)

Grayson strode down the hall, but Alison followed behind, begging him to get ice cream with her.

"Come on, it'll be fun!" Alison pleaded, but Grayson acted oblivious to her presence. He only agreed to her proposal as a means of escaping class, with no intention of spending any significant time with her.

Suddenly, Alison's hand shot out and grabbed Grayson's, sending an electric shock through his body. He felt his heart rate accelerate, but he maintained his poker face as he glanced down at her hand, then up at her face.

"How about a little wager then?" Alison's mischievous grin was contagious. "If you can guess my ice cream flavours, I'll do anything you want for a whole day. Vice versa."

Grayson's expression remained stoic, but his eyes betrayed a hint of amusement as Alison spoke. He scanned her features, noticing subtle changes he hadn't picked up on before. Her blue eyes, set deeply within her face, seemed tinged with more sadness than before, almost pitiable. He admired the way her toned cheekbones accentuated the delicate curve of her jawline. Her snow-white skin gave her an almost ethereal beauty, and her black hair was braided into two halves, with loose strands cascading across her face and framing her features.

"Just like Emily's," he thought for a moment, but then snapped himself. "She's not Emily."

Grayson caught himself staring and shook his head to snap out of it. He then replied in a voice that hinted at frustration, "Why would I be interested in a deal, especially with you?"

Alison flashed him a smile, but Grayson saw through it, recognizing it as another mask she wore to hide her true feelings.

"Because I know you're curious, Grayson Hawthorne," Alison said in a playful tone. "I know you like a challenge. And besides, what have you got to lose?"

"Well, for starters, my dignity," Grayson muttered to himself.