Cracks in the façade

[Music recommendation: Jealous by Labyrinth]

The hallway buzzed with chatter, lockers slamming shut as students rushed to their next classes. Damon leaned casually against a row of lockers, his smirk firmly in place as Joanne and Julian clung to his every word. Joanne's laugh rang out, high-pitched and overly sweet, while Julian tossed her hair dramatically, attempting to monopolize his attention.

"You're terrible, Damon!" Joanne giggled, swatting his arm lightly.

Damon chuckled, but the sound lacked its usual edge. His eyes darted briefly to the other end of the hall, where Zendaya walked purposefully, her dark curls bouncing with every step. She hadn't even looked in his direction.

"Anyway," Julian purred, stepping closer and tugging at Damon's sleeve, "you were saying something about the bonfire?"

Damon's gaze flickered back to the girls, his smirk faltering for a split second before it reappeared. "Right, the bonfire," he said, his tone smooth but distracted.

Across the hall, Zendaya's steps slowed. She wasn't sure why she even cared to glance his way. Joanne's shrill laugh grated her nerves, and Julian's theatrics were nauseating. She rolled her eyes, her heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor as she forced herself to keep walking.

"What did I even expect?" she thought bitterly, her lips pressing into a thin line. Damon was Damon—charming, infuriating, and an undeniable flirt. She could still feel the heat of that night by the bonfire, the way his teasing had melted into something... more. But now, seeing him surrounded by those girls, that moment felt like a distant illusion.

As she passed, she felt his eyes on her, even if he pretended otherwise. Her pulse quickened despite herself, a frustrating mix of anger and something she refused to name tightening her chest.

Damon's smirk faltered again as his focus shifted entirely. Joanne and Julian's chatter faded into background noise. His jaw tightened as he watched Zendaya brush past without sparing him a glance. The faintest trace of her perfume lingered in the air—something citrusy and warm, leaving him momentarily off-balance.

"Hello, earth to Damon?" Julian's voice snapped him back, her manicured hand waving in front of his face.

Damon straightened, his smirk back in place. "Sorry, got distracted," he said smoothly, his voice laced with just enough charm to make Julian giggle again. But his eyes betrayed him, lingering on the sway of Zendaya's hips as she turned the corner.

Meanwhile, Zendaya's steps quickened as she disappeared into the next hallway. Her mind raced, replaying the flicker of hesitation she thought she'd seen in Damon's expression. She bit the inside of her cheek, hating the way her emotions waged war inside her.

"I hate him," she muttered under her breath. But the echo of his laugh, the warmth of his touch, and the memory of that stupid bonfire wouldn't let her go.

Back in the hallway, Damon sighed as Julian leaned against him, chattering about something he wasn't hearing. His thoughts remained fixed on Zendaya and the storm she always managed to stir within him.

For once, his confidence faltered.

---

Zendaya's phone buzzed again. She glanced at it, and her eyes narrowed at the message: "Meet me at the art room. Let's prepare for the presentation. Only a few days left. We aim for perfection, right? Miss perfection." She scoffed and threw her phone down on her bed, frustration bubbling up inside her.

"What does he think I am? A tool for his amusement? Is this all a game to him, " Her thoughts swirled, the words cutting deep. The more she thought about it, the more she hated him, especially after that night, after everything that had happened. And yet, part of her couldn't let go. But she wasn't going to let him see that.

The next day, Zendaya avoided the art room, ignoring his messages, pretending she was too busy to care. But Damon didn't play by those rules. He found her, storming up to her side with a purposeful stride.

"Zee! Zee!" His voice was sharp, grabbing her wrist before she could turn away. His touch was firm, demanding her attention. She yanked her arm back, her gaze cold.

"What is it, Damon?" Her voice dripped with irritation, but she couldn't fully mask the tremble beneath her words.

Damon's eyes searched hers, his brow furrowing. "You ditched me yesterday. I waited for you. You didn't even reply to my message. What's going on?" His voice had that edge of concern, the kind that wasn't supposed to matter, but did.

Zendaya exhaled slowly, looking past him, trying to steady herself. "Don't let him get to you don't let him win." She crossed her arms over her chest, leaning back slightly as if to create distance between them. "Well, since you're less busy, you should spend time with Joanne and Julianne… maybe have a threesome," she spat, her words cutting through the air like a slap.

For a moment, Damon stood there, his chest tightening, processing her words, but the smirk slowly returned to his lips, a taunting glint in his eyes. "Don't tell me my 'girlfriend,'" he said, air quoting the word like it meant nothing. "Is jealous? You know this isn't real, so don't let it get into your head."

Zendaya froze. His words stung, sharper than she expected, sinking deep into the pit of her stomach. She could feel her breath catch, the sting of his dismissal burning through her chest. She opened her mouth, but no words came at first, only a tremor of hurt.

"He is right. It was a joke to him. A game. And I let myself get caught up in it." Her mind screamed at her, but her body didn't listen. The ache was unbearable. She fought the urge to break down in front of him, swallowing the lump in her throat.

With a furious flick of her wrist, Zendaya shook off the hurt and scowled, her eyes flashing. "You know what? Screw you. And screw the project. I don't give a fuck about any of this," she hissed, her voice cracking as her fury built up. "Just go to hell."

Her words hung in the air like a bombshell, and she turned on her heel, walking away with a storm brewing in her chest. Each step she took was heavy, filled with the weight of unresolved feelings. Her skin felt hot, her heart pounding, but she refused to let him see her crack.

Damon watched her retreat, his jaw tight. His smirk faltered, and for the first time, something inside him shifted. A strange knot twisted in his stomach as the weight of what just happened settled over him. He stood frozen for a long moment, grappling with his own emotions.

"What the hell just happened?" His mind raced, replaying the scene over and over. He'd taunted her, but the way she'd reacted, how fiercely she'd pushed him away—it left him with an unsettled feeling, a sense of something he couldn't quite name.

The memory of that night at the bonfire rushed back to him—intense, raw, and undeniably powerful. He couldn't lie to himself. Something had stirred deep inside him that he wasn't prepared for, something that felt too real, too vulnerable to be ignored.

But what was it? He ran a hand through his hair in frustration, his body tense. She was pushing him away, but it wasn't like before. It wasn't just the typical game anymore. There was something about her, something about that night, that had shifted the rules.

And now?He cursed under his breath, watching her disappear down the hall. He wanted her. He didn't know what he wanted exactly, but it wasn't this. It wasn't her walking away, not after everything that had happened. He wanted something from her. Something more than this facade, this game they'd been playing.

But Zendaya wasn't making it easy.