Scarlett leaned against the cool marble wall of the hallway, her nails tapping against the phone in her hand.
Her mind was spinning rapidly, but her expression betrayed nothing.
She glanced at the black-and-white CCTV footage displayed on her phone—a grainy image of Killian, smirking up at the camera.
Her jaw tightened, her dark eyes flickering toward Luca, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, his usual calm air infuriatingly intact.
"Luca," she began, her voice deceptively calm.
"Yes?"
She tilted the phone toward him, her brow arching. "Care to explain why this," she tapped the image on the screen, "looks nothing like the boy standing in that hallway?"
Luca stepped closer, peering at the phone.
His blue eyes squinted, then darted toward the direction Killian had gone. "Looks the same to me."
Scarlett's fingers tightened around the phone. "Look. Again."
He took the phone, his brow furrowing as he examined the image. "I don't see any difference, it's clearly him," he handed her phone back.
"His eyes, Luca." Scarlett's shoved the phone back to his face. "One black, one red. The last time I checked, that's not exactly a fucking common feature. The fuck kind of target dossier doesn't mention that?"
"It's a black-and-white photo. The eye color wouldn't show up. Besides, I didn't think it was relevant." he simply shrugged.
"Not relevant?" She stepped closer, her gaze narrowing dangerously. "You didn't think it was relevant that I ended up in bed with my goddamn target? I fucking gave my first time to a high scholar."
There. She'd said it out loud, and it tasted bitter.
Luca's eyes widened. "But I thought the doctor said..."
"Don't." she immediately cut him off. "I know what the goddamn doctor said. I was also surprised how it even happened, but that's not really what we should focus on right now."
He coughed, awkwardly shifting his gaze. "So, what's the plan?"
"The plan is to walk into that classroom, pretend I don't know him, and hope he doesn't recognize me."
"And if he does?"
Her lips curled into a slow smirk. "Then I'll handle it."
---
The classroom buzzed with its usual Monday morning chaos.
Chairs screeched across the floor, backpacks thudded against desks, and the air reeked of stale coffee and dry-erase markers.
But all of it came to a screeching halt when Scarlett walked in.
The sound of her clicking heels against the floor immediately caught everyone's attention.
Conversations died mid-sentence, heads turned, and the air shifted as every pair of eyes locked onto her.
Well, almost every pair.
Killian didn't even glance her way.
He was leaning back in his chair, his legs stretched out lazily under the desk as his hand toyed with a pen he didn't seem to care about using.
And sitting right there on his desk, like a cat claiming her territory was Aria.
Her perfectly manicured hand rested lightly on his arm as she giggled at something he'd said.
Scarlett's jaw tightened slightly, but her expression remained calm.
The teacher, a bald man, wore a beige cardigan that had practically faded into nothingness, stepped forward, clearing his throat nervously. "Class, this is Scarlett Voss, our new student. Please make her feel welcome."
The class clapped and Scarlett offered a small smile, though her sharp eyes scanned the room.
She caught Killian's gaze briefly shift to her, his eyes locking with hers.
Her pulse quickened, an unwelcome thrill racing up her spine, she hated that it did.
She waited to see if he would react. If he could recognize her.
But he didn't.
He just studied her for a second, those sharp features betraying nothing, before turning back to the Aria, his smirk returning as if she weren't even worth his time.
That was...good.
Right?
But why did she feel so annoyed about?
Maybe, it was because, he didn't smile, didn't nod, didn't give any indication he cared that she was staring.
Even if he couldn't recognize her face, as a man, he should've at least remembered her body. I mean, it's not every day you see a masterpiece in motion.
But no, of course not.
He's too busy ogling Barbie's two-dimensional ass. Priorities, I guess.
It's probably because he wasn't a man.
He was a goddamn boy, fuck!
"Excuse me, sir, but isn't she too old to be in high school?"
A boy's voice, young, cocky, and dripping with mockery, suddenly cut through the room.
It drew a ripple of laughter from a few students, though most froze mid-snicker, unsure if they were allowed to find it funny.
Scarlett's gaze flicked toward the source.
It was a brown haired boy lounging near the back, his arms crossed lazily over his chest.
His grin was wide, like someone used to always having the last word.
The teacher, cleared his throat awkwardly, shifting his weight. "Liam, that's enough."
Liam's grin only widened. "But it's true, isn't it? She's not even in uniform." He gestured vaguely in her direction. "Are we just letting anyone waltz in here now?"
The laughter from his corner grew louder, and the teacher glanced nervously at Scarlett, then back at Liam.
Scarlett tilted her head, her smirk sharpening like a blade. "I didn't realize I needed permission to breathe the same air as you."
The class went silent.
"Looks like you do now, don't you?" he immediately shot back, his tone still cocky but now tinged with irritation.
The teacher's lips parted as if to intervene, but no words came out. His eyes darted between Scarlett and Liam, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
Scarlett squinted her eyes at his reaction.
Looked like the boy had strong backup, no wonder he had the guts to be such a loud mouth.
But even being the son of the president, shouldn't give him the guts to talk to her like that.
Guess he didn't know that.
"Well, miss Voss," the teacher finally began, clearing his throat. "Has received...special permission from the principal to dress as she pleases." His voice cracked slightly as he said it. "And that's all anyone needs to know."
