I stirred awake with a dull ache throbbing at the edges of my skull. Blinking against the pale morning light filtering through the curtains, I realized I was in my bed. Confusion settled in as fragments of the previous night flickered in my mind—dinner with Bella, her mischievous smile, the faint, and… poison?
Before I could piece it together, the door creaked open, and Bella entered, a steaming cup of coffee in her hand.
"Good morning, sunshine," she teased, her voice laced with amusement as she sauntered closer.
"What happened?" I croaked, my voice still groggy.
"You fainted," she said nonchalantly, setting the cup on the bedside table. "But don't worry—I took care of you."
"Why did you do that?" I asked, sitting up too quickly. I winced, pressing a hand to my head as the ache flared.
Bella perched on the edge of the bed beside me, her expression softening. "You know the kind of missions we get sent on, Marx. Your body needs to be ready for anything. That little 'spike' last night was just to give you a taste of what you might face out there. Better to build a tolerance now than to risk failure when it matters."
Her calm explanation dulled my frustration, though I still shot her a half-hearted glare. "A little warning would've been nice."
She chuckled, handing me the coffee. "Where's the fun in that?"
As I sipped the coffee, rich and just the right amount of bitter, Bella reached under the bed and pulled out a sleek, black suitcase. With a grin, she hoisted it up.
"Your suit came in," she said, her tone shifting to businesslike efficiency. "We've got a mission today. Details are incoming, so keep your contact lens active. Get ready."
She stood, brushing an errant strand of hair behind her ear as she made her way to the door. Just before stepping out, she turned, her gaze lingering on me for a fraction longer than necessary. "See you later, Marx."
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving me alone with the faint scent of her lingering in the air. I sighed, setting the cup down, but my eyes drifted to the space where she'd sat moments ago. The imprint of her presence was vivid in my mind—her legs crossed casually, the way her thighs curved perfectly, effortlessly commanding attention.
I shook my head, banishing the thought. Focus, Marx. I drained the last of the coffee, letting its warmth center me, and glanced at the suitcase.
A mission today. Whatever it was, something told me it wouldn't be ordinary—not with Bella involved.
As I set the empty coffee mug down, my phone buzzed faintly on the bedside table. Sky's texts from last night popped up as I unlocked it.
"Marx, guess what? Guess who's in the same class with you tomorrow in Chemistry?"
I frowned, typing back. "I don't know anyone here."
The reply was almost instant.
"Took you the whole night to respond? Anyway, it starts with 'Camilla' and ends with 'Devereux.'"
I froze, the name bringing a swirl of emotions crashing into my chest. Camilla Devereux. I'd just met her yesterday, and the encounter had been… disorienting.
There'd been something about the way she smiled, the subtle lilt in her voice, and the way her eyes seemed to linger on me just a fraction longer than necessary. She was poised and charismatic, but there was also an air of mystery about her—a certain unpredictability that left me wondering if she was being sincere or toying with me.
Sky's next message buzzed, jolting me out of my thoughts.
"I sense a smile there."
I scowled, typing back, "Leave me be."
Locking my phone, I tossed it onto the bed and leaned back against the headboard. I wasn't sure what to make of her. Yesterday had been a blur of fleeting moments and puzzling exchanges. Was she being overly friendly, or was there something more deliberate in the way she interacted with me? It was like she knew exactly how to get under my skin, keeping me off balance without ever showing her hand.
Despite my confusion, I couldn't deny there was a pull—a magnetic curiosity that left me wanting to see her again, if only to figure her out.
I shook my head and got up to prepare for the day. Bella had already cleaned up and left, the faint scent of her cooking still lingering in the air. After finishing my morning routine, I grabbed my bag and stepped out of the apartment.
Before heading down the stairs, I glanced at Bella's door, half-expecting her to step out at the same time. But her door remained shut, the hallway eerily quiet.
I turned and started descending the stairs, only to have someone pop out in front of me.
"Morning, buddy!" Sky grinned, his usual boundless energy making me regret not leaving five minutes earlier.
"You're way too loud for this early," I muttered, though I couldn't help a small smirk.
"Loud? Nah, just enthusiastic. You should try it sometime." He nudged me with his elbow, then gave me a knowing look. "So, ready for Chemistry?"
I shot him a sidelong glance. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, come on. Don't play dumb. Camilla Devereux." He stretched her name out like it was a dramatic reveal. "You can't tell me she didn't make an impression yesterday."
"She's…" I hesitated, unsure how to put it into words. "...different."
Sky let out a laugh. "Different? That's one way to put it. Bet she's already got you wrapped around her finger."
"I wouldn't go that far," I muttered, though his words stung because I wasn't sure they were wrong. There was something about her, an unshakable presence that had been gnawing at the edges of my thoughts since yesterday.
Sky grinned. "Well, whatever it is, you've got a front-row seat today. Chemistry's going to be interesting."
I sighed as we stepped outside, the cool morning air brushing against my face. My mind lingered on Camilla—her charm, her enigmatic demeanor, and the way she seemed to see right through me. Today wasn't just going to be interesting. It was going to be a challenge.