The following day felt like the calm before a storm. Riley couldn't stop thinking about Zayden, about the way his words lingered in her mind long after their encounter. The way he'd touched her arm, so casually, as if he owned her. It unnerved her, but at the same time, it sparked something inside her she couldn't explain. Something dark, something dangerous.
She tried to focus on her classes, but her mind kept drifting back to him. She couldn't get the image of his smirk out of her head, the way his eyes followed her every move. It was like a silent challenge—one she wasn't sure she was ready to face.
At lunch, Riley sat with her usual group of friends, trying her best to ignore the gnawing feeling in her stomach. She had to admit, there was something about Zayden that made her feel alive, like she was standing on the edge of something incredible. But she couldn't give in, couldn't let him pull her into his world.
As she took a bite of her sandwich, her eyes instinctively flickered toward the other side of the cafeteria. And, of course, Zayden was there. He was surrounded by his usual crowd—rich, popular, and completely indifferent to anyone who wasn't in their circle. But today, he wasn't talking to anyone. He was just staring at her.
Riley's heart skipped a beat. She quickly looked away, pretending not to notice, but she could feel his eyes on her like a physical weight, pressing down on her.
"Stop looking at him," Aria said, her voice sharp as she leaned in close. "It's obvious he's getting to you."
Riley frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Aria's eyes were knowing. "The way you can't seem to stop glancing at him. You're in denial, Riley. He's got you under his spell."
"I don't think so," Riley muttered, her face flushing with frustration. She wasn't going to let Zayden control her. Not now, not ever.
But the truth was, she wasn't so sure anymore. There was something about him, something in the way he looked at her, that made her heart race and her breath catch in her throat. The tension between them was building, and it was impossible to ignore.
After lunch, Riley couldn't concentrate on anything. Every class felt like a blur, the minutes dragging on endlessly. She was so distracted, so caught up in her thoughts about Zayden, that she barely heard the bell signaling the end of the day.
She gathered her things, hoping to escape without running into him, but as she stepped out into the hallway, there he was. Zayden stood leaning against the lockers, his arms crossed over his chest, that infuriating smirk on his face.
"Did you miss me?" he asked, his voice low and teasing.
Riley tried to walk past him, but Zayden stepped into her path, blocking her way. She looked up at him, trying to keep her composure, but it was getting harder with each passing moment. "Move," she ordered, her voice shaky but determined.
Zayden raised an eyebrow. "You're cute when you're angry."
"Stop playing games," she snapped. "I don't have time for this."
"Oh, but you do," he replied, his voice smooth and confident. "You don't realize it yet, but you're already playing the game, Riley. And you can't walk away from it. Not anymore."
Riley's chest tightened as she stepped back, trying to create some distance between them. "I'm not interested in whatever game you think you're playing. Just stay away from me."
Zayden chuckled, the sound deep and dark, sending a shiver down her spine. "You can keep telling yourself that. But the more you resist, the more fun this will be."
Riley was about to respond when she heard a voice behind her.
"Zayden, what are you doing?" a girl called, and Riley turned to see one of his friends approaching, a blonde with a sharp smile and a wicked gleam in her eyes.
Zayden straightened, his smile never faltering. "Just having a conversation with our favorite scholarship student."
The blonde smirked. "Careful, Riley. I don't think you know what you're getting into."
Riley's temper flared. She had no idea what game they were playing, but she was tired of it. "I can handle myself just fine, thank you," she said, glaring at the blonde. "And I don't need anyone's help, especially not from someone like you."
Zayden watched her, his eyes dark and unreadable. For a moment, the teasing expression on his face faltered, and something else flashed in his eyes—something deeper, something dangerous.
"I don't think you realize just how much you're underestimating me," Zayden said softly, his voice low and controlled.
Riley's breath caught in her throat, but she refused to back down. "I don't need your approval, Zayden. And I certainly don't need you telling me what to do."
With that, she turned and walked away, her heart pounding in her chest. She had to get out of there, had to escape the suffocating tension between them. But even as she left, she couldn't shake the feeling that Zayden wasn't going to let her go that easily.