𝓚𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓮

Week two at Winsxor. 

I was applying mascara until I paused to look at myself in the mirror. 

"One day your beauty is all that will save you."

Will that warning become my death?

I sighed while staring back at her. At some version of myself.

I placed my mascara back down and gripped the edge of the vanity. I took in deep shaky breaths and shut my eyes.

1

2

3

After I re-opened my eyes, I walked out of the bathroom and grabbed my backpack off my desk chair. My black handbag from yesterday caught my attention. I left it on my desk last night. I opened the bag and took out the rose gold knife which I brought along with me in case my plan failed. Opening the bedside table drawer, I placed the knife back in.  

Making my way out of the room, I prepared myself for the day. I woke up a bit later today, so I didn't have much time for breakfast. Also, I wasn't very hungry this morning. 

Today was Monday, which meant my first class was English Literature. 

❇❇❇

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫

Were all that was written on the page of the book.

Only eight words.

While waiting for class to start, I brought out my book to pass time. I wasn't sure if I was lost in my thoughts or lost in reading, because I didn't even notice Xavier was already in his seat, next to me. I continued to read, not even realizing Xavier's gaze on me.

"Would you read me one?" I heard his voice ask, almost like a soft whisper.

Immediately, I turned to look at him and our faces were so close. Only inches apart. I could feel his breath against my lips. Our eyes locked and we stayed that way for over twenty seconds.

"Sure", I finally breathed out.

Turning to face my book, I started to read a poem. Xavier's eyes continued to bore into the side of my head as I asked, "Any specific requests? Raw emotions? Heartbreak? Amor? (Love?)" 

When I received no response, hesitantly, I looked at him. The second time this morning, we locked gazes. He smirked faintly and lean the side of his body against mine. I felt his hot breath tickle my ear, setting sparks on my skin.

"Amor (Love)", he whispered. His voice was low and husky. He pulled back just enough for his eyes to stare into mine, his eyes soft and our noses almost touching. He casually gave me a nonchalant smile before moving away. 

And I think I stopped breathing.

God dammit, that was hot.

Looking back at the book in my hands, I started flipping through the pages. My heart was beating faster than normal. What's happening?

"You remind me that my heart is still alive. Because every time you come home, it beats so hard, it brings me back to life", I read out. After I did, the teacher walked in. I closed my book and placed it back in my backpack. 

Throughout the entire lesson, I didn't once spare a glance at Xavier. 

I was afraid to.

After one hour

"I'll be honest, by now I thought you would have finished reading that book." Xavier broke the silence between us. Since my next class starts at 11 am, I decided to go to the library and Xavier wanted to accompany me. 

I chuckled.

"I want to hold on to it a little longer. It keeps me company in most needed times", I said, "Sorry if that didn't make sense. I mean in a way books do keep you company. The best company to share your alone time with. The poems in that book just understands me, more than I understand myself", I went on.

The moment I felt like taping my mouth shut was certainly now. Turning to look up at Xavier, he was looking down at me. Again, his eyes held admiration?

"It does", he said. "It makes sense. Books keep me company too."

I smiled at that said and he returned it.

A liking we have in common.

Facing forward once more, I tried to not lose myself in my thoughts. The number of things that run through my head every day . . . . and nobody will ever know. It pains me but I'm immune to pain.

That's what I thought. 

"You know - I may end up buying that book online. Sadly, I have to return the book two weeks after the checkout date. There's more though. I saw a whole set of the series on the library shelf. There are books two, three and four. I can't wait to read them all!", I spoke eagerly. My hands did tiny claps as I jumped a bit due to the excitement. 

Xavier laughed lightly. "Linda (Cute)." I heard him mumble. 

Once we entered the library, we walked into the lounge area, where we first met.

"Any book recommendations?", Xavier asked me when I took a seat at my usual spot. 

"No." I brought out my other book from my backpack.

"¡Estupendo! Ahora puedes leerme el libro que estás leyendo (Great! Now you can read me the book you're reading)." He crashed down on the seat beside me. 

I scoffed. "What makes you think I'll read it to you?"

He just winked and I sighed. I opened the book to the last page I read, removed the bookmark and began reading it aloud. 

❇❇❇

Looking at my wristwatch, I checked the time, it was 10:50 am. I started to place my book back in my bag. I was about to excuse myself until I heard soft snores coming from beside me. I turned to look at Xavier, and my eyes just softened. He lowered his body low enough for his head to lay back on the couch headrest, his face directed towards the ceiling, hands placed on his chest and eyes closed. 