"Special permission, huh? Must be nice."
"It is." Scarlett grinned back at him.
The teacher coughed loudly, his hands wringing together as though he could physically smooth over the tension. "Alright, that's enough," he ordered, more firmly this time.
His gaze darted to Liam, then back to Scarlett "Miss Voss, you may take your seat." He turned toward the rest of the class. "Everyone, open your textbooks to page 54."
Scarlett stood there for a moment longer, letting her smirk widen just enough to make the air feel heavier.
Then, without a word, she strode past the rows of desks and moved toward the only empty seat, which was conveniently right next to Killian.
Sliding into the chair, she crossed her legs and leaned back, her smirk still firmly in place.
Her gaze flicked towards Killian, watching as he continued twirling his pen absentmindedly. Aria leaned closer, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered something that made him smirk.
Her nails immediately dug into her palm.
He was grinning for Aria. Laughing at whatever mundane nonsense she was feeding him. Meanwhile, he totally forgot he just slept with someone last night.
Her no less.
Her chest tightened, the possessive streak she usually kept under control rearing its head.
The nerve of some people.
You'll definitely look at me, my little sin. And you'll wish you hadn't looked anywhere else.
---
The class dragged on, the teacher's voice fading into the background as Scarlett's mind raced with ideas.
Throughout the class, Killian's gaze had been completely focused on Aria.
How was she supposed to get close to him if he won't even look at her.
She hadn't planned to approach him this early, but the way Aria kept touching him was really making her possessiveness bubble over.
No one ever touched her stuff.
Even if she discarded something, no one was allowed to touch it.
Yeah, that's how possessive she was.
You can call it selfish, toxic, or downright insane, but she preferred to think of it as knowing what was hers and ensuring everyone else knew it too.
After a few more minutes, the bell finally rang.
Scarlett took her time packing up her things, her eyes fixed on Killian.
He stood up, casually slinging his bag over one shoulder.
'Don't let him walk out like that.' her mind hissed at her.
She cleared her throat and straightened. "Hey," she tried to make her tone as honeyed as possible, at this point, she was at her maximum sweetness.
He didn't look at her.
His focus remained on the desk as he tucked a notebook into his bag.
Her smile tightened.
She stepped closer, to try again, this time adding a playful edge. "You seem like the type who knows his way around here. Care to give me a tour?"
He paused.
Finally.
She knew he would fall for it, they always did.
No one cou...
"Ask someone else," his cold voice cut through her thoughts.
She blinked, the response hitting her like a slap.
Before she could even recover, his attention had already shifted.
"Killian," a sickly sweet voice called from the doorway.
Scarlett head turned sharply.
Of course.
There stood Aria, her perfect golden waves catching the light.
She leaned against the door frame, her eyes locked onto Killian with a smile that could have rivaled a toothpaste commercial.
"Walk me to the library?"
Killian shrugged. "Sure."
Scarlett's chest burned as she watched him move past her without a glance.
He reached Aria in just a few strides, their conversation starting up almost immediately, like they were the only two people in the room.
She watched them go, her jaw tight, her hands curling into fists at her sides.
Rejection.
The unfamiliar word echoed in her mind.
She hadn't felt this kind of sting in years, if ever.
And because of who? An over-groomed Barbie doll?
If he liked her so much, why hadn't he been with her last night? Why hadn't he sought her out and instead slept with a complete stranger?
When was the last time she was ignored?
People didn't reject her.
They fawned over her.
They fought for her attention.
They wanted her.
But this two eyed creep?
He walked away as if she didn't even exist.
She clenched her teeth, her nails digging into her palm.
Fine, Black. Play hard to get. Be as cold and aloof as you want. Pretend I'm not even here.
A slow, dark smile curved her lips.
But the moment you decided to tangle yoursi with me, your destiny was already sealed.
So you're stuck with me...dead or alive.
With a sharp exhale, she swung her bag over her shoulder, prepared to leave the suffocating classroom when something, or rather, someone, caught her eye.
At the farthest corner of the room, almost hidden in the shadow of a tall bookshelf, a girl sat alone.
She wasn't hunched over anyone or trying to blend in.
No, her posture was calm and collected, almost like she was daring the world to notice her without actually caring if it did.
Jet-black braids framed her pale face and her dark eyes were fixed on the front of the room, their focus unwavering.
Her uniform was technically within the rules, but just barely. Combat boots replaced the standard flats, and silver rings glinted on her fingers, adding an edge to her delicate hands. A lace choker hugged her neck, screaming rebellion.
Scarlett slowed her steps, her head tilting ever so slightly as she studied the strange girl.
She wasn't like the rest of them, no fawning over people, no nervous giggles, no darting eyes.
She just sat there in her own little bubble, detached and distant, an island among the sea of teenage chaos.
Something about it all felt...familiar.
It wasn't her face, Scarlett was certain she'd never seen it before.
No, It was her demeanor. The quiet defiance. The sense that the girl was detached from the chaos around her but still entirely aware of it.
It reminded her of herself, once upon a time.
When she was just a little creep.
Her lips twitched at the thought, but she didn't linger.
With one last glance at the girl, she walked out of the classroom.
Behind her, Mori's eyes followed her retreating figure, her eyes narrowing slightly.