Eko laughed heartily with Mya, feeling completely at ease and in her element. The compliment about her moves brought a smile to her face, and she turned to face her friend, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Piece of cake," Eko replied with a grin, her voice tinged with pride.

Mya chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief. "I must admit, I'm still surprised you kept up with me. How did you learn all your tricks huh?"

"Well, we did train pretty hard on the moon," Eko said, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her gaze drifted momentarily, trying to keep her cover story simple. "You know, to keep her royal highness safe and all. Even though it didn't help much," she added with a smirk. "But that's what all this is for. To make a change. To put an end to Ezra."

Before Mya could probe further, Sawyer cut in with a teasing tone, "This sounds like secret squirrel business going on here," he said, leaning in to kiss Mya on the cheek. Mya's smile flickered, caught between fondness for Sawyer and irritation at the interruption.

Suddenly, Luke and Evan strode over, their presence like a gust of wind that shifted the course of conversation. Evan's curious eyes met Luke's, and before Evan could voice his question, Luke answered, "No, we're off to dinner after this."

"Great, Eko and I will join you both. It's been a long day, and we could use a few wines," Luke announced, his voice carrying a note of finality that didn't sit well with Eko. "I'm sure you need a good bubbly after training."

Eko was taken aback, her thoughts racing. No, no, no. Matthew was home; finally after all these days apart and she was not going to give them up, especially with those vultures of a fan club circling. No, no, no.

Before she could articulate her concerns, Mya, ever the planner, jumped in with enthusiasm. "We can go to the new Thai place on 5th, then Hassel's after to catch up with everyone," she suggested.

Luke, turning his gaze to Eko with a sly smile, seemed oblivious to her discomfort. "Great, we can do some drinks and dancing," he suggested, the cockiness in his tone unmistakable. Tonight was going to now present the perfect opportunity to ask her out.

Eko forced a chuckle, striving to keep her composure intact. "No, no, no, I told you no, mister."

"You've been enjoying my company, though. We've had dinner every night this week. Besides, this will get us all off base for a while. Loosen up a bit," Luke pressed, unaware of the undercurrents swirling around him.

"Eko!" Mya gasped, surprised by the revelation. She turned to her friend with wide eyes, her mind racing. Damn it, she was going to owe Richie a few thousand for this bet. Absolutely not, she thought determinedly, she was getting those Louboutin's one way or another.

"Stop it, it's not like," Eko sputtered, sticking out her tongue at Mya before turning to Luke with a scrunched-up face. "It doesn't count when someone invades your personal space in the cafeteria for dinner."

"You like me invading your personal space," Luke said, returning his attention to Eko with a wide, toothy grin. Despite the charm he exuded, he wasn't the man who made her heart skip a beat.

"Come on, let me show you how good my company can be without you being paranoid." He raised an eyebrow playfully.

Eko shook her head, determined to set boundaries. "This," she pointed between them, her expression firm, "this is not a date."

"Just friends having dinner," Sawyer interjected, giving a supportive nod to Eko as Mya nodded eagerly, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Pleeeaaaase! I haven't seen you in dayysss, pleeeaaaase!" Mya's begged. 

Eko sighed, her gaze softening at Mya's exaggerated expression. "And how do I say no to that pathetic face you're pulling there?" She gestured playfully at Mya's face. "Fine. Just for you."

"Yes!" Mya clapped her hands excitedly, turning to the boys. "We'll meet down at the docks. What, twenty minutes?"

"I'll make a booking for four, five if you're coming Evan?" Sawyer looked towards Evan.

"I'll pass on the double date," Evan replied with a resigned sigh, his voice tinged with amusement. "But I'll catch up with you guys at Hassel's later with some of the crew."

"It's not a double date," Eko reiterated, shaking her head slightly. Her ears caught the faint sound of Matthew's commands to his soldiers, a reminder of the reality waiting for her.

As the group began to disperse, Eko's grip tightened on Mya's arm, pulling her aside. "I know I just said yes, but I am not going with you tonight," she was determined to make Mya see the complication of all of this. "Just say I'm sick, okay? Matthew is back, and this is playing with fire."

