Chapter Six - You're MINE

Elias had undergone a whirlwind of emotions before Monday morning arrived. 

Never in her life has she dreaded leaving for school, but she couldn't bear the thought of missing another day of academic life. Plus, they had a test with a professor that morning. 

As she walked alone to school, her thoughts wandered to Chloe. She had continuously tried reaching out to her through phone calls, and knocked on her apartment several times, but there had been no response. 

Last night, she saw Chloe walk into her apartment and she called out her name, but Chloe hastened and left her hanging, closing the door behind her. It had left Elias wondering why her best friend was ignoring her...Was she ashamed to be with her now that she knew about her obsession with Kaelen? Or was she mad that Elias never told her about it? 

Still, Elias was determined to get through to Chloe. But as of now, she stood staring at the school gate, ready to face today's event. 

As expected, the gossip and taunts hadn't died down one bit. She walked about with her head down, constantly repairing her glasses nervously as if that would save her somehow. 

Elias quietly slipped into her lecture hall, sitting in one of the back seats. She slipped on her headphones, cancelling out the noise around her while anxiously waiting for the professor. Hopefully, she would remain invisible till he arrived. 

Her wish wasn't granted. 

A waft of vanilla perfume cut through the air, and someone dropped into the seat beside her without asking. Elias didn’t need to look to know who it was, internally groaning at her bad luck. 

Bianca leaned back in her chair, crossing one long leg over the other and tapping her manicured nails on the desk, “You know,” she said casually, her voice just loud enough to cut through the noise in the class, “I think it’s… brave of you. Having the audacity to still show up at school after your little write-up went viral,”

Elias pretended not to have heard her at first. Putting on headphones clearly meant she didn't want to be disturbed, but apparently Bianca wasn't having that because the next second, the headphones were pulled off, and Elias was forced to give Bianca her attention, "What do you want?"

Bianca waved the headphone, a few lines on her forehead, "I hate it most when I get ignored. Do you know that?"

Bianca didn't see it coming as Elias moved quickly, snatching the headphones back from her, "And I hate it when I'm disturbed. Do you know that?" She retorted, "So what is it that you wanted? Don't you have somewhere else to be? Like the mall? Spending all of daddy's money?"

"I can be whenever I want to be!" Bianca said, glaring at her. Bianca's presence had grabbed some students in the class, and now people kept glancing at them every two seconds, "And If you do not want me to make your little nerdy college life hell, you're gonna control that tongue and answer my question,"

"Oh sorry," Elias remarked sarcastically, "What was the question again? How to keep a man for a week?!" 

Someone seated up front burst into laughter. 

"I'm so gonna enjoy turning that smart mouth of yours upside down, you little slut!"

"Someone's angry," Elias smiled innocently, "Your little cronies aren't around to calm you down this morning?"

Bianca's eyes flashed again, and her palm came down on Elias's cheek. Elias's face was whipped to the side, and her glasses moved out of place while a few strands of hair escaped from her bun. 

"I was gonna go easy on you since, but that won't be happening anymore. Wait till you see what I've got planned for the art showcase next week,"

Elias wasn't about to let her get the last laugh,. She picked up her things just as the professor walked into class, ready to move to another seat, "Well Bianca, I hope I find it very inspiring,"

Bianca almost screamed right there. 

Elias didn't pay any attention to a word the professor was saying throughout. She never realized she had such a sharp tongue, since she never really interacted with many people.

Most of the time she was bullied in highschool or as a kid, she mostly just swallowed the pain and allowed herself to be trampled on. 

But the years had taken a toll on her. Providing everything from herself and having to endure so much must have morphed her personality without she realising it, which was until now. 

And she liked this side of her. 

Bold. Courageous. Sharp-tongued. 

But that didn't mean she could take on everyone in school. Plus, she was a little worried about what Bianca mentioned about the art showcase that was coming up. 

Getting a quiet and conducive place to stay after classes wasn't possible anymore. The library was a no-go area as most students there kept stifling laughter and occasionally whispering. Some even dropped sarcastic comments regarding the book. 

Walking around campus was the absolute worst. The nicknames followed her through every corner, and some nasty engineering guys even quoted one of the intimate lines from the book, loud enough for everyone around the vicinity to hear. 

She had kept walking, pretending not to hear but her grip on her note book had gotten tighter. 

Then, she came across an Overgrown Garden path. It was a stone pathway that was once known to connect the school of engineering and art, now half forgotten with wildflowers and creeping vines taking over. 

Reluctantly, Elias walked in. It was quiet, with the scent of flowers filling the air. As she walked further in, she soon discovered that the place was a treasure and felt so disappointed to be discovering it when she was in her final year. 

Old sitting stones were scattered across the place, circular slabs that had once been placed there. The trees around provided enough shade, and the air smelt like earth and honeysuckle. 

"This is perfect," She mumbled to herself, pulling off her bag and walking up to one of the stone slabs. 

