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The campus halls felt unusually stark as I wandered them Monday morning, the fluorescent lights casting a flat, almost too-bright sheen over everything. The world moved around me, yet my mind seemed anchored to the past, the quiet, surreal night at the beach with Wallace.

A strange ache hovered in my chest when I thought about it. The ease of his laughter mingled with the ocean's waves, the low hum of the horizon swallowing up the sunset. I hadn't meant to let my guard slip, even for a moment, but with him, it was as if a part of me I kept locked away had surfaced, stretching itself to taste the unfamiliar.

But I would never admit that not even to myself.

Shaking off the thought, I reminded myself I had more pressing things to worry about. The class was starting soon, and I couldn't afford to drift. I pushed forward, steadying myself with the familiar rhythms of responsibility, of deadlines I could control.

Yet, as I approached the cafeteria courtyard, a scene stopped me cold.

Wallace stood beneath the sprawling oak tree, his frame casually leaning against its trunk, his eyes on Audrey. She stood close to him, her hip cocked with a confidence that, despite everything, I couldn't help but notice. She said something, and whatever it was made Wallace's whole face light up. He laughed, not just a polite chuckle, but a genuine, whole-hearted laugh that softened his features.

He seemed... happy. With her.

An unexpected twist of something lodged itself in my stomach. I had seen Wallace laugh before, but never with that kind of ease. And certainly not when looking at me. The small nudge he gave her with his elbow, the relaxed slant of his shoulders—were they... together now? Are they not just faking anymore? Or was I reading too much into it?

A bell echoed through the hall, its chime jerking me out of my trance. I turned sharply and forced myself to move, pressing the feeling down, even as it lingered, simmering beneath my skin.

The day slipped into the afternoon, but the images from the morning replayed on a loop in my mind. As I walked with Ethan and Maddison past the school's indoor garden, our conversation about council business became a background noise. Even Ethan's comments about finalizing the calendar and budget barely registered. Instead, my gaze drifted, and there, by the fountain, I spotted them again.

They sat on a bench, close enough for Wallace's arm to rest along the back of it. Their shoulders almost touched an unspoken closeness lingering in the space between them. He leaned in, his eyes focused solely on her, as though she were the only person in his world.

My throat tightened against an unfamiliar bitterness. I didn't like this feeling. I didn't want it.

I swallowed hard as I was about to walk past, determined to pretend not to notice.

"Ethan! Desiree!" One of Wallace's friends waved us over.

I nearly cursed under my breath as we turned in their direction, my carefully constructed wall splintering further with each step.

They both looked up. Audrey's eyes were bright and curious. She offered a small smile, one that seemed so effortlessly warm, like she genuinely found joy in the simplest interactions.

Even now, sitting with Wallace in such a relaxed, almost unguarded manner, she sparkled in a way I wasn't used to seeing in people who grew up around luxury, different from the girls I knew, girls who wore designer outfits and sparkled only through layers of gloss and polish.

Ethan raised a brow and with a smirk on his lips nudged me forward, stepping toward their small group.

As we approached, I caught the way Wallace straightened slightly. His expression shifted as he met my gaze. The open, playful light in his eyes turned dark and intense, different from how he looked at Audrey. There was an edge in his stare, something sharp and raw.

It was as if he was...uncomfortable being near me.

"You two know about the High School Day event details, right?"

Audrey rolled her eyes at her friend, "Adam, duh!" She said with a chuckle then turned to greet us warmly.

Ethan nodded, ever the natural leader. "Haha, but yeah and we were just talking about it. What do you guys want to know?"

"Well, Audrey was asking about the singing contest rules for High School Day. Something about winning automatically qualifying you for a performance on Foundation Day?" Adam replied.

Wallace leaned back and whispered something to Audrey who elbowed him playfully.

"I was just making sure we're all set. Can't leave anything to chance when I'm competing against Emily and her entourage," she said with a little wink, adding, "If we win, you might want to brace yourselves for some memorable performances."

I forced a smile. "Yes, that's right. High School Day winners are invited to perform on Foundation Day. It's a new idea we thought might encourage more students to participate." The words felt mechanical in my mouth, a rehearsed pitch.

"Oh, that's cool!" Audrey's face lit up.

"So, Audrey and Wallace could perform for everyone?" Another one of Audrey's friends chimed in.

