had barely settled into my seat in economics class when Nathaniel walked in on the other side of the lecture hall. He had been grumpy and aloof at dinner last night, barely uttering a word to anyone and avoiding looking at me.
My eyes followed him as he made his way up the stairs, finally far away enough from him to fully take in his tall stature and delectable form without drawing attention to myself. The fabric of his shirt barely contained his chiseled muscles, causing a warmth to settle between my legs the longer I gazed at him.
He walked toward me with a slow, powerful stride as I dared to meet the gaze of his ferocious hazel eyes. No matter how hard I tried to resist him, I just couldn’t deny the strange pull he had over me—a raw and intoxicating energy that made me weak at the knees—nor the spark of hope that flickered in my chest that Nathaniel felt the same way about me.
Anger sparked inside me for letting him affect me like this, especially since he had been nothing but rude and aloof since we first met. Why does he have to be so damn attractive?
This was the only class that the two of us had together without our other friends. As Nathaniel slid into the seat next to me, I braced myself for more of his festering silence by crossing my arms in front of my chest in emotional protection.
“Hey,” he said, staring at the front of the room.
“Hey, yourself,” I replied curtly.
“I’m sorry about yesterday. I was a jerk.” His gaze remained fixed ahead, but his lips pressed together in a nervous frown.
I blinked. Well, this was new. “Oh. Um, that’s okay.”
“It’s not.” He finally looked at me, and for a second, I saw a flicker of something vulnerable in the grayness of his eyes. Then it was gone, hidden behind his usual indifference. “I was in a bad mood and shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
“Apology accepted.” I gave him a tentative smile. “Truce?”
His lips twitched, and he nodded once. “Truce.”
The tension eased from my shoulders. Maybe there was hope yet. I smiled to myself.
“What are you smiling at?” Nathaniel asked.
“Nothing,” I lied. “I just like smiling.”
“Yeah,” he grunted. “I noticed.”
I leaned in closer to him and teased, “You know, it wouldn’t kill you to try smiling sometimes. You’d be a much better campus tour guide.”
He scoffed. “I’ll smile when there’s something worth smiling about.”
I grinned. “Challenge accepted.”
He shook his head at me, but I could tell that he was trying to stifle a smirk. Victory swelled in my chest as if I’d already won.
As the econ professor began his lecture, I found myself struggling to focus. Nathaniel’s apology had thrown me off balance, and all I could think about was how close he was to me right then.
Nathaniel shifted in his seat, and his thick arm brushed against mine. The contact reverberated through my body, and instinctively, I turned my head to look at him. His tousled dark brown hair fell across his forehead in a way that made me want to reach out and sweep it away from his gorgeous face. I imagined what the sharp angles of his jawline would feel like beneath my fingers.
My mind wandered to all the things I wanted to do to him, things I had never even dreamed of doing before. He was so infuriatingly attractive, and I hated myself for wanting him despite everything.
Then, without warning, he turned toward me and caught my gaze. He held it for a moment with an intensity that could have melted a glacier. A burning heat rose to my cheeks like he had caught me red-handed. I prayed he couldn’t hear how loud my heart was beating.
He stared at me, eyes hooded and intense. Heat licked up my spine when his gaze dropped to my mouth. I bit my bottom lip and rested it in a pout, watching his eyes darken in response. The air between us tensed with possibility. Maybe with desire.
I blinked and the spell between Nathaniel and I shattered. My glance flicked to his face again, but he was no longer looking at me, his usual indifferent mask back in place. If I hadn’t seen the heat in his eyes moments before, I might have wondered if I’d imagined it.
When the class finally ended, Nathaniel stood up and gathered his things. I did the same, trying to keep my eyes off him. But as we both made our way out of the lecture hall, I found myself walking closer to him than necessary.
When classes for the day ended, everyone started to head back to their dorms. I had some free time on my hands before dinner, so I decided to take a walk around campus before heading back. The sun was still up as I made my way through the grounds of Empyrean Academy, admiring its beauty along the way.
The scent of fresh oranges lingered in the air as I walked by the trees that grew in abundance near one side of the academy walls. Students dotted the grassy field, lounging around or playing games, while others sat nearby in small groups chatting away happily. It was so peaceful.
As I continued my stroll, I came across a bulletin board teeming with flyers for upcoming academy activities and events. I stopped to scan some of them and get a better sense of what college life at Empyrean had to offer.
The football schedule caught my eye with start times for all home games listed throughout the season. I pondered if the team played against other Ems schools or human colleges. This weekend, the traditional bonfire would be lit to celebrate the start of football season, which Celine mentioned earlier as a popular event. Though from her description, it mostly involved drinking and singing school spirit songs – not my idea of a great time.
