Felix led Faerie to a quieter corner of the campus, away from the prying eyes and ears of their classmates. The fading sunlight bathed the area in a warm glow, but the tension between them felt electric, sparking with unspoken words and emotions that lingered in the air.
Once they reached the secluded spot, Felix turned to her, heart pounding in his chest. "I don't want to lose you, Faerie. I've spent so much time trying to convince myself that my feelings for you were just pity or guilt because of your situation. But that's not true. It's so much more than that."
Faerie raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched on her face. "Really? Because it sounded a lot like pity when you told me you loved me." Her voice was steady, but he could hear the hurt underneath her words, a reminder of the vulnerability she often hid behind her bravado.
"No, listen," he pleaded, stepping closer. "When I said those words, it was because I felt something real. I see you, Faerie—the way you handle everything thrown at you, the way you fight back against all those who try to put you down. It's incredible. I admire you."
Her expression softened for a fleeting moment, but then she hardened again. "But you still care about what others think. You're still part of that world," she shot back, gesturing toward the campus filled with privileged students. "You've never had to fight for anything the way I have."
Felix took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "You're right. I have privileges I can't deny, but I've felt trapped by them too. I've always had to be the perfect son, the charming guy everyone expects me to be. But with you, I can be myself. You make me want to break free from all that." He stepped closer, lowering his voice, his eyes pleading for her to understand. "I don't want to be with you out of pity; I want to be with you because you make me feel alive."
Faerie's gaze flickered with uncertainty as she processed his words. "But what if I'm just a phase for you? What if I'm just something different and exciting until you find someone 'better'?"
"No!" he exclaimed, shaking his head. "You're not a phase. You're the one who challenges me, who pushes me to see the world differently. I care about you, Faerie, and I don't want to just let you walk away because I'm afraid or ashamed of how I feel."
For a moment, silence hung between them, thick and heavy. Felix watched her closely, searching for any sign that his words had reached her. Faerie's defenses seemed to crack just a bit, the fierce expression softening as she looked up at him.
"I don't know if I can trust you, Felix," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're in this world I'm trying to escape, and I don't want to get hurt again."
"I get it," he replied, urgency creeping into his voice. "But I want to prove to you that I'm not like them. I want to show you that I'm different—that I can stand up for you, and not just when it's easy. I'll fight for you if you let me."
Her expression shifted as she studied him, weighing his sincerity against her own fears. "And what if I say yes? What happens then?"
Felix felt a rush of hope. "Then we figure it out together. No games, no pretending. Just us." He reached for her hand, gently taking it in his, grounding them in the moment. "But I need you to believe in me, Faerie. I can't do this without you."
She hesitated, her eyes searching his, and Felix could see the flicker of doubt in her gaze. But then, just for an instant, he saw something else—a glimmer of hope, a desire to believe that maybe, just maybe, they could make this work.
"Okay," she said slowly, a hint of vulnerability creeping into her tone. "But if I do this, you have to promise not to let me down."
"I promise," Felix replied, his heart swelling with determination. "I'll show you that I'm not just another silver-tied boy. I'll be the guy you can rely on, no matter what."
As they stood there, hands clasped tightly, the weight of their world fell away. It was just the two of them now, standing on the precipice of something new and exhilarating. The air crackled with possibility, and for the first time, Felix felt like they could conquer whatever lay ahead together.
As Faerie was about to leave, Felix stopped her, his expression shifting to one of intensity. "Faerie, aren't you forgetting something?" he asked, his voice low and sultry.
He leaned in closer, their faces inches apart, his gaze locked onto her lips as if trying to communicate a silent message. The air between them crackled with tension, and Faerie could feel her heart racing at the proximity. It was a dangerous game, one she had been playing with him for too long now.