Well, that is if they win.

"Guess we'll have to put on our best show, huh?" She nudged him playfully, and he chuckled, casting her a look that felt too relaxed, too genuine.

"Yes, for sure," he agreed. "Now the whole school will be wowed with your pitch-perfect singing.'"

Audrey laughed, her face reddening as she waved a hand dismissively. "Stop, I'm the worst singer ever. Trust me, nobody would want to hear that!"

"I was being sarcastic," Wallace said with a serious face that made Audrey slap his arm in annoyance.

I felt a pang I didn't want to acknowledge, and yet there it was, gnawing at me, seeping through my chest. I'd been taught to control my emotions, to mask them, but here, in this moment, it felt impossible.

Forcing a smile, I spoke up. "Good luck, Audrey. It's not easy to stand up to anyone, let alone in front of the whole school."

I could sense a murmur of agreement from our small group.

Audrey glanced at me, her smile genuine. "Thank you, Desiree. I just... I don't know, I figured someone had to say something. It didn't feel right otherwise."

She spoke with such simplicity and openness that, for a moment, I was taken aback. There was no pretense in her, no calculation. She was all the things I'd been trained to avoid being, and yet somehow, it suited her perfectly.

"Anyway, we're all set for the events," Ethan clapped his hands, signaling that our conversation was over. "I think it's going to be a great Foundation Day, especially with the new performance incentive."

Wallace's eyes briefly met mine before sliding back to Audrey.

"Well, I'll leave you guys to enjoy your afternoon," I said, feeling the need to escape. "I have some final arrangements to go over, and Ethan and I will see you later."

I turned to leave, my gaze grazing his once more. He glanced up, meeting my eyes with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. His smirk softened, a look that lingered as if there were words he was holding back, and for a heartbeat, the noise around us faded.

As Maddison and I walked away, she shot me a curious look.

"You okay, Desiree? They seemed...rather close didn't they? And Wallace was just—argh! Now I understand Jacklyn. I hope they're not affecting you."

"Of course I am," I replied, forcing a smile.

But that moment lingered in my mind long after I left them behind, the weight of something unspoken pressing against me.

Is this what jealousy looks like?

But, why would I be jealous when I don't even...love him?

I hadn't thought much about love for other people other than my mom before. My mother had always told me it was just another tool to be used, something to manipulate.

But looking at them, it seemed so... simple. So light.

For the rest of the day, I couldn't shake the image of them together. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Wallace smiling at Audrey, their shared moments holding a meaning I didn't fully understand.

๋࣭ °࣪ ִ⭑․𓃠⭒˚.• ݁

The following day passed with an infuriating sluggishness, yet I felt like I was moving in a haze, my thoughts continually drifting back to that reckless boy.

I sat with the usual group of friends at lunch, nodding absentmindedly to their chatter. But, despite my best efforts, my eyes kept wandering over to where Wallace and Audrey sat, a few tables away. I caught sight of Audrey's animated hands, gesturing as she laughed with bright, unrestrained joy. Her voice rang across the cafeteria, a natural, easy melody. Beside her, Wallace laughed, his shoulders relaxed, head tilted, his smile...

It was a smile I'd never seen directed at me, one so disarmingly unguarded. I couldn't look away, a prickling ache settling in my chest. The way they seemed to move around each other, so effortlessly, so comfortably. Their connection had no conditions, no rules or strategies. It simply was.

Everything in my life had always been so carefully calculated, so controlled. It was as if they lived in a world I'd never been allowed to enter.

Maybe... maybe that was what people meant when they talked about love. My chest tightened, and I tried to look away, but the thought stayed.

With a murmured excuse to my friends, I slipped out and made my way to the restroom. Maybe a moment alone would help me clear my head, and shake off these ridiculous thoughts. I leaned over the sink, the cold tile under my fingertips grounding me slightly. The icy water splashed over my hands, soothing, calming—

Then I caught a flicker of movement in the mirror. I straightened abruptly as Wallace's reflection materialized behind me. He was leaning casually against the doorway of the girls' restroom, his figure casting a shadow across the floor. The look on his face was anything but casual, though his gaze was locked onto mine.

"Leave," he said, his voice low.

The words were directed at the only other girl in the restroom, who looked between us with wide, astonished eyes before quickly gathering her things and scurrying out. The door clicked shut, leaving just the two of us in silence.