"And so?" Mya responded, her voice light, feigning ignorance of Eko's deep-seated worries.

"You know how he'll react if he finds out. And I don't like this, Mya. I don't like Luke—not in that way," Eko confessed, her voice dropping to a near whisper. 

"Because you're in love with Matthew," Mya stated matter-of-factly, as if unveiling a simple truth long buried.

"Fuck, Myaaaaaa," Eko whined, her frustration boiling over.

"Look, I'm sure it'll be fine!" Mya reassured, brushing off the gravity of Eko's concerns with a wave of her hand. "You're with us, so it's harmless," she added, tapping her lips thoughtfully, maybe this was a good plan afterall. 

"He won't see it that way, Mya!"

Mya shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eye. She was confident this situation would provoke a reaction that might finally push these two to confront their feelings. 

"Myaaaaaa," Eko persisted when Mya didn't respond.

"Ekoooo," Mya mimicked affectionately, her tone teasing yet tender. "Babes, have you ever thought that maybe this is exactly what he needs?" she posited, her plan taking shape, her belief in its necessity firming.

"No, no, no... no, no, no," Eko repeated, her voice firm, adamant about not going along with the plan.

Beside her, the medic with raven-black hair wore a mischievous grin, unperturbed by her friend's discomfort. They paused just short of the group of other soldiers, gathering around their Headmaster who was concluding his speech.

"Good, cadets. I'll see you all tomorrow for training. Have a good night," the Headmaster announced, prompting nods of acknowledgment before the group dispersed. As Matthew conversed with Jesse and Toni, Richie was engrossed in his tablet. The crowd thinned, and Matthew's gaze drifted over, locking with Eko's sky-blue eyes. Despite the distance, a smile broke over his face at the sight of her.

He had wanted nothing else then simply for this night to end so he could finally be alone with her. His thoughts were abruptly interrupted when he noticed Luke standing a little too close to his girl. He watched as Eko then diverted her attention to Luke, he must have said something for their laughter reached his ears - igniting a spark of jealousy. 

The pang of jealousy grew tighter, when her she slapped his arm and shook her head, it made his blood boil. Despite the intensity of his emotions, he stood frozen, watching as Eko and Luke casually moved toward Mya and Sawyer, who were already heading toward the arena's dimly lit exit.

His thoughts were a whirlwind of anger and jealousy. Abruptly, he handed his tablet to Jesse with a curt, "Here, hold this," before striding determinedly toward Eko.

Jesse and Toni exchanged curious glances, taken aback by Matthew's sudden shift in demeanor. Richie, catching the change, felt a thrill of anticipation. This was the moment he had sensed was brewing. The three of them watched as Matthew called out to Eko to stop.

"Eko, a moment," Matthew snapped as the the group came to a halt. 

Eko froze, sensing the tension in his voice, her heart sinking. She turned to find Luke looking back with an infuriating smirk, clearly pleased with the disturbance he had caused. Why was this guy always bloody smirking?

"Okayyy ... so, maybe we're going to see that reaction now," Mya whispered to Eko, she shot Mya a glare that could have melted steel, her frustration palpable. 

Meanwhile, Sawyer issued a quiet but stern warning to Luke, his voice low and serious, "Do not antagonize him. I will not step in to help you."

Luke savored Sawyer's stern words, his grin broadening as he watched Matthew's stiff approach. Eko turned, her expression tight, bracing herself for the confrontation she sensed was coming.

"I only need Eko; the rest of you can leave," Matthew said tersely, his voice low and controlled, but Luke couldn't resist reveling in the tension.

"I'll see you in twenty, babe," Luke chimed, grabbing Eko's hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. His smile held a mix of flirtation and provocation. He turned to Mya, adding, "Make sure you're not late either," before releasing Eko's hand and offering her a wink that was equal parts teasing and taunting.

"Night off and all, Headmaster," Luke added with a smirk, clearly enjoying the discomfort he was stirring in Matthew. "We're heading out to dinner." His voice was light, but the challenge in his eyes was unmistakable.

Sawyer frowned, uneasy with how things were unfolding. He was aware of the undercurrents, having discussed them with Mya, and knew Luke was prodding a sensitive spot.

