All Chapters of Teach Me How To Burn : Chapter 31 - Chapter 34

Lucas’ POVI’d been trying to blend in, laughing with the guys, tossing the ball around like I wasn’t thinking about anything serious. Like school wasn’t a chessboard and I wasn’t three moves behind what was happening between them. But of course, I noticed. I always notice.The subtle way Kai’s eyes followed her hand when she adjusted her sleeve. The small tilt of her head whenever he leaned in slightly. I caught the almost imperceptible shift in her posture—the little pauses, the little sighs, the way she let him occupy space around her. And it was driving me insane.Not that I wanted her. Not like that. At least… not that way. Wren was Wren. Dangerous, brilliant, chaotic, and completely not mine. But right now? I had to stake a claim. Had to remind everyone in the room that I was still part of the picture. That I still had a place in her orbit.And so I waited. Patiently. Or tried to.The ball flew toward me, careless, reckless. I caught it with one hand, spun it slowly, letting it

Wren’s POVIf feelings had a volume knob, mine got twisted all the way up and then snapped off somewhere around my ribs.I tried to act normal. I really did. I nodded when people talked, laughed when something vaguely sounded like a joke, even unwrapped one of Lucas’s chocolates like I hadn’t just walked back into the group holding Kai’s hand like it had always belonged there.Like it didn’t change everything.But my brain? My brain was a crowded room with too many voices.Kai’s voice, low and steady: Yeah.The way he said it. No hesitation. No shame. Just… truth.And Lucas—quiet now. Not defeated. Not gone. Just watching in that way that made me feel like I was standing under a spotlight I didn’t ask for.I glanced at him once.Big mistake.Because he was already looking at me.Not angry. Not even upset, really. Just… aware. Sharp in a way that made my chest tighten. Like he was recalculating, reshuffling, deciding his next move.And somehow, that made everything worse.Because this