, lookie here," he drawled, loud enough for his friends to hear. "The scholarship girl decided to join the cool kids."
Louisa stopped a few feet away, trying to keep her voice steady even though her heart was pounding. "Christopher," she started, looking right at him. "What was that about yesterday? At the shop?"
His smirk got even wider. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his eyes all smug.
"Did I say something, like, super important? Maybe your imagination's just running wild, Louisa."
His friends snickered, totally sensing the drama. Louisa stood her ground, not letting them get to her.
"You mentioned a red dress," she said, her voice low but firm. "And you looked… like you knew something."
Christopher's eyes gleamed, like he was enjoying this way too much. He didn't say anything for a sec, just stared right at her, making Louisa's stomach do flip-flops. He knew. He totally knew. But he wasn't spilling the tea, just letting her sweat.
Finally, he spoke, his voice all soft and sneaky. "Some secrets," he said, his eyes flicking real quick towards the upper lounge where Jayden usually hung out, "are better kept… for the VIP crowd. You feel me?"
He gave her this super annoying, smug smile, his silence saying way more than actual words.
Louisa just stood there, feeling the weight of his stupid secret, realizing he was just messing with her, and that whatever he knew probably involved someone way more important than Christopher Jacobs Mars.