It was so quiet that the school chatter was a distant hush, and absolutely no way was anyone going to find her here. It was going to be her new sanctuary. 

She has just put on her headphones again, when...

"Didn't think anyone would find this place," A deep, smooth voice drifted from her surroundings, laced with a lazy tone. 

Elias froze, her heart thudding as she slowly pulled them off. Her eyes quickly searched through the garden for any signs of the person who spoke, and she saw him. 

The familiar heart-melting sight of Kaelen.

He was sprawled across another slab a few feet away, one arm behind his head and his boots carelessly tossed over his ankle. He was wearing a white shirt, and his leather jacket sat carelessly on the next stone slab. 

Without the jacket, the strong muscles of his arms were on full display and her eyes shamelessly feasted on them. She's never seen them this close before, and her lips parted slightly as she soaked in every detail she could get. 

Holy hell, he was so hot she was about to drool.

Then, he moved. 

Those sharp grey eyes fell open, and he turned his head and they locked eyes, stealing her breath. He stared at her with a lazy look that made her throat go dry, and she watched as his lips curved subtly. 

Elias's stomach plummeted. 

He reeked of coolness, looked insanely handsome and untouchable. 

Everything she had written in her stupid, stupid book. 

But even better than she could have ever imagined. 

"Don't look so surprised," he drawled, his voice rough and eyes still intently fixed on her like there was nowhere else to look, "You're not the only one who likes to hide,"

Elias opened her mouth to say something, but drool rolled down her skin instead. Embarrassment flushed her face as she snapped out of her trance, turning away to wipe it off. 

Oh shit, did that just happen? 

Forcing herself to speak, she put on a bold face even though her insides were screaming right now, "I'm not hiding. I'm just looking for somewhere quiet and conducive to read," 

"Ah," His eyes gleamed, "The library isn't enough? Or are you just straighup stalking me now?"

"I'm not stalking you, I didn't even know you were here!" Elias replied, flustered and defensive. 

"Hm, maybe you didn't. But you found me anyway. Almost poetic, considering the book,"

Her stomach twisted and she bit her lips nervously That damn book!, "I already told you, it wasn't meant for anyone to see!"

"And like I said the other night, I'm not sparing you at all," As he said that, Kaelen pushed himself off the stone slab, moving fluidly, almost deliberately while flaunting those upper arm muscles. He picked and threw on his jacket, now standing and staring right at her. 

"You can't do anything to me," She said boldly, their gaze locked. Her heart hammered against her chest, and once again she wondered when she became so sharp-tongued. 

And just like the other night, his gaze slipped off her eyes and stared lower. They lingered around her oversized clothes, down to her legs and back up to her eyes. Elias badly wished to know what he was thinking, but didn't dare ask. Instead she said, "Is there something on my face?"

"Glasses," He didn't hesitate, his voice sounding a bit hoarse before he blinked and the tiny glint in his eyes disappeared. 

Then, Kaelen grinned and crossed his hands, "I think you're trouble, McIntyre," His voice had dipped, a crackling tension between them again.

Her breath hitched, "And what are you then?"

Kaelen moved, closing the distance in two easy steps until he loomed right above ber. He smelled like leather and engine, and then he bent slightly, his mouth close enough that she could feel the brush of his words against her skin.

“I’m the guy you should’ve never written about,” His voice dipped even lower, and his gaze was heavy, holding promises in them she couldn't decipher. 

For a heartbeat, the garden held its breath and Elias forgot how to breathe. 

His face...was close. 

Finally, she swallowed, "You're gonna humiliate me, too?"

Kaelen let out a low chuckle, "That'd be too easy. You want punishment? Fine, here's the deal: You're mine for a dare game and only I get to call the shots,"

"What?" Elias frowned. 

“A dare. Whenever I feel like it, I’ll give you one. You do it. No excuses. Nothing dangerous, nothing illegal, but you’ll do it. Call it… paying off your little debt,” His eyes flickered with something unreadable.

Elias's heart pounded and she whispered, “And if I don’t?”

Kaelen leaned in more, and more of his intoxicating scent, this time with a hint of cedarwood rushed into her lungs, igniting every other part of her that was still asleep. His grey eyes bore into hers, “That book’s already out there. But I can make sure every word gets acted out, live, in front of the whole campus. My team would love that kind of entertainment,” He smirked devilishly.

Elias's breath caught and she gaped at her. It sounded much more humiliating than anything, but behind it all, she admitted to herself that it was kind of dangerously thrilling. 

"You're insane," Her voice trembled. 

Kaelen straightened up and walked past her, “Maybe. But you’ll play anyway, McIntyre. You want to know why?”

She didn't answer. She was still trying to wrap her head around what was happening right now. 

He paused at the stone archway, glancing over his shoulder, and again, his eyes locked with hers, inflaming a different kind of tension, heavier than the last, “Because you already made me your obsession. Now I’m making you mine,”

Elias froze. 

She could only watch as he walked away.