“Unless Nero wants to skip this one,” I added, the whole ‘together’ mini-speech dying on my tongue because I can’t really burden him with this since this isn’t his responsibility.
“Like hell. You tell me that there might be hundreds of people being held against their will and you expect me not to come and help? I’m not that heartless, baby.” He stomped his feet on the ground once he got his shoes on, approaching me and cupping my cheek in his hand. “And I won’t be able to forgive myself if something happens to you because I wasn’t there to keep an eye on you.”
I sucked in my lips, trying to stop my smile, not wanting him to see just how much he affects me. Yet of course, he knew what was going through my mind, even going as far as to smirk at seeing me swoon.
Can you blame me?
Old crushes don’t just fade because you’ve successfully been railed by that crush.
That’s not a very quotable quote, is it?
The crudeness ruined it.
Dammit, Cosette.
“We’ll be there. She’ll be safe even if you don’t come,” Dex said, ruining the moment, making Nero flip him the bird.
I ended up laughing as I looked across the room at Siege, who was already rolling his eyes as the two bickered like boys do.
Once we were all done preparing, because of course, Dex and Siege brought weapons to an unofficial school trip, we sneaked down the stairs, trying not to get caught by any of our classmates. The boys couldn’t care less about the programs that our class president prepared, but I personally didn’t want to be labelled as a killjoy, especially when I’m sure Arella prepared this so that everyone could have fun.
You know what they say about teenagers being scarier than criminals, though?
“Where are you going?” I turned around to see Arella there, her arms crossed on her chest. “And why are you all dressed in black?”
I sucked in a sharp breath, preparing to lie through my teeth, but Nero was already moving forward, his boyish smile out full force as he charmed our class valedictorian.
“The first part of the program is a scavenger hunt slash treasure hunt, right? We’re just getting into the mood, you know, being sneaky like pirates.”
My hands clenched into fists, wanting to wipe that smile off his face because how dare he flirt with another girl in front of me. But then I felt someone’s hand slip from my wrist to my hand, spreading my fingers to intertwine his hand with mine—Siege, his were the most callous of the three—to remind me that Nero was doing this to get us out of Arella’s scrutiny.
Right. Down, girl.
“Oh,” Arella said, looking bashful as she nodded, a strand of her hair falling from its place behind her ear, which she immediately put back with her fingers. “Okay, well, I— I have to go back to the host, they’ll be announcing the mechanics in a while. Good luck.”
Nero nodded, and so did Arella, before she scurried away, in a hurry to get out from under his attention.
I finally let go of the breath I was completely aware of holding, turning around to leave when I heard Arella’s voice again.
“And Nero?”
I turned back around before Nero did, so I saw him clench his jaw before he faced Arella for the second time, with another forced smile on his lips.
“Nothing’s hidden beyond the parking area. The bus is there, and the driver doesn’t like us kids hanging around it because he carelessly leaves it unlocked.” She then looked at me, then at Dex and Siege, before adding in a softer voice that I think was only meant for Nero. “You know, just… a little hint if you wanted to uh— meet up tonight. After the games.”
I don’t consider myself catty.
But damn if Dex didn’t have to wrap an arm around my waist to stop me from stepping forward and grabbing her, prepared to throw hands for her audacity to ask my boyfriend for a little late-night sexcapade in the rented bus.
We watched her back as she ran out of the house and to the beach, Siege chuckling behind me as he said, “Damn. Didn’t know your presidentandvaledictorian was freaky like that.”
My nostrils were flaring, giving Nero a glare as he looked back at me with an apologetic expression, but I melted like butter the moment he was bending down to give me a kiss on the nose.
“Come on, don’t be mad. I just got us a ride, didn’t I?”
43
NERO