The most peaceful I've ever seen Xavier was now. 

Slowly and quietly, I stood up. Xavier took off his blazer while I was reading and laid it between the two headrests of the couch.  My hands moved on their own, I grabbed his blazer and laid it on his upper body, pulling at it to reach his neck. 

What am I doing? 

Taking an immediate step back like I was burned, I left the library with my feet moving at a fast pace.

My breathing was unsteady while walking toward my art class. Once I reached the classroom, I was about to push open the door but somebody beat me to it. An arm went over my right shoulder and a hand was placed on the door in front of me. Swiftly, I turned around and my breath hitched at the sudden proximity.

There really was something about his ice-blue eyes. 

"Good late morning to you Nicholas." I looked up and smiled at the 6'3 feet giant in front of me. Out of all the Elite males, Nicholas was the tallest. My head levelled just at his chest. His eyebrows furrowed as he stared down at me. 

"You ok?", he asked softly.

My eyebrows furrowed. "I'm fine", I answered confused.

"You look disturbed." He pushed the door open and side past me to enter. As usual, I was lost in my own world until I heard his voice. "Are you coming in?" I turned to see him holding the door open for me. I smiled and nodded. 

After I walked past him, I made my way to the seat I sat in the last class. Nicholas took the seat beside me. We both brought out our sketchbooks and needed utensils. When our teacher stepped in, she greeted the class before telling us to continue with our sketches. After she spoke, I stood up and approached her. I asked her if I was allowed to listen to music while doing work and she said I was. 

Once I sat back in my seat, I took out my air pods and plugged them into my ears. While I sketched, I couldn't help but hum while bobbing my head lightly to the music.

"God, keep me my head above water. Don't let me drown, it gets harder", I quietly sang the lyrics to Head Above Water by Avril Lavigne.

 The moment I remembered that Nicholas was sitting right next to me.

I turned to look at him. He was focused on his sketch. I watch his hand skillfully move across his page, from the looks of it he was drawing a river? That's when I realised he's started doing a new sketch. Has he already finished his last one? That was quick.

My eyes shifted to his hand, which I only now noticed the golden rings he wore on his fingers. He wore quite a few and I was paying enough attention to count how many. Four. One on each finger except his thumb. They appeared to be artisanal rings for men. Except for one, which I was familiar with, a Versace ring. More specifically, a Barocco V-ring. Wearable for both males and females. I've always wanted one. 

Every part of me hated his hand. They were heaven-like beautiful and too perfect. The golden rings he wore made him all the more dangerously alluring and I hated that. I really really do.

These observations only made me realise, I never really paid attention to his hand before.

Until now.

My eyes travelled from his attractive veiny hand, up to his arm, to his neck, and to his face. His side profile really was something. But then I notice he had a small smile resting on his lips. Why was he smiling? Did I just get caught checking him out?

I just checked a guy out. Wait, what? 

I closed my eyes, cursing at myself mentally. 

'Don't open your eyes.' The voice in my head warned. As usual, my stubborn self never listens.

I opened my eyes.

Oh . . . . god . . .

Nicholas was now staring directly at me. His small smile lingered on his lips and what a beautiful sight that was. I cleared my throat and turned my attention back to my work. 

"Beautiful." I heard him say and turned to look at him.

"Hm?"

"Your sketch", he said while glancing at my work. 

I smirked. My body spun at a 90-degree angle to face him and l placed an elbow on the desk, leaning on it. 

"Are you sure it's the sketch you were complimenting?", I asked.  

He didn't respond. The eye contact lasted until a smirk slowly made its way to his lips. He chuckled, deeply. He leaned in for his face to be closer to mine. It was a safe distance, but one push and . . .

"No." His eyes moved from mine and took their time to roam around my face. Once they met my eyes again, he gave me a lopsided smile before moving away. "But your work really is beautiful", he complimented, while staring at my sketch. 

I think I stopped breathing . . . . .

Kristine!

"Thank you. You've barely sketched yours, but I can tell it'll be more beautiful than mine. A masterpiece", I told. He looked at me again with softer eyes before looking back at his work, chuckling lightly. 

"Not as beautiful as you." I couldn't make out what he mumbled so I just shrugged it off and continued doing my work.  

Throughout the rest of the class, I couldn't help but glance at Nicholas. I noticed he still had a small smile lingering on his lips while focusing on his work. Why is he still smiling? 

❇❇❇

I guess we are now a group? 

