CHAPTER 8: Tales Of Amile

Alicia slipped through the back door of the lecture room, heart pounding in her chest like she had just committed a crime. The room was already half full, the lecturer, was scribbling furiously on the whiteboard with one hand while speaking in a thick, rolling accent that swallowed some words and clipped others.

She held her breath, praying he wouldn’t turn around.

The back door was a blessing. If she had dared to walk in through the front, she might have been roasted alive by his sharp eyes. Instead, she ducked her head, walked quickly along the wall, and slid into the nearest seat.

Her pulse thumped in her ears. With quick fingers, she dug into her bag, pulling out her notebook and pen, arranging them neatly on the desk as if her level of preparedness could erase the fact that she was late.

It was only after a moment when the panic had receded that she noticed the person sitting beside her.

A familiar jawline. Familiar hair. Familiar sharp eyes that seemed to make her intrigued even when he wasn’t trying.

Her lips curved upward automatically.

“Hey, Kevin,” she whispered, careful not to draw attention.

Kevin looked immaculate, as always. His hair looked like it had been carved into place strand by strand, his shirt pressed, his profile sharp enough to belong on a movie poster. When he turned, those brown eyes locked onto her with polite curiosity.

“Hey…” he greeted back, expectant, like he wanted her to complete the introduction.

“Alicia,” she added with a small, awkward smile.

Inside, she rolled her eyes at herself. ‘Dumb gorgeous guy. Does he really need me to fill in the blanks?’ she said to herself

Kevin’s lips twitched faintly. “Right.” And then, as if she was a small interruption in his day, his gaze returned to the whiteboard.

She leaned closer, whispering again, determined not to be ignored. “What have you guys done so far?”

“Not much. Just listen. You’ll follow along.” His voice was low, clipped, eyes never leaving the board.

Alicia sighed softly, biting back a retort. Fine, Mr. Too-Cool-for-School. I’ll figure it out myself.

The lecture dragged on, words filling the air but barely reaching her brain. Still, she forced herself to write down every detail, every bullet point, determined not to fall behind.

After about thirty minutes, the lecturer, Mr. Clark, as she’d learned turned from the board and began calling out names. His accent was thick, rough, undeniably Scottish, and each pair of names dropped like pebbles into a pond of restless students.

“Beth Rashford and Sam Lewis.”

“Alicia Hale and Kevin Higgins.”

Alicia’s head jerked up from where she had been pretending to check her phone. What? She blinked quickly, her heart skipping a beat. At least she wasn’t paired with a stranger. Kevin wasn’t so friendly, but he wasn’t terrifying either.

“You are to work on the assigned literature text. I’ve sent the list to your class representative. Each pair will present your project during our next class,” Mr. Clark explained, his tone final. “And remember, this project carries thirty marks. Do not take it lightly.”

He snapped his laptop shut and strode out, leaving a wake of scrambling students behind him.

Kevin was already gathering his things, sliding his pen into his bag, when Alicia leaned closer.

“Let’s exchange numbers since we’re partners,” she suggested brightly.

He paused, considered her, then shook his head slightly. “Why don’t we go to the library now? We’re both free until noon.”

Alicia blinked at him. That hadn’t been the answer she expected. But then a smile tugged at her lips. “I like the idea.”

They left the lecture room together, walking across campus toward the main library. The silence between them was comfortable enough, though Alicia’s eyes kept darting toward Kevin. He was infuriatingly calm, hands in his pockets, posture confident.

When they reached the library, Alicia stopped in her tracks, awed.

The building was massive, its design intricate, almost regal. Towering shelves peeked through the glass walls. Gold letters engraved above the entrance gleamed in the sunlight.

“This place is huge,” she breathed.

Kevin’s mouth twitched faintly. “Literature section. Second floor.”

Inside, Alicia’s eyes drank in everything, the vast lobby, the rows upon rows of books, the polished floors that reflected the light streaming through high windows.

“Wow…” she whispered.

Kevin’s gaze flicked toward her this time, amused at her wide-eyed wonder. “Elevator’s this way.”

Her surprise grew tenfold when the elevator doors opened with a soft ding. “There’s an elevator? In the library?” Her jaw nearly dropped. She was surprised as her dormitory and her department have no elevator.