Additional flyers promoted a free movie night, a debate team looking for new members, and an art show where students could showcase their work. Oh, and the Founder’s Ball, an annual formal dance in honor of the academy’s founders, and supposed to be the most important event during the fall semester.
“Evangeline?” a voice said behind me.
I knew it was him before I turned around. “Hi, Nathaniel.”
Seeing him there sent a rush of excitement through me. Even though he was the first person I met at the academy, he remained a tantalizing mystery. I still couldn’t figure out what made him so grouchy and distant all the time, nor why I was inexplicably drawn to him despite, or perhaps because of, his prickly demeanor.
Maybe it was his gorgeous eyes or the fact that he always seemed to be deep in thought. Whatever it was, it stirred something deep within me, igniting a fierce desire to break through his barriers and understand the real Nathaniel. I must’ve been a glutton for punishment.
He walked over to me, his eyes scanning the surrounding area. “What are you doing out here all by yourself?”
“Just taking a walk,” I said with a smile. “What about you?”
“I needed some fresh air,” he replied, his voice gruff as always. “The stuffy classrooms were starting to get to me.”
I nodded in understanding. “It’s a beautiful day.”
He grunted in agreement.
We walked in silence for a few minutes, which reminded me of my first night at Empyrean when he escorted me to my dorm room, but now, I knew what to expect. He only spoke when someone asked him a question, and even then, he gave the shortest answer possible. Yet, somehow, that made me want to know even more about what went on in that head of his.
“So, why you’re always so grumpy?” I teased, trying to break the ice.
He scoffed with a small smirk at being asked such a direct question. “Maybe I don’t like people getting in my business and invading my personal space.”
I intentionally bumped his arm with my shoulder. “Like I am right now?”
“Such an idiot,” he said, shaking his head, but his smirk flickered into a genuine smile. “How have things been going since you got here?”
The fact that he actually asked a question shocked me for a couple of seconds. “Mostly good,” I answered. “But I’m still trying to get used to everything: new school, the whole idea of Ems, being an Em.”
He nodded. “Try not to let it overwhelm you. Take it a day at a time.”
Did he just give me advice? “Yeah, thanks. How about you? How’s your second year starting off?” I asked, seizing on the opportunity to get him to open up a bit more.
Nathaniel shrugged. “It’s the same as the first year. Nothing has changed, and I doubt it ever will.”
“That sounds… boring,” I replied.
“It is what it is,” he said, his tone betraying nothing.
“Wait a minute!” I jumped in front to face him.
He took a step back and looked at me with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
“Things have changed from last year. I’m here!”
Nathaniel chuckled and shook his head. It was light, but it was really nice to see. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
I grinned. We continued walking in silence for a while longer, the only sounds being the rustling of leaves under our feet and the distant chatter of students. I stole glances at Nathaniel now and then, admiring how his dark hair draped over his face in a way that made him look both dangerous and alluring at the same time. The muscles bulging under his shirt begged me to reach out and touch him so I could feel his skin against mine. But it was his eyes that really drew me in. Those mysterious hazel eyes.
“You’re staring,” he said suddenly, breaking the silence.
“Oh!” I blushed, embarrassed at being caught. “Sorry.”
He shook his head. “It’s fine. I’m used to it.”
“Used to what?” I asked, puzzled.
“People staring,” he replied with a hint of bitterness in his voice.
“Wow, you’re so humble,” I joked until I noticed the disdain on his face. “Why would people stare at you?”
He hesitated for a moment before answering. “My family.”
“Your family?” I repeated, confused.
He looked at me with annoyance. “My family is the largest benefactor of the academy. Don’t pretend like you didn’t know that.”
“I didn’t know that. So what, though?” I shrugged. “Why would that make people stare at you?”
Nathaniel let out a deep sigh. “Because they think I’m some spoiled rich kid who gets everything handed to him on a silver platter. They don’t understand what it’s like to have expectations placed on you from the moment you’re born… having every move scrutinized, hoping that you fail, or never being able to let your guard down because they’re always looking for ways to get to my parents.”
I listened to him, my heart aching for him and knowing now why he’d built this wall around himself. “I’m sorry,” I said softly.
He shrugged. “Whatever. I’m used to it by now.”
We walked in silence again, but this time, it was heavy with unspoken words. As I paid more attention to our surroundings, I realized that he was right. A couple of girls stared at him as we walked by and then whispered noticeably to each other. I wanted to reach out and comfort him, to tell him that not everyone was judgmental or had ulterior motives. But a thought popped into my mind, and instead, I jumped in front of him again, startling him.
“Will you quit doing that?!” he exclaimed, almost crashing into me.
“I don’t believe you,” I said matter-of-factly.
“Don’t believe what?”
“I think people stare at you because they think you’re hot.”
“What?”
“I’m sure of it. Let’s go ask.” I started to march toward the girls, yelling as loud as I could. “Hey, you two! Do you think Nathaniel is hot? Is that why you’re staring at him?!”
