Chapter 3

Piper’s POV

For a split second, I thought maybe the universe had granted me a miracle, that Elsa’s hand had frozen mid air on its own and that her smug little smirk had been interrupted by divine punishment.

But then I saw it; a hand, big, tanned and veiny was wrapped around her wrist in an iron grip.

My gaze traveled upward and locked with a storm grey pair that made my stomach flip in a way I wished they didn’t.

Archie Quinn.

The entire cafeteria hushed like someone had cut the sound from the world.

Dozens of eyes darted between him and me as whispers hissed through the silence like sparks before a wildfire.

For once, Elsa didn’t look so sure of herself. She blinked at him, her lips parting as the bravado slipped from her face.

Slowly, he pried the milk carton from her hand and for a moment, I thought he might hand it back gently.

But Archie didn’t do it gently.

He shoved her hand away, not hard enough to hurt but firm enough to make her stumble backwards.

Her gasp that rang through the air was sharp and offended but that was the least of Archie’s concern because he slid into the seat across from me.

Every muscle in my body tensed.

My grip tightened around my milk carton like it was a weapon and my glare was drilling holes through him.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I hissed under my breath.

Archie didn’t answer, instead, he reached across the table and tried to take my milk carton but I yanked it back so fast.

“Don’t touch my stuff.” I scowled, glaring at him.

Instead of flexing his authority as the Alpha son, he just smirked. That damn smirk curved over his lips making it seem like I was an amusing puzzle he intended to solve.

Heat rushed to my cheeks that instant. Half was from rage and half was from the unshakable awareness that this boy, my second chance mate, was sitting across from me like he owned the air I breathed.

When I couldn't bear it anymore, I grabbed my tray with the intention to leave. But before I could push my chair back, Archie leaned forward.

“If you walk out now,” he murmured, his breath brushing against my ear, “I’ll tell the entire school you slept in my bed last night.”

My stomach dropped and my hand froze mid air.

He leaned back, casually picking at my fries as if he hadn’t just threatened to detonate my already fragile reputation.

I wanted to scream, I wanted to slam the tray into his perfect, smug face but the thing was, he wasn’t bluffing.

Elsa, apparently unwilling to be sidelined, strutted back into the spotlight.

“So this is what it is now?” she snapped. “You just sit with her like she’s worth your time?” She growled.

“I understand you just transferred here…” she filtered off like she was waiting for his response.

If that was what she wanted, Archie didn’t even look at her, didn’t blink or flinch either. His entire focus was on me.

He had made it seem like she didn’t exist.

“Unbelievable,” she muttered, her eyes narrowing at me like lasers.

“Did he know?" She growled, my eyes never leaving me. Parting my lips, I tried to speak but the words refused to tumble out.

Terrified, I tried to speak again. I really wanted to beg her to let it go but I was tongue tied and I could only make gestures that I couldn't understand myself.

Smirking, she crossed her hands on her chest, accessed me for a while before shifting her gaze to Archie.

“You know you don't belong here." She began.

Nodding at the east end of the cafeteria where the jocks and cheerleaders always sat during lunch, she said, “Over there."

“You're a part of the hockey team so we reserved a spot for you." She ratted out.

Leaning forward, she tried to grab his hand but he flung his hand off the table with so much force that she stumbled forward, lost her balance and fell right on the table.

Not going to lie, I was on the verge of laughing.

But of what use was that. I was already standing at the edge of the cliff. If I did anything stupid, I was going to find myself falling off it completely.

“Are you always this desperate?" Archie spoke for the first time. The cafeteria went hushed as all attention was on the duo now.

“What?" I whispered under my breath.

Things were spiraling so quickly that I was scared of what was going to happen the next minute.

“Do you know who I am?" Elsa asked. Her eyes were glowing embers now and I could feel the pain emitting from her tone.

“Of course not." He shot back smoothly. Shrugging he added, “You think you are the hot dog around here, huh?"

"Well news flash…” Smirking, he was going to lean forward and whisper something in her ears but he didn't.

Falling back on his chair with his hands folded on the table, he snickered, "You are not worth my attention, so just leave.”

Reeling with anger, Elsa slammed her fist against the table. “Stand up, Piper.” She commanded, returning her attention to me.

For one terrifying second, my body almost obeyed. Maybe it was the sting of humiliation or maybe it was the old habit of always doing as I was asked to without complaint.

I swear, my knees shifted like they wanted to rise but Archie’s gaze sharpened, daring me to move.

Biting my lower lips, I clenched my fists. My heart was thundering so hard that I swore it echoed in my ears.

Slowly and deliberately, I rose to my feet, ignoring the glare I was getting from Archie.

“Whoa!" Elsa applauded with a wide smirk. She was certain that she had already won and for some reason, I decided to allow her to bask in the illusion.

But then I shifted my gaze to Archie, locking eyes with his stormy grey ones and with a steady voice I didn’t even know I was capable of, I said to him, “Let’s go.”

“Sure!" He replied with a carefree tone.

Before I could grab my tray, he beat me to it only to grab my hand like he was going to lead me out of the cafeteria.

But then, she appeared in front of us.