"Of course," Matthew replied, his smile forced, masking the turmoil beneath. His composure held by a thread as he absorbed the full impact of the scene.

After Luke departed with a final, smug glance, Matthew's jaw clenched visibly. Eko tried to offer a polite nod and a strained smile, her discomfort palpable. Luke's behavior had clearly crossed a line. Mya and Sawyer exchanged a glance before following Luke, leaving Matthew and Eko in a tense silence.

It took a moment, but Eko noticed Matthew's intense gaze fixed on Luke's departing figure, his eyes burning with barely contained anger.

"Hey," Eko spoke softly, reaching out to touch his arm, "what's going on with you?"

"Why the fuck did he just call you babe? You're going out with him tonight?" Matthew's voice was low but sharp, with his jaw tight, and his breathing was slightly heavy, it indicated his struggle to rein in his emotions.

"This is a misunderstanding," Eko responded quickly, her voice steady despite the rising tension. She noticed Matthew's hands clenched at his sides, his knuckles whitening. "Matthew," she continued, lowering her voice further, aware of the curious eyes of Toni, Richie, and Jesse on them, their anticipation of a confrontation palpable in the air.

***** *****

"Totally sounded like a date," Toni remarked to Richie and Jesse, as they observed Matthew and Eko from a distance. The anticipation hung thick in the air between them. Was this it? Were they finally going to admit what everyone already knew?

Richie's smirk widened as he watched Matthew's discomfort. "This jealous streak really suits him," he quipped, an eyebrow arching playfully.

Jesse turned sharply towards Richie, disbelief painting her face. "What did you do?"

"What!?" Richie shrugged innocently. "Mya and I had a little wager going. She bet I couldn't push him to the edge. I aim to show her that I do not lose guaranteed bets."

"What the fuck, Richie!?" Jesse's voice rose in a mix of anger and disbelief.

"You are a certified fucking idiot!" Toni added, shaking his head in dismay.

Richie's grin faltered slightly. "Well, clearly I lost. He hasn't cracked—yet."

Jesse and Toni groaned in unison, clearly frustrated.

"How the hell does that look like he's keeping his cool?" Jesse pointed out, gesturing towards Matthew, whose tension was visible even from their vantage point.

"Hey, I'm not the one in the line of fire like Luke, am I? I'm just watching from the sidelines, safe and sound," Richie countered defensively.

"Jesus Christ," Toni sighed, facepalming, clearly exasperated by Richie's nonchalance.

"You just screwed things up, didn't you?" Jesse accused, grasping the tablet in her hand and  smacking Richie on the shoulder with it.

"Ow!" Richie yelped, dodging another swipe from Jesse. "Toni, help! Control her! Do your thing to calm her!"

"You deserved that," Toni muttered, shaking his head as Jesse's tablet flew through the air, missing Richie by inches. Despite the near miss, Richie's laughter echoed briefly, cut short by the escalating voices of Matthew and Eko. The trio turned back to the couple, the humor fading as the reality of the situation set in.

****** *****

"So this is what's going on, huh? You really are seeing each other, even before the ceremony," Matthew said, his voice dripping with jealousy and disdain. "This is what you have been up to the last week. You're with him during the day and then sneak into my bed at night when you're bored?"

Eko was taken aback by his tone, and his words stung. "Excuse me?" she snapped, stepping closer with a fire in her eyes, he was getting on her nerves now. "Do you want to repeat that?"

"You're seeing him?" Matthew's voice dropped to a harsh whisper.  "You're fucking sleeping with him and me?"

"No, I'm not!" Eko's voice rose in incredulity and frustration. Did he hear how childish he was being? "Jesus, Matthew, with the way you're acting, do you want me to sleep with him? Because you're pushing me away right now!"

"No, fucking way, Eko! How can you even ask me that fucking question!" Matthew's frustration boiled over. "I don't want you fucking near him, talking to him—anything! Am I fucking understood?"

"Relax with the swearing! Jesus - you're honestly bipolar, Matthew," Eko said, unimpressed as she folded her arms. "I'm not seeing him. We're not dating. We're just friends going to dinner with Mya and Sawyer."

