The next day, school feels like a never-ending blur of lectures and whispers. It's like I'm constantly caught in the eye of a storm—everyone's talking about me, yet no one's actually talking to me. Well, except for Emerald and Esmeralda, who have become my unofficial guides through the minefield that is Silver Ridge High.
And then there's Klaus.
He's still watching me. Not as openly as before, but I catch him looking from across the room, or when we pass each other in the hall. It's like I've become some kind of puzzle he's determined to solve. The attention should be unsettling, but a part of me is starting to feel… curious.
---
When I walk into my third-period, the teacher announces that we'll be working on a group project. The groans from my classmates tell me everything I need to know—no one wants to be stuck with this. But I'm not too bothered. I've always preferred working alone.
"Alright," Mrs. Morgan says, glancing around the room. "I'll be assigning partners for this project. You and your partner will have two weeks to complete the presentation."
I tune out her voice, trying to focus on anything but the impending social disaster that is group work. That is, until she says my name.
"Heaven Holden, you'll be working with Klaus Belmont."
I freeze. You've got to be kidding me.
I glance across the room and see Klaus lounging in his seat, a lazy smirk on his face. His eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I swear I see something mischievous flicker behind them. He's enjoying this.
"Great," I mutter under my breath.
---
After class, Klaus catches up to me in the hallway. He falls into step beside me, his hands casually shoved into his pockets.
"So, looks like we're stuck together," he says, his voice smooth and confident.
"Lucky me," I reply, my tone dry.
He chuckles, but there's a hardness to his smile, like he's sizing me up. "You could do worse, you know."
I glance up at him, raising an eyebrow. "Really? I'm not so sure about that."
"Hey, I'm not that bad," he says, grinning down at me. "Besides, now you get to spend all this quality time with me. What could be better?"
I roll my eyes, but there's a part of me—just a small part—that can't help but be intrigued. Klaus is infuriating, yes, but there's something about him that's hard to ignore. It's like we're both waiting to see who's going to bend first, who's going to give in. And neither of us seems willing to back down.
"Well," I say, stopping in front of my locker, "if you're expecting me to do all the work, you've got another thing coming."
Klaus leans against the locker beside mine, his smirk never faltering. "I wouldn't dream of it. We'll split the work, fifty-fifty."
"Good," I reply, crossing my arms. "Then I guess we'll meet up after school to get started?"
He tilts his head, his eyes gleaming with a challenge. "After school, huh? Sounds like a date."
I give him a flat look. "It's a study session. Don't get any ideas."
"Whatever you say, Heaven," he says with a wink before pushing off the locker and sauntering down the hall.
I watch him go, my heart racing in a way that annoys me more than anything. It feels like we're circling each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. It's a battle of wills, and I have no intention of losing.
---
Later that day, I run into Emily in the hallway. She's standing by her locker, looking like she's about to come over and talk to me. When she sees me, her face lights up with that awkward little smile, like she's hoping this time will be different—like maybe, just maybe, I'll be nice to her.
But I'm not in the mood for niceties. Not today. Not ever.
"Hey, Heaven," she says, her voice tentative.
I don't bother with small talk. "What do you want?"
Emily fidgets nervously, like she's trying to find the right words. "I just... wanted to see how you were doing. With school and everything."
I scoff, crossing my arms. "You don't need to worry about me, Emily. I'm fine."
There's a moment of awkward silence, and I can see the uncertainty in her eyes. She's trying so hard to connect with me, to be a part of my life, but all I see is a reminder of everything I've lost. She's just a constant reminder that my dad moved on without me, and I can't stand it.
"You know," I say, my voice dripping with venom, "you'll never be my sister. You're just a baggage your mom brought along when she decided to whore herself to my dad."
The words are out before I can stop them, and the effect is immediate. Emily's face crumples like a kid whose favorite toy just got smashed. Her eyes fill with tears, but she doesn't say anything. She just stands there, looking at me like I've ripped something precious away from her.
I feel a pang of guilt, but I shove it down, unwilling to let myself soften. She's not my sister. She'll never be my sister.
Without another word, I turn on my heel and walk away, leaving her standing there like a broken doll. And even though part of me knows I've crossed a line, I can't bring myself to care. Not right now. Not when everything feels so raw.
---
After school, Klaus and I meet in the library to start on our project. The atmosphere between us is thick with tension—not the kind that's hostile, but the kind that feels like we're both waiting for the other to make a move. It's like a game of chess, with neither of us willing to give the other the upper hand.
We sit down across from each other, and I can feel the weight of his gaze on me as I pull out my laptop. He's watching me closely, like he's trying to figure me out. And I hate how much that unsettles me.
"So," Klaus says after a while, leaning back in his chair, "are you always this intense, or is it just with me?"
I glance at him, raising an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He smirks, but there's an edge to it, like he's testing me. "You've got this wall up. Like you're waiting for someone to knock it down."
I stiffen, his words hitting too close to home. "Maybe I just don't like people getting too close."
Klaus's smirk fades slightly, and his eyes darken. "Yeah. I get that."
The air between us feels charged, like we're both waiting for the other to make a move. It's a power play—two alphas circling each other, waiting to see who will bend first. But I'm not about to give him that satisfaction.
"Well, if you're done trying to psychoanalyze me," I say, turning back to my laptop, "we should probably get started on this project."
Klaus doesn't say anything for a moment, but I can feel the tension building between us. It's like he's waiting for me to slip, to give him something he can use. But I refuse to let him in.
Finally, he leans forward, his voice lower now. "You're an interesting one, Heaven. Most people around here are easy to figure out. But you... you're different."
I look up, meeting his gaze head-on. "Maybe that's because I'm not like the rest of them."
His lips quirk into a small smile, but it's not the usual smirk. There's something else there—something that makes me uneasy.
"Yeah," he says softly. "I can see that."
There's a moment of silence between us, and for the first time, I feel like we're on even ground. It's not just a battle for dominance anymore. It's something else—something deeper. And it scares me more than I'd like to admit.
But I won't let him see that. Not yet.