The girls looked at me mortified and hurried away from us.
Nathaniel grabbed my arm and pulled me back. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“See, they do think you’re hot and got so embarrassed that I called them out on it that they ran away.” I laughed and then settled down. “Seriously, it’s awful what you’ve had to go through, but you don’t have to worry about that with me.” I gazed up into the sky and added cheerfully, “I really didn’t know who your parents are, but now that I do, I want to thank them for my scholarship. My family can’t afford to pay for college, so if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here… and I wouldn’t have met all of you. So, for that, I’m grateful.”
I glanced at Nathaniel, who had a bewildered look on his face.
“That said,” I continued. “I don’t need anything else from you, so you can let your guard down when you’re with me!” I grinned at him.
He chuckled, shaking his head. “You are so weird.”
I returned to his side so we could keep walking. “I know.”
As Nathaniel and I continued quietly back to the dorms, the sun dipped below the horizon, and a feeling of contentment washed over me, warmth seeping into my heart.
Though I wanted our stroll to last longer, the residence halls loomed closer than I’d have liked. With an inward sigh, I stifled the twinge of sadness as I realized our time alone together was winding down. But there would be other moments with Nathaniel. I vowed to break through his defensive walls, no matter how long it took. The rare glimpses I’d seen behind his indifferent mask made me believe every moment was worth the effort.
I remembered Celine’s words. No one ever knows what’s going on with Nathaniel.
I want to be the one who knows what’s going on with Nathaniel.
Watching the stars appear one by one, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something truly special between us.
The following day, a gust of wind blew across the courtyard as I walked toward my next class. The autumn leaves swirled around me in a dance of amber and crimson. The sun dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows and bathing everything in a warm golden glow.
My hair whipped around my face as I attempted to untangle my thoughts about Nathaniel. The way he spoke to me yesterday with such vulnerability tugged at my heartstrings. The more time I spent with him, the more I found myself drawn to his quiet intensity and I-don’t-give-a-shit-what-you-think broodiness. But as much as I wanted to believe that our growing friendship was a sign of something deeper, I doubted that he felt the same way about me.
I spotted Nathaniel and Dean standing near one of the ancient oak trees that lined the pathway, their shoulders tense and gazes locked in a silent battle.
“Hey, guys!” I called out, approaching them with trepidation.
“Hey there, beautiful,” Dean said cheerily, flashing a dazzling smile. “How’s your day going?”
Beautiful?
“Good, thank you,” I replied quickly, ignoring the heat in my cheeks at Dean calling me beautiful, as well as Nathaniel’s brooding silence. “And yours?”
“Can’t complain now that you’re here.” Dean winked.
“What are you going?” I asked.
“Waiting for Alan. Hey, did you catch the game last night?”
“No, I didn’t,” I admitted, slightly ashamed for having little interest in sports. “I was studying.”
I glanced at Nathaniel, who remained stone-faced and silent.
“Too bad. It was a great game. Maybe next time, we can watch it together?” Dean suggested, his tone now light and flirtatious.
“Maybe,” I answered, though my mind was still preoccupied with Nathaniel.
“Are you coming to the bonfire tonight?” Dean asked.
“Oh, is that tonight? Uh, I’m not sure yet,” I hesitated.
“Come on, it’ll be fun,” Dean encouraged, placing a friendly hand on my shoulder.
At Dean’s touch, I thought I saw Nathaniel’s jaw tense, his eyes darken, and his body bristle.
My thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion.
Nathaniel grunted, finally breaking his silence. He turned on his heel and strode away, making me feel guilty for no reason.
“Hey, don’t pay any attention to him,” Dean said gently, squeezing my shoulder reassuringly. “He’s just being moody.”
“Right,” I forced a smile, but deep down, I wondered if there was more at play than his usual moodiness.
“See you tonight?” Dean asked hopefully, his eyes searching mine for an answer.
“Maybe,” I repeated, still unsure of what to do.
“Okay,” he said with a wink. “I hope you’ll be there. Anyway, I should get going.” Dean flashed me another dreamy smile before disappearing into the crowd of students.
As I continued on my way, I mulled over my feelings for both boys.
Dean was easy to talk to, dreamy, and charming, with his effortless confidence and infectious laughter. Being around him felt like stepping into a ray of sunshine. Plus, I could always tell what he was thinking. He was never one to hide his feelings or motives.
But then there was Nathaniel—brooding, mysterious, and undeniably attractive. I wanted to uncover the layers that hid his true self. Yet Nathaniel’s unwillingness to open up left me questioning if getting involved with Dean would be less painful.
Get it together, Evangeline.
As I reached my next class, I knew that my heart wouldn’t rest until I unraveled my tangled web of emotions for both Nathaniel and Dean.
