Chapter 7

The tears I’d been holding back finally slipped down my cheeks the moment I shut my bedroom door.

I leaned against the door, my beats uneven.

“What did I ever do to deserve this from Leon?”

I have asked myself that question more times than I can count and I still can’t figure out why.

And deep down, I know I’ll never get an answer.

Not from Leon.

And definitely not tonight.

I washed my face and crawled into bed, hoping sleep will come soon enough.

It didn’t.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.

“Alyson?” Mom’s voice came through the door.

I quickly wiped my tears and cleared my throat before answering.

Come in.

She smiled warmly, but her smile faltered when she saw my face.

“Sweetheart….have you been crying?”

I forced a smile.

“I’m fine, Mom.”

She stared at me for a moment.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded immediately.

“I’m just tired.”

She does not look convinced.

“Okay honey, I came to call you for dinner.”

The thought of meeting with Leon again tonight makes my stomach turn.

“I’m not hungry, Mom.”

Mom sighed.

“I understand sweety, but Leon’s parents have opened their home to us without asking for anything in return. It would be disrespectful if you stayed upstairs while everyone else had dinner together."

I knew she was right.

"I'll come down."

"That's my girl."

She smiled before heading downstairs, leaving me alone with the knot in my stomach.

I stood outside the dining room for a moment, gathering my courage before stepping inside.

The smell of food filled the air.

Mrs. Caster looked up first.

"There you are!" she said warmly. "Come sit, sweetheart."

I forced a small smile and took the empty seat beside my mom.

Mrs. Caster immediately reached for a serving dish.

"You hardly ate anything this morning. Here, have some chicken."

Before I could protest, she had already placed a generous portion on my plate.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

"You're welcome." She smiled. "And Alyson, I want you to stop looking so nervous around us."

I looked up.

"This is your home too now, okay? You don't have to ask permission for every little thing."

My throat tightened.

"Yes, ma'am."

Mrs. Hartley laughed softly.

"And please, call me Aunty Sarah. You're making me feel old."

Everyone chuckled.

Everyone except Leon.

I kept my eyes on my plate and focused on eating.

For a while, the conversation flowed easily around me.

Mr. Hartley talked about work.

My mom shared a funny story from her day

.

Mrs. Hartley laughed at almost everything.

It almost felt normal.

Almost.

Then I felt it.

Leon was looking at me.

I glanced up.

He was already watching.

A strange smile played on his lips.

"Don't forget."

My fork froze halfway to my mouth.

Across the table, Mrs. Caster's brows furrowed.

"Forget what?"

Leon didn't look away from me.

"The thing we talked about."

My stomach dropped.

Mrs. Caster turned to me.

"Alyson? What is he talking about?"

I quickly forced a smile.

"Nothing."

The answer came out too fast.

Mrs. Caster looked between us.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." I nodded. "It's nothing important."

For a second, I thought Leon might say something else.

Instead, he leaned back in his chair and continued eating as though nothing had happened.

The conversation slowly resumed.

But I couldn't shake the feeling of dread settling in my stomach.

A few minutes later, everyone began clearing their plates.

I stood.

"I'm a little tired, so I’ll get some sleep now."

Mrs. Caster immediately smiled.

"Of course, sweetheart. Get some rest."

"Goodnight, Aunty Sarah."

"Goodnight, dear."

I glanced briefly at my mom before turning toward the stairs.

The entire time, I could feel Leon's eyes following me.

I didn't look back.

Not once.

The moment I reached my room and closed the door behind me, I released the breath I'd been holding.

Tomorrow couldn't come fast enough.

Yet somehow...

I had a feeling it would be worse than today.

When my alarm rang, Leon's warning was the first thing that came to mind.

"Leave your new friend alone... or you won't like what happens next."

I stared at the ceiling.

What exactly was he planning?

Shaking the thought away, I got dressed and headed downstairs, hoping to grab something small before school.

The kitchen smelled of toasted bread and coffee.

Mrs. Caster looked up immediately.

"Good morning, Alyson!

"Good morning."

"There are pancakes, eggs and fruit. Help yourself."

“I’m not hungry, I’ll just have an apple.”

“That’s nonsense, you are not leaving till you eat something.”

"Okay, I'll just have some toast."

As I reached for a slice of bread, Leon appeared beside me.

To anyone watching, it looked as though he was simply reaching for the butter.

Then he leaned in just enough for only me to hear.

"So..."

His voice was barely a whisper.

"I thought you weren't hungry."

I froze.

"What?"

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Funny."

He glanced at the food on my plate.

"You just said you weren’t hungry..."

His eyes flicked back to mine.

"...and now you're eating enough for two."

Heat rushed to my face.

Before I could respond, Mrs. Caster's voice interrupted.

"Leon, pass the orange juice to Alyson, please."

His smile instantly transformed into something warm and charming.

"Of course, Mom."

He placed the juice beside me with a polite smile.

"Here you go, Alyson."

Anyone looking at us would think he was being kind.

Only I knew the smile never reached his eyes.

After breakfast, I picked up my backpack.

Mrs. Caster looked at Leon.

"Don't leave Alyson behind."

He grabbed his car keys from the bowl by the door.

"I won't."

Those two words sounded more like a threat than a promise.

The drive to school was silent.

Leon tapped his fingers against the steering wheel while music played quietly through the speakers.

I stared out the window, counting the passing buildings.

Without taking his eyes off the road, he spoke.

"I hope you remember what I told you."

I swallowed.

"I remember."

"You'd better."

His grip tightened around the steering wheel.

"Stay away from Jaxton."

"I can't control who talks to me."

A humorless laugh escaped him.

"You can control how you respond."

He finally looked at me as the car stopped at a red light.

"If I see you with him again..."

His voice dropped.

"...don't say I didn't warn you."

The light turned green.

He drove the rest of the way without another word.

The first period passed slower than usual.

I spent more time thinking about Leon's warning than listening to the lecture.

When the bell finally rang, I quickly packed my bag.

"Alyson."

Professor Bennett's voice stopped me.

"Could you stay behind for a moment?"

I frowned but nodded.

Once the classroom had emptied, he folded his arms.

"I've been reviewing the class performance."

"You had the highest score in Statistics."

"Thank you, sir."

"Unfortunately, another student is on the opposite end of the spectrum."

He glanced down at his grade book.

"Leon Caster."

I blinked.

"Sir?"

"His grades are slipping. If he fails Statistics, he'll become academically ineligible to remain captain of the basketball team."

He looked back at me.

"I'd like you to tutor him after school until his grades improve."

I stared at him.

Of all the students in this school...

Why did it have to be Leon?