Chapter Two

Calliope's POV 

If looks could kill, I would be most definitely dead by now because not only Thalia but other girls in class stabbed me over a million times in their minds as Xandros chose to sit beside me. Thalia raised her hand.

“Yes, Miss Flinch?” The teacher acknowledged her.

“Can you appoint Xandros to sit with me instead?” She requested, arrogantly.

“And why is that?” Mrs Salvatore questioned.

“He's new and doesn't know how things work around here, besides I want him to sit with me and not some dirty smelling lowclass dirt bag.” She insulted me openly.

Mrs Salvatore looked at me apologetically and I smiled weakly at her, I knew she had no choice, Thalia's father is the biggest shareholder of the school itself.

“My father would approve of anyone who makes his daughter's teaching environment more conducive.” Thalia added, a subtle hint of bribery.

“Mr Xavier, if you would-”

“No.” Xandros interjected and Thalia was taken aback.

“No?” Thalia repeated.

“I'd like to stay here ma'am, I chose to sit here.” Xandros said, dismissively.

Flabbergasted, Mrs Salvatore gulped in nervously as Thalia stared intently at her.

“Shouldn't we get started ma'am? I'm looking forward to what wonderful thing you'd teach us today.” Xandros added.

“I'm trying to save you the mental and physical trauma of staying close to someone like her, don't try to-”

“Sit down Thalia you're wasting everyone's time.” Xandros fired and Thalia stuttered a bit before reluctantly sitting down.

Throughout the class that morning, she kept glaring daggers at me, so were the other girls. During lunch break, he casually sauntered out of the classroom without waiting for anyone and Thalia walked up to me.

“Don't get your hopes high up, he's mine.” She spat, bitterly.

“I don't even know him.” I lied.

“Better, I saw the way you looked at him and I want you to know that he's my mate so both of you better get your filthy paws away from my man!” Thalia snickered.

Xyla scoffed. “I think I'd know that if you were mates, Thalia, let's go have some lunch Cal, I'm famished.”

I nodded and stood up, Thalia yelled after us as we stepped out of the class. 

“You're just jealous that he's fatally attractive and you have no man in your life, Tyler would pale in comparison to him!” 

We ignored her and went to the cafeteria, he was nowhere to be found but we got our food and seated comfortably.

“You should have told me your brother was back!” I scolded Xyla, quietly.

She chuckled. “He's arrogant and likes attraction, I didn't think you'd want to worry yourself about him, just ignore him.” Xylah said, dismissively.

Tyler joined us and we joked around for about a minute or so and then I felt someone staring at me, I looked behind my shoulder and saw Xandros staring at me intently which excites and also creeps me out at the same time.

“Why's your brother staring at me?” I asked Xyla.

She shrugged. “His own way of traumatizing and scaring people, ignore him.” 

I sighed and continued eating but could shake off the feeling that he was purposely watching me. I heard footsteps approaching and then someone halted at our table. “Mind if I join you?” a silky voice requested 

“Go away Xandros! I want to eat in peace.” Xyla said jokingly, throwing fries at him. He frowned and quietly scooted me over and sat beside me. I felt my cheeks turn red at the slight body brush.

“It's good to have you back in town bro.” Tyler greeted, initiating a conversation.

“Wish I didn't come but I had to.” Xandros replied, casually eating.

“It's been what? Eight years? Why are you back now? Last I heard, you were never returning to the state.” 

“Someone important is here, a missing link in my life, someone I can't afford to lose.” He said with all sincerity and then briefly glanced at me. I almost aspirated my food and I somehow felt his words had some connection with me.

“What the hell are you doing? Eating with these low class people!” Thalia's annoying voice boomed.

“Go away Thalia, we're eating.” Xyla warned her.

“What? One minute you say you don't want him and the next you're eating with him, are you trying to steal my mate?” She accused Xyla, loudly.

“Don't you dare speak to her that way Thalia.” Tyler warned.

“Or what? You'll hit me? How less of man you are, watching your mate flirt openly with some other person!” Thalia insulted.

Xyla banged her hand in the table. “If you weren't blinded by the heavy make-up on your face you'd have noticed like every other sane person in the school that your alleged mate and I look exactly alike and we bear the same surname!” 

Thalia's face froze with shock and embarrassment. “You're his twin sister!” She gasped.

“Yes smarty pants, good luck with getting accepted into the family.” Xylah spat angrily and Thalia stood there, unable to say a word while Xandros calmly ate his food. The bell rang almost instantly and Xyla rolled her eyes in irritation.

“Good, now you've ruined our lunch break!” Xyla complained bitterly and then stood up to leave, we all followed suit, leaving Thalia standing all by herself.

For the rest of the day, she avoided us and it was a peaceful one for me. Xylah dropped me off at home and we ended up agreeing I would spend the weekend at her place since we had a group project to execute.

Mom wasn't back from work when I got back home so I made dinner and hurried down to my part-time job. We were neither rich nor poor but in-between, struggling to survive.

The rest of the week, Thalia was less aggressive and Xandros remained the same, he barely spoke to anyone, I would catch him staring at me and he would sit and eat with us at lunch, totally ignoring ‘his mate.’

Xyla picked me up at my place and we went over to their house for the project. We spent the entire evening working, researching and compiling our results for the day so at night, we watched a scary movie and ate junks before going to bed. 

Occasionally, I'd bump into Xandros since he stays in the same house but that was just few times and I was quick to apologize and leave. The last day, we had completed the entire project, sent the soft copy to the teacher and decided to have a little celebration party.

Tyler came around and brought some pizza, wine and snacks so we could celebrate. I was pressed and needed to use the restroom so I excused myself. As I held the door knob, it suddenly turned and the door opened.

I flinched, scared out of my wits but it was only Xandros and boy, was the scene tantalizingly scary? He had a towel wrapped around his waist, his upper body was bare, showcasing his well chiseled body, his hair was still wet and I could feel water drop on my face I stared at him.

He pouted, his plushie lips inviting me for a taste of its forbidden fruit. I had fallen backwards so he held my waist for balance and I felt sparks go off in my head, a rumbling sound and some sort of excitement. 

I quickly distanced myself from him and apologized. He stepped aside and chuckled softly. “Until when will you keep avoiding bumping into me, mate?” He uttered, quietly.

“What did you just say?” I asked, almost stuttering.

He smirked and looked me in the eye, moved closer with barely an inch separating our lips. “Stop acting like body contact with me doesn't make you imagine unforgivable fantasies, mate.” He repeated, bit his lower lips and stared at

mine, my heartbeat intensified then he took a step backwards and chuckled wickedly.

‘Mate!’ I was petrified!