Six

Jake carried her down the hall, murmurs and judgment clinging to them like shadows. She curled into his arms, wishing she could simply vanish.

The moment they stepped outside, attention snapped toward them. Unable to endure it any longer, she shifted and whispered, “You can put me down now. I can walk from here.” She forced a smile, hoping it would convince him.

“I already declared you my woman,” he said, tightening his hold. “I can’t take it back now.”

Her heart skipped, not from excitement, but fear. Of all people, he was the one she should never be seen with, yet here he was, stubborn and unapologetic. If her sister found out, there would be consequences. She could already feel them closing in.

“Thank you for saving me earlier, but I am fine now,” she said, lifting her eyes to his. “You can leave. Really.”

He stopped walking. A sigh slipped from him, low and weary, and Elsa wondered if she had been pushy. She could not afford to anger him.

“I…I am sorry,” she rushed, dropping her gaze. “I didn’t mean to annoy you. I just don’t want to be a burden.”

“Do you apologize this much?” He asked.

The question startled her. She looked up and froze.

His blue-gray eyes caught her off guard, sharp and intense, pulling her in before she could stop herself. The longer she stared, the harder it became to look away.

“Are you done ogling?” He said dryly.

Heat rushed to her face. She quickly turned away, scolding herself. What was she doing? Staring at her step-sister’s boyfriend like that, how inappropriate could she be? She had no right to even stand this close to him, let alone get lost in his eyes.

“Is this the real you,” he asked suddenly, “or the fake one?”

Her brows knit together. “What?”

“You are different from that night,” he added.

Her heart lurched. That night. The memory she had tried so hard to bury, the one she thought she had escaped.

“I didn’t mean to watch,” she began, panic creeping into her voice. “I just…”

“If you apologize again, I might throw up,” he cut in flatly.

Her mouth snapped shut. Embarrassment washed over her. Apologizing had been second nature back home, something she did without thinking. She didn’t realize how annoying it was until now. But how was she supposed to explain herself without one?

“People are watching,” Elsa murmured, her eyes fixed on his chest.

“You are my woman,” Jake said calmly. “Remember?”

She looked up at him, and suddenly her stomach fluttered. Something unfamiliar stirred inside her, warm, electric, demanding. Her body reacted before her mind could catch up, responding to a feeling she had never known before.

For the first time in her life, she felt something other than pain, hunger, and loneliness. This was different. It pulled at her, thrilled her… and scared her just a little. They stared at each other, the rest of the world blurring into nothing. For once, Elsa didn’t care who was watching.

“Oh, look who it is, the new couple in town!” A voice pierced the air, shattering the moment between them.

Elsa’s heart plummeted as her gaze found the speaker. Standing directly in their path was her step-sister, Lily. Her eyes were hard enough to kill.

“I need to go,” Elsa whispered, her tone pleading. She looked at Jake, but his grip remained like iron. He didn't look back at her; his eyes were locked on Lily. Elsa could feel an anger brewing in the air, and she knew she would be the one caught in the crossfire. Their position was compromising enough as it was, how could she ever explain this to her sister? Lily already loathed her as much as their father did.

“Please, let me go!” Elsa begged, her eyes searching for a flicker of mercy.

“I am afraid I can’t do that. I can’t have my woman walking under this harsh weather, can I?” Jake refused. He finally looked at Elsa, a smirk playing on his lips as he winked at her.

Elsa glanced up at the sky, bewildered. The weather wasn't harsh at all. It made her wonder if he was doing it on purpose, perhaps to punish her for sneaking on them?

“I didn’t know the school’s most popular playboy had a heart for the weak,” Lily said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. Elsa knew the "playboy" comment was a calculated warning meant for her. Lily’s expression had softened, and her tone harbored no outward hatred, but Elsa knew better; it was a performance. Since they hadn't made their relationship public, Lily would not attack Elsa. She would never do anything to disgrace their father. She was the total opposite of Elsa.

In just two weeks, Elsa had managed to attract both a fleet of haters and the attention of the most popular guy in school. Her father would be amazed. Yes, amazingly disown her

“Perhaps you don’t know me as well as you think,” Jake countered coldly. He didn't wait for a response, stepping past Lily and leaving her in the dust. Elsa wanted to protest, to yell, but the words died in her throat. Jake wasn't going to let her go until he was ready, and with her fragile strength, she had no choice but to let him carry her.

When they finally reached the entrance of the dormitory, Elsa tried again. “You can’t enter the girls’ dorm. I will walk from here.” She exhaled, thinking the ordeal was finally over.

“Says who?” Jake asked.

Elsa’s eyes widened, a fresh wave of panic setting in. Surely he wouldn’t...

“I do whatever I want,” he said, stepping through the threshold.

At that moment, Elsa wished the ground would swallow her whole. There was no going back to being invisible now. If her roommates, who were obsessed with him, saw this, her life would become a living hell. How had her fate turned so twisted?