"Don't fucking play dumb with me!" Matthew retorted sarcastically, adding insult to injury.

"Jesus," Eko couldn't believe his response as he nodded at her. "You're unbelievable." 

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" His voice rose, his hand gesturing towards the doors as if to underline his confusion.

Eko let out a mirthless laugh, her disbelief echoing in the quiet space around them. She pushed her hair to the side and shook her head, her movements sharp with irritation. "Whatever," she said, her voice dripping with exasperation. "You can go and fuck all the fangirls you like, but heaven forbid I go out with friends." She threw her arms out wide, her tone low and sarcastically biting—a tone she knew grated on Matthew.

"Because you're not going as friends, you're going as something else and fucking him on the side!" Matthew shot back, his accusation slicing through the tense air. "Admit it!"

"There's nothing to admit!" Eko inhaled deeply, steeling herself for honesty. "Matthew," she began, her voice softening, trying to slice through the thick hostility.

"I don't want to hear it!" He snapped. "I don't want any more fucking lies!"

"I'm not trying to dictate how you should feel, but—" Eko tried again, only to be interrupted.

"Just stop it," Matthew cut in, rolling his eyes. 

She persisted, her determination clear. "Listen, Matthew. I'm tired of this. We're spiraling into something really ugly, and I know you—you're not built for this. I know it, okay. I'm not asking anything from you," Eko continued, her voice low and firm, her teeth almost clenched. "We've talked about this before, so don't pretend—"

"I know what we spoke about," Matthew hissed, his tone laced with bitterness. "What this began as—"

"I know what you need—when have I ever asked for more than that from you?" Eko took a step closer, her eyes searching his face earnestly. "I don't expect—"

"Right, you also don't expect anything like that from me. Given my reputation, who I am," Matthew interjected, straightening himself as if bracing for a blow. "I couldn't possibly be someone decent, could I?"

Eko was studying Matthew with intense scrutiny. "That's not what I said," Eko countered sharply, frustration edging her voice.

But it was too late; he was already drowning in his own conclusions, nodding as if confirming his worst fears. His facade, usually so well maintained, had been built so high that he became the heartless condescending jerk she knew he had buried within him, and here he was on display before her. 

"Do what you want, you don't owe me anything. But do not come crawling into my bed when you're fucking bored!" he snarled. The accusation of his words stung her, and her brows clenched. "This is done between us. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have cadets to attend to, headmaster duties, and other actual fucking responsibilities," he added, his voice cold, using his duties as a shield against further emotional exposure. "Enjoy your date tonight. Curfew is midnight."

"Jesus, fucking Christ," Eko muttered, her frustration boiling over as she took a step forward.

Matthew instinctively stepped back, recoiling as if her proximity could wound him further.

"Stop," she snapped, her voice breaking slightly. The single word was a plea, a command, an olive branch all at once.

Matthew had come to a stark realization about how complicated the situation had become. He didn't need the added stress. What he really needed was a semblance of normalcy, something to divert his attention from Eko. 

He understood now that he had lost her, and the best way to clear his mind was to bury himself in his duties, to distract himself from the painful truth that she didn't want him in the way he wanted her.  He was just another person that was tossed aside just like all the other girls do to him when they've fixed whatever part of them that was broken, this was nothing new, he was just the fucking idiot that fell in love with the girl this time.

"Matthew, I want to talk," Eko asserted, her tone more forceful.

Emotionally exhausted and resolved, he replied, "There's not much to say. This is over. You've clearly moved on to whatever the next thing is that satisfies you; we both know what this was. That's it." His voice was steady, his expression resigned as he exhaled deeply, realizing that arguing further was pointless.

Eko stood there, stunned and completely hurt. "Matthew, you're not even listening to me!"

Without a word, he turned and walked away, leaving Eko calling his name. She was only trying to soften the inevitable blow. This wasn't her fault, and he couldn't be angry with her for that.

"Matthew!?"

Her mouth hung open as she watched him leave. Then, she turned to Toni, Jesse, and Richie, who were also looking at her for an explanation.

"The fuck?" she silently mouthed to them, throwing her arms up in frustration at the man. What the fuck just happened?