At lunch, my sisters, Ester, Ashley and I sat with the Elites because Teressa invited all of us. It was a little awkward for me because Xavier was staring almost the entire time. Nicholas noticed and nudged him, which knocked Xavier back into reality. The relationship between Isabella, Teressa, Ashley, Ester, Sophia, Tamara and I was great, all of us got along so well. No stutters, no awkwardness, no nervousness, just laughter and smiles. 

Currently, at 2:47 pm, I was now making my way to my last class which is Chemistry. Making my way down the same staircase as last time, I sat on the stair bannister and slide down. With a huge smile on my face, I slid off the bannister and onto the stair plateau. I heard somebody giggling behind me and turned to see Ashton standing at the top of the stairs. 

Immediately, I smiled widely and he gave me his charming smile in return. 

"What are you waiting for? Slide down", I told him, the smile never leaving my lips. 

He seemed hesitant and looked around him to see if anybody was around. 

"You don't have to be Ashton Lennox. Just be yourself - Slide down already! We'll be late", I encouraged. As I smiled up at him he stared at me with this particular look in his eyes, but I didn't know what it was. 

After a chuckle, he sat on the bannister and slid down. When he reached the plateau he slid off with a slight push, making him stand right in front of me. We both just looked at each other and started laughing. 

"Well done. You've successfully slid down a stair bannister without slipping off."

"What makes you think I've never done it before?", he asked, quirking his eyebrow with a small smirk. 

I shrugged. "I don't. I wouldn't know, because I barely know you."

I wasn't supposed to say that.

His smirk stretched into a big smile. 

"Would you like to then?" He took a step closer. 

When I looked up, I noticed just how close we were. He stared down at me with soft eyes as I stared up at him with cold ones. I didn't know what to say, my lips just stayed shut. The longer we maintained eye contact, I didn't notice how my eyes softened while I stared back at Ashton. There was something happening to me and I didn't know what. Either that or I chose to deny what it was. 

I choose to deny it. Always.

"Chocolate cake", he said. My eyebrows furrowed. "I feel like having one now. Would you join me?"

Did he just ask me out?

"Are you asking me to skip class?" My eyes narrowed at him. 

"That's exactly what I'm asking. But with me and chocolate cake", he said, looking down with a small smile and scratching the back of his neck. 

'Say no Kristine. You can't. You shouldn't.' That voice in my head spoke. But this time I really didn't know what to do. Should I do what I have to or what I want to?

Wait, what do I want? 

"For fuck's sake, just go." Tamara's voice boomed from out of nowhere. Looking at the top of the stairs, there Tamara stood, arms crossed and a half-smile - half-smirk on her face.

I looked at her confused and she just winked. I heard Ashton chuckle before looking at me with hopeful eyes. Uncertain, I looked at Tamara and she mouthed 'It's ok.' After a debate in my head, I let out a sigh. I gave Tamara a smile as a 'Thank you' and faced Ashton. 

"With strawberries?", I questioned, raising an eyebrow with a sly smirk. 

Ashton looked relieved and smiled."Of course."

"Let's go then." I smiled and he returned it with a wider one.

While we both started walking away, I noticed Ashton turned and mouthed, "Thank you", to Tamara. I couldn't help but smile. 

Thanks, babe.

Ashton and I walked side by side until we saw Teressa approaching this direction. 

Right. We have the same Chemistry class together.

"Kristine!", she chirped when she saw me, her cute smile on her face. Ashton and I stopped walking and Teressa stopped before us. She looked at her brother before looking at me, her eyebrows furrowing. 

"Where are you two going?", she asked. Eyes now narrowed at the two of us. 

"I'm taking Kristine out", Ashton answered simply. 

Getting straight to the point . . . .

Teressa's reaction was not what I was expecting. She wiggled her eyebrows at me while suppressing a smile.

"Skipping class together." I heard her mumble "Well have fun!", she squealed, giving a small jump on the spot. 

I gave her a 'are you sure?' look and she nodded, immediately. Ashton started to walk off and I thanked Teressa before following Ashton. 

"Oh wait!" We heard her yell. At the same time, we both turned our heads and looked at her. 

"Where are you taking her big bro?", she asked. 

Big bro. Cute.

"For cakes", he exasperated. His foot starts tapping on the floor, impatiently. 

"Oh cool! Bring me back some", she told. 

"Nope." He turned his back to her and started to walk off. I chuckled, shaking my head in disbelief.

"Heyyy!!", Teressa whined, staring at her brother's back. She then looked at me with a pout. 

"Text me your requests." I winked before following Ashton. 

"She's a keeper Ashton!"