Kevin’s lips curved, but he said nothing, scrolling through his phone as they stepped inside. Alicia was grateful because she doesn't have to stress about walking up and down a flight of stairs.

By the time they reached the second floor, he was already speaking. “Our text is Tales of Amile. I Just checked the class group.” Alicia just nodded in acknowledgement.

He walked straight to the shelves with the confidence of someone who practically lived here. His eyes scanned the spines with precision. “It used to be here,” he murmured, frowning. “Someone must have borrowed it.”

Alicia tilted her head. “Or…” She slipped her hand between the rows and pulled out a thick, weathered book. “Found it.”

Her grin was victorious as she held it up.

Kevin turned, his brows raised. “The position was changed.”

“Uh-huh. Or maybe you don’t know this place as well as you think.”

“You could say I do,” he countered smoothly. “Come on. Let's use the Reading room. Easier to focus there because it's for group discussion, plus it's soundproof”

“Lead the way, fine Mister.” Alicia bent dramatically at the waist in a mock bow.

Kevin scoffed, shaking his head, but the amusement in his eyes betrayed him.

He pushed open the door to the reading room then froze. Completely.

His body locked in place, breath caught mid-air, as if something had slammed into him invisibly.

“What now?” Alicia rolled her eyes and gave him a small push from behind. “Move!” She slipped in with him and closed the door before she realized what had stopped him cold.

Then she heard it too.

A guttural sound. Rough, primal.

Her brows furrowed. “What’s…”

The sound came again, deeper this time. From behind the tall shelf that stood at the far end of the room, stacked with bags and belongings. Her curiosity spiked. She took a step forward….

And the shelf crashed to the floor with a thunderous thud.

Alicia froze. Her breath caught in her throat.

Her eyes widened like saucers.

Raymond.

He stood bare-chested, sweat gleaming across his sculpted torso. His pants hung dangerously low on his hips. His hands gripped a blonde girl, pressed against him with hungry desperation with him buried deep inside her.

Alicia’s stomach twisted. Her throat went dry.

But worse, the moment his gaze snapped to hers.

For a fraction of a second, his eyes weren’t their usual stormy blue. They flickered. Blue, then blood red then back again.

Her chest squeezed painfully. She snapped her head away, forcing herself not to look, but then her stubbornness flared. Why should I be the one uncomfortable? They should. Disgusting.

Kevin finally broke free from his stupor. He grabbed her wrist, his grip tight. “We’re leaving. Now.”

She let herself be pulled out, her legs moving too fast, her brain still trying to catch up.

The door slammed shut behind them.

Kevin’s face was flushed, jaw tight, chest rising and falling with rapid breaths. He looked furious.

Alicia’s own expression was darker. Fire licked at her chest, searing and unrelenting. She had no words for what she’d just seen. None that could explain why her heart was racing so violently, why the image refused to leave her head.

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

“Let’s leave, Kevin.” Her voice was sharp, cold. She didn’t look at him, didn’t slow her steps.

He blinked at her, momentarily stunned by the blaze in her eyes. She was different now—her usual easy sarcasm stripped away, replaced by something fierce, unyielding. He liked it.

By the time they reached the library entrance, Alicia stopped abruptly. “We should exchange numbers. I’ve lost the zeal to work on this project right now.”

Kevin handed her his phone without hesitation. She typed quickly, handed it back.

“I’ll text you,” he said softly, trying a smile. But she was already turning away.

Standing there alone in front of the grand library, Alicia clenched her fists. The fire inside her wouldn’t calm.

She ran.

Around the dorm building. Once. Twice. Again and again until her legs ached and her lungs burned. Thirty whole minutes later, she collapsed on the grass, chest heaving. The anger dulled, but it wasn’t gone. Not even close.

Dragging herself back inside, she took the stairs two at a time until she reached her room. She flung her bag onto the floor, the sound echoing through the small space.

Without thinking, she went straight to the bathroom.

She stepped into the bathtub, turned the faucet to cold, and let the icy water cascade over her.

Her body shivered. But the fire in her chest, the image of Raymond’s flickering eyes, the heat of that scene remained, scorching her from the inside out.