Back to school

[Music recommendations: I don't care by Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber]

Kamsi's mind was a storm of emotions as she got ready for school. Xavier's face lingered in her thoughts—the sharp glint in his eyes, the infuriating smirk that made her want to scream and blush all at once. Her stomach churned, betraying her with butterflies that refused to settle. She hated how easily he got under her skin.

Downstairs, the kitchen was quiet save for the soft clatter of dishes. Her mom stood at the counter, methodically arranging plates. "Thanks, Mom," Kamsi said, her voice tentative, but the only response was silence.

The air felt heavier, the quiet stretching unbearably thin. She bit her lip, glancing at her untouched breakfast. "I'm leaving for school," she announced, her voice a little louder, hoping for some acknowledgment. Her mom didn't even look up. Kamsi's chest tightened as she grabbed her bag and stepped outside.

Her feet froze mid-step.

There he was, leaning against his sleek black bike like he owned the world. One leg rested casually on the footrest, his hands buried in the pockets of his jacket. The sun caught in his dark hair, giving him an almost ethereal glow, and his eyes—those sharp, predatory eyes—locked onto her, as if he'd been waiting.

Her brother approached first. "Xavier, what's up?" he asked, his tone cautious yet curious.

Xavier's gaze didn't waver as he replied, "Morning, Pug."

Kamsi blinked, heat creeping up her neck. "Excuse me?" she snapped, turning fully to face him. "Are you talking to me?"

His lips curved into a devilish grin, the kind that made her heart skip and her temper flare. "Who else?" he drawled, tilting his head slightly.

"I am *not* a Pug," she shot back, crossing her arms defensively.

He chuckled softly, the sound low and infuriatingly smooth. "Could've fooled me. You sure sleep like one."

Her cheeks burned as memories of the previous morning flooded back. She glanced away, her nails digging into the strap of her bag. "You're impossible," she muttered.

"Hop on," Xavier said, nodding toward the bike.

Kamsi blinked, startled. "What?"

"You're going to be late if you keep standing there looking like that," he said, his tone maddeningly casual. "Unless you're planning to walk?"

Her lips parted in protest, but no words came out. The thought of trudging to school with him watching her stumble over herself wasn't appealing. After a sharp inhale, she hesitated for just a moment longer before stepping toward the bike.

The seat felt uncomfortably close to him. She kept her hands clenched tightly at her sides, determined not to touch him. The engine hummed beneath her, its vibrations making her even more aware of their proximity. She couldn't help but wonder if he noticed her stiffness, but Xavier didn't say a word.

The ride was quiet, save for the rush of wind whipping past them. Her hair flew wildly around her face, tangling with her thoughts, but a small, treacherous smile tugged at her lips. The butterflies in her stomach fluttered harder, and she hated how light she felt in that moment.

When they reached the school, the sudden shift in atmosphere hit her like a wave. The chatter in the courtyard died down, and dozens of eyes turned their way. Whispers rose like a tide, sharp and unmistakable.

Kamsi scrambled off the bike, nearly tripping in her haste. Heat prickled her skin as the weight of every gaze pressed down on her.

Before she could escape, a hand caught her wrist. Her breath hitched, and she turned to find Xavier's fingers wrapped lightly around her. His touch was warm, firm, and completely unshakable.

"Relax," he murmured, his smirk widening as his gaze flicked to the crowd. "People might think we're a thing. Or…" He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a low, teasing drawl. "Unless you *want* them to."

Kamsi's eyes widened, her heart stuttering in her chest. She opened her mouth to argue, but the words tangled in her throat.

He didn't let go. Instead, he started walking, pulling her with him.

The hallway was a minefield of stares and whispers. Kamsi's head felt like it might explode from the sheer embarrassment. She kept her gaze locked on the floor, her pulse thrumming loudly in her ears.

Xavier, on the other hand, was completely unfazed. His grip on her wrist was loose but deliberate, his strides confident and unhurried, as though he was daring the entire school to say something.

She risked a glance up at him, and there it was—that infuriating smirk, so smug and self-assured.

"Why are you doing this?" she finally managed to whisper, her voice barely audible over the thrum of her heartbeat.

Xavier looked down at her, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Because it's fun, Pug. And you make it so easy."

Her face burned, but she couldn't summon a response. Instead, she focused on the warmth of his hand and the fluttering in her stomach that she absolutely refused to acknowledge.

Patricia's manicured nails dug into her palms as she froze near the school courtyard, her jaw tightening at the sight before her. Xavier had just pulled up on his bike, and perched behind him, clinging for dear life, was *her.* Kamsi.

"Oh, my gosh, no way!" Tylee gasped, her voice dripping with annoyance as she followed Patricia's line of sight. Her face contorted into disbelief. "I thought you had this under control! Didn't she agree to the deal?"

Patricia's nostrils flared, her icy glare snapping toward Tylee. "Shut up, Tylee," she hissed, her voice low and venomous. "That little nobody thinks she can step into my world? I'll make sure she regrets this. No one messes with me. Especially not when it comes to *my* man."

Her gaze returned to Xavier and Kamsi as they dismounted the bike, oblivious to the storm brewing just yards away. Xavier was casual, as always, exuding that effortless confidence that made him impossible to ignore. He reached back to steady Kamsi, his hand brushing hers before tugging her along toward the school entrance.

Kamsi's steps faltered under the weight of the attention they were drawing. Whispers and wide-eyed stares surrounded them like a suffocating wave. Her fingers itched to pull free of Xavier's hold, but his grip, though light, felt unrelenting, like he *wanted* people to see.

Her heart thumped erratically as she scanned the crowd, catching glimpses of judgmental sneers and murmured gossip. And then her gaze collided with Patricia's, who stood rigid, her expression a mask of icy rage barely concealing the fire beneath. Kamsi's stomach churned, but she quickly looked away.

Xavier seemed completely unfazed by the attention. In fact, the small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips suggested he was enjoying it. His posture was loose, his steps unhurried, like he was strolling through a park rather than a battlefield of rumors.

The crowd parted slightly as three familiar figures approached: Damon, Gilbert, and Alexander.

"Good to see you back, bro," Damon greeted with a grin, slapping Xavier's shoulder in a friendly gesture.

Xavier finally released Kamsi's hand to return the gesture, his smirk softening into a genuine smile. "Good to be back."

Gilbert's sharp gaze flickered to Kamsi, a teasing grin spreading across his face. "I see you've been keeping yourself busy," he said, his tone laced with playful mockery.

Kamsi flushed under his scrutiny, her voice coming out small. "Hey."

"Hey, Kamsi," Gilbert replied smoothly, his grin widening as if he enjoyed her unease.

Alexander, quiet and thoughtful as always, gave a small nod in Kamsi's direction before clasping Xavier's hand firmly.

Xavier's tone softened slightly as he looked at his friends. "Thanks for everything while I was out. You too, Alex. Couldn't have done it without you."

Gilbert laughed, clapping Xavier on the back. "Squad forever, bro. F Four ride or die!"

The group chuckled, their camaraderie palpable as they stood in a tight circle, their bond evident in every gesture and shared look.

Kamsi, feeling like an outsider in their orbit, shifted on her feet. Her gaze wandered back to the crowd, where Patricia was now striding toward them, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement. Her eyes burned with purpose, her lips curling into a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

Kamsi swallowed hard, bracing herself for whatever storm Patricia was about to unleash..