The pug and the predator

The cafeteria was its usual midday chaos—chatter overlapping with the clatter of trays, bursts of laughter rippling through the air. Kamsi and Zendaya had just settled at their table, their conversation quiet and mundane until an excited murmur rose above the noise like an electric current.

"Oh my God, it's the F4!" someone squealed, and heads turned almost in unison toward the cafeteria doors.

Kamsi glanced up, her fork freezing mid-air. Her brow furrowed as she saw the familiar group enter—Xavier, Damon, Gilbert, and Alexander. They strode in like they owned the room, their presence sucking the air out of the space.

"Great," Zendaya muttered, rolling her eyes. "Here comes the circus."

Kamsi chuckled, shaking her head, but her amusement faltered when Xavier broke away from the group. His strides were unhurried, deliberate, his gaze locked on her like a predator zeroing in on its prey. The other boys paused, exchanging looks. Damon's grin widened as if he were watching a game unfold.

Without a word, Xavier pulled out the chair beside Kamsi and sat down, his movements so casual it was as if he'd been sitting there for years.

A collective gasp rippled through the cafeteria, followed by a heavy silence. Forks clattered onto trays, and whispers surged like a wave.

Gilbert, already sliding into his seat across the room, paused mid-motion, his expression briefly flickering with surprise before he leaned back and adjusted his glasses, as though trying to decipher Xavier's motive.

Alexander, perched at the edge of the table they'd claimed, raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "This should be interesting," he murmured, his voice low and amused.

Kamsi's heart thudded loudly in her ears. She gripped the edge of the table to steady herself against the weight of the stares piercing her from every direction. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice tight, barely masking her confusion.

Xavier leaned back in his chair, completely unbothered. His lips curled into a lazy smirk. "Eating, of course," he said, picking up a fry from her tray and popping it into his mouth as though it were his own.

Kamsi's mouth fell open, her mind scrambling for a response. Across the table, Zendaya blinked, her shock evident.

"Yo, bold move, X," Damon called from their table, leaning back in his chair with a lopsided grin. "But do you *ever* ask for permission?"

"Permission's overrated," Xavier replied smoothly, not even glancing Damon's way.

Gilbert chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're a piece of work," he said, but his eyes flickered to Kamsi with something like curiosity.

Damon wasn't done, though. He threw a playful wave at Zendaya, his grin widening when her cheeks betrayed her with a soft blush. "Hey, Zendaya, you good? Need me to save you from all this awkwardness?"

Zendaya shot him a sharp glare, though her lips twitched like she was fighting a smile. "Focus on your own drama, Damon," she shot back, crossing her arms but avoiding his gaze.

Meanwhile, Kamsi squirmed under the cafeteria's scrutiny. The whispers felt like tiny daggers aimed directly at her. She lowered her gaze to her plate, wishing the ground would open and swallow her whole. But Xavier remained unmoved, casually eating as though they were the only two people in the room.

Then, without warning, a can of soda appeared in front of her, the metallic clink snapping her from her thoughts. She looked up, startled, and found Xavier holding it out, his expression unreadable.

"Drink," he said simply, his tone softer than she expected. "You look like you're about to faint."

Her breath hitched, her fingers trembling slightly as she took the can. Their hands brushed briefly, and the warmth of his skin lingered like a brand. Her heart raced, confusion and something else—something unfamiliar—swirling inside her.

"Uh, thanks," she murmured, barely audible.

From their table, Damon whistled low, feigning shock. "Xavier being thoughtful? Somebody mark this historic day!"

"Don't ruin it," Gilbert said dryly, though his lips twitched with amusement.

Alexander let out a quiet laugh, leaning his chin on his hand as he watched the scene unfold. "He's trying. Points for effort, I guess."

Xavier's jaw tightened briefly, but he said nothing, turning his attention back to his plate.

Kamsi opened the soda and took a small sip, more to distract herself from the butterflies swarming in her chest than anything else. She felt Zendaya nudge her under the table, and when she glanced over, her friend's wide eyes and sly grin said it all.

The stares, the whispers, and even the dagger-like glares from jealous girls didn't matter anymore. All Kamsi could focus on was the boy sitting beside her, whose simple gesture had somehow thrown her entire world off balance.

The bell echoed through the hallways, signaling the end of the day. Kamsi adjusted her bag, her feet weaving through the bustling crowd of students heading out. The distant roar of engines from the parking lot reminded her of how much she preferred the anonymity of the bus stop over the attention the F4 seemed to attract.

"Pug."

The familiar, taunting voice stopped her in her tracks. She turned slowly, her heart sinking as her eyes met Xavier's. He leaned lazily against the lockers, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, that signature smirk dancing on his lips.

"I'll drop you home," he said, straightening and walking toward her.

Kamsi clutched her bag strap tighter, her brow furrowing. "No, thanks," she replied, already stepping away. "I'm taking the bus."

He raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "The bus?" His tone was incredulous, laced with a hint of mockery. "What are you, a peasant?"

She glared at him. "It's reliable."

"Not today, it's not."

Before she could argue, he reached out, his movements fluid and quick. One moment her bag was securely on her shoulder; the next, it was dangling from his hand.

"Hey!" she protested, spinning to grab it, but he slung it over his shoulder with infuriating ease.

"Relax, Pug," he said, already walking toward the parking lot.

"Stop calling me that!" she snapped, storming after him, her fists clenched.

"Why?" he tossed back without turning, his tone annoyingly calm.

"Because it's not my name!" she yelled, her voice trembling with frustration.

"Is it not?" He glanced over his shoulder, his expression nonchalant, as if her anger were an amusing puzzle.

Her face burned as she clenched her teeth, fighting the urge to scream. The audacity of this boy!

By the time she caught up, he was at his motorcycle, casually securing her bag to the side. She planted her feet, crossing her arms defiantly.

"I'm not getting on that thing," she declared.

Xavier grabbed a helmet from the handlebars and turned to her, his gaze steady and unyielding. "You are."

"I'm not," she shot back, her voice firm but faltering slightly under his intense stare.

He stepped closer, closing the gap between them. She felt the heat of his presence, the teasing glint in his eyes making her pulse race.

"You're wasting time, Pug," he said smoothly, placing the helmet on her head with a deliberate gentleness that made her breath hitch.

"Xavier—"

"Shh," he interrupted, his fingers adjusting the strap beneath her chin. The proximity was unnerving, his calm confidence a stark contrast to the chaos swirling inside her.

"There," he said, stepping back to admire his handiwork, a satisfied smirk tugging at his lips. "Safe and sound."

Kamsi's hands hovered over the helmet, her cheeks flaming. "I hate you," she muttered under her breath.

"Good," he said with a chuckle, climbing onto the bike and patting the seat behind him.

She stood frozen, her feet rooted in place. Every instinct screamed at her to refuse, but the weight of his expectant gaze and the stares of students lingering in the parking lot made her cave. Muttering curses under her breath, she reluctantly climbed on.

"Hold on," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

She hesitated, gripping the edges of his jacket lightly.

"Unless you want to meet the asphalt, Pug," he added with a teasing lilt.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she begrudgingly tightened her arms around his waist. The faint scent of his cologne made her face grow hotter, and she scolded herself for noticing.

With a roar, the bike came to life, and they sped out of the parking lot. Kamsi clenched her teeth, both from the wind whipping against her face and the infuriating realization that, once again, Xavier had left her with no choice.