In his arms

“None of your business, clumsy,” I answered curtly.

“Yo, relax, babes. At this point, you might fight me for every little thing,” he teased. I rolled my eyes, doing my best to ignore his charming face. He looked much more handsome now that I was actually calm enough to notice him. Paris, on the other hand, was all kitten-eyed over him until I nudged her back to her senses.

“Can I at least sit with you guys?” he asked, but before I could answer, Paris jumped in.

“Sure, please… you can sit beside me,” she muttered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. I shot her a quick glance, then looked back at Jude before giving him a slight nod.

“Thanks,” he said, slouching into the bench in front of us. “So, care to share where you guys are going? I like fun things too, you know.”

“Like I said—”

“Hun, we’re heading to a restaurant later this evening to get some real food. I’m sure you agree this isn’t food,” she cut in.

First, she interrupted me. Now, she was chattering all over Jude. She really needed to do better. I sat back and watched as they both stole the limelight, their laughter filling the air. The girls passing by couldn’t take their eyes off Jude either, and though he was engaged in their talk, his eyes stayed on me the entire time.

“Alright, guys. Enough chattering, please. I’m sick already. Where should we meet up later today, and what time?” I snapped, jolting to my feet. My face scrunched in irritation, and for a moment, all eyes were on me—until the bell rang.

“9:30, I think,” Paris replied. “That’s usually when the security alerts relax their monitoring.”

Jude smirked. “Hmm, I’ve been in this school for a while, and it’s never come to my notice that there’s a time for security relaxation.”

Paris’s eyes glinted, and a wide grin curved her lips.

“Well, I guess some information is better off told by a special person,” she teased.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes at her ridiculous response before grabbing my bag. “Right, I have to go now. See y’all later.”

As I reached the entrance to my hostel, I suddenly caught a glimpse of Jalen and Marian. They were yelling and screeching at each other. I leaned against the wall near my door, quietly listening, but leaned too lightly and lost my balance—landing hard on my ankle.

The loud thud and my wince drew their attention immediately.

“Fiona?” Marian called.

“What are you doing here?” Jalen asked, walking toward me. Marian threw her hands in the air, frustration written all over her face as she watched him approach.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your conversation—haa, ouch,” I muttered. He knelt beside me, his soft, warm hands brushing over my ankle. The touch felt so good that I momentarily forgot about the pain. My heart fluttered as I stared at him—his scent, his focus, his nearness. I could almost imagine his lips on mine, his hands exploring my skin with passion.

Then Marian’s sharp voice cut through my imagination.

“We’ll continue this conversation when we get home, honey. I have to be at a meeting now,” she snapped before storming out. The sound of her heels clicked down the hallway, echoing her fury.

“Does it still hurt?” he asked gently.

I nodded, then parted my lips. “Um—not too much. I’ll be fine.” I tried to get on my feet, but the pain worsened—or maybe I wanted it to, just to keep him close.

“Ouch! Oh my God, it still hurts,” I cried softly.

“Okay, okay… let me get you to the school clinic so they can check it,” he said, concerned.

“Oh no, no—it’s fine,” I objected quickly. “I think I just need to rest my leg. It’s not that bad. But… I could use your help to get to my room.”

He sighed, then nodded. “Alright, let me help you to your room then.”

Before I could say anything, he lifted me up effortlessly, holding me close against his chest. I could hear his heartbeat, steady and strong, and his breath brushed against my hair.

“What number?” he asked.

“[phone],” I replied dreamily, staring into his eyes.

He blinked, confused. “What? Your room number, Fiona.”

“Oh—yes, sorry. 306.”

He chuckled softly and nodded, carrying me down the quiet hallway. My gaze stayed fixed on his strong jawline. I leaned my head against his chest, savoring the warmth of the moment—it almost felt like we were newlyweds, and he was carrying me to our bridal suite. I didn’t want him to let go.

At last, we reached my room. I opened the door, relieved that Kelly wasn’t around. The room was dim, lit only by a sliver of moonlight seeping through the curtains, and that faint glow instantly set the mood.

He gently lowered me onto the bed.

“You should rest well so you can attend classes tomorrow,” he said softly. “By the way, how was your first day in class?”

“Not bad,” I replied, my face brightening like a child’s. “Even though I was late—but considering what you taught, it was quite fun.”

He raised a brow. “Hmm. What was fun about my class? Because I know you were busy chatting with your seatmate the whole time.”

That was exactly what I wanted—his teasing, his attention. I smiled.

“I’d rather not say what made it fun for me right now,” I said coyly. “But I must compliment you… you looked way more handsome today than the last time you came to my house.”

He went silent. His stare deepened, and I could feel the air between us thicken.

“Thank you,” he murmured after a while. “I should go.”

“Please, stay—just a bit longer,” I whispered. “I’m scared. I can’t stay alone in the dark.”

“This is against the school rules, Fiona. I can’t be seen here,” he replied firmly.

“Fine,” I sighed. “Then can you at least read me a bedtime story so I can fall asleep—and then you can leave? Please?”

He exhaled deeply, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. “Fine, just for a few minutes.”

I smiled, pointing at the book on my nightstand. It was a steamy romance I’d just bought—and I deliberately chose it. Maybe, just maybe, I could make him feel what I’d been feeling all along.