"Wallace!" I gasped, disbelief and fury crashing over me. "What in the world are you doing?" 

My heart raced as he stepped forward, his eyes never leaving mine. I felt my pulse speed up, but I refused to back away. Instead, I spun around, glaring as I flicked off the faucet. 

"Are you completely out of your mind? This is the ladies' room! Do you even comprehend how wrong—"

He interrupted me by reaching over and locking the door with a swift click. The sound echoed, and something inside me tightened, a thrill of... not fear, but something strange and undeniable, racing through my veins.

His gaze held mine as he closed the distance between us, his frame towering over me, effectively cornering me against the sink.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" His tone was calm, but there was an intensity in his eyes that made my breath hitch. His hands rested on either side of the counter, boxing me in.

"What am I... Wallace, you're in the wrong restroom, and you're asking me about tomorrow?" I sputtered, frustration and bewilderment knotting together as I tried to make sense of his question.  "Are you serious?"

He sighed, clearly impatient. 

"Yes, just listen for a moment, okay?" He leaned in, his face inches from mine, his voice dipping lower. "I'm not here to make a scene. I needed to talk and this was the only place I could get to you."

"Still, this isn't right!" I whispered furiously, glancing at the locked door. If anyone walked in, the scandal would be monumental.

"Who cares?" he said dismissively, his eyes flicking back to me. "I'm your fiancé, remember?"

I glared at him, struggling to ignore the way his presence seemed to fill every inch of the space. "That may be true," I muttered, "but that doesn't give you the right to barge in here."

"Look," he interrupted, leaning even closer, our noses almost touching. His voice softened, but his gaze was still sharp, penetrating. "I wasn't sure I'd get a chance to talk to you. You're always surrounded by people or the crowd's staring at you like vultures. I needed this to be private."

I swallowed hard, feeling the air grow thick between us. My heart beat erratically as his eyes flickered down to my lips before meeting my gaze again. 

"Am I making you uncomfortable?" His voice was teasing, yet there was something beneath it, something darker, more serious.

"Of course you are," I shot back, unable to fully conceal the tremor in my voice. "This... this is completely inappropriate!"

"Then let's make it quick." 

Before I could protest, his hands were at my waist, lifting me effortlessly onto the counter. A startled gasp escaped me as the cold surface seeped through my clothes, but I was all too aware of the warmth radiating from him as he leaned in, his face so close I could feel his breath against my skin.

"Wa-Wallace?" I stammered, barely able to breathe as his proximity flooded my senses.

He leaned in, his lips grazing the skin just below my jawline, so close it felt like a brand.

"Watch me tomorrow," he murmured, his voice low, roughened, sending a shiver down my spine.

I blinked, trying to clear my muddled thoughts. "Wh-what?"

His dark gaze held mine, fierce and unyielding.

"I'll be singing at the contest tomorrow," he said, his words brushing against my ear. "Will you be there?"

"Yes," I managed, my voice barely a whisper. "I'm the VP. I have to oversee the event, so of course, I'll be there. What in the world are you even thinking?"

"Fucking hell." He rasped as if he was restricting himself from doing something. "You wouldn't wanna know, baby."

I furrowed my brows at him. "Did you just insult me?"

He just shook his head with a chuckle. A corner of his mouth tilted upward in a slow, knowing smirk.

"I'll be expecting to see you." He straightened, but not before his gaze lingered on me for a second too long, that smirk playing on his lips, leaving me flushed and furious.

Then, with one last look, he unlocked the door, slipping out before I could form a response. The echo of his footsteps left me there, still sitting on the counter, breathless and rattled.

Baby? Baby?

"Just because I'm seventeen...." I muttered, echoing the word he'd used in his last, infuriating quip.

He called me a BABY?!

"Wow! I can't believe that—" I bit my lips with passion.

I let out a long breath, feeling a strange heat still lingering in my skin.

Arrogant, insufferable yet for some reason, his taunting words and smirk stayed etched in my mind, sending an unwelcome thrill down my spine.

𓇢𓆸

Oh my...Wallace barging into the ladies' restroom...?! Bad, bad boy!

Next up... High School Day begin, and a performance awaits! Can Desiree truly ignore the pull, or is her world about to turn upside down?

ᴍᴇʟᴏᴅʏꜱʜʜʜ