Lysander*

I want this day to end.

I wandered on auto-pilot from class to class for the rest of the morning. I couldn't concentrate much on anything.

It's bad enough that I always lose my focus when I think about Gabriel and my seatmate, Lysander, the blond boy with the sword tattoo on the back of his hand, who keeps on stealing glances at me.

Gabriel told me to stay away but how can I when he's following me across the halls with his hands on his pockets while whistling a creepy tune that is already stuck on my mind?

He was calling my name under his breath like he's singing a song to himself.

Agitated, I spun around and glared at him.

"Hey, Cassandra. Where are you going?" Lysander called out to me brightly. "The cafeteria's over there!"

He pointed at the direction of the school's gym because that's where the cafeteria is supposed to be located.

I know because I've been in this school for almost four years, Mr. Obvious. But I didn't tell him that.

I cleared my throat before explaining. "I brought lunch from home so I won't be buying any food."

It's kind of awkward to eat in the cafeteria alone now that I had no one to talk to while eating. It's been days and I miss Riley so much.

"Where are you going to eat, then?"

"Just somewhere," I said vaguely and shrugged.

"Where?" He asked with eerily blank eyes and it made me stepped back in fear.

"I don't think it's any of your business," I replied.

I stepped forward and he moved swiftly in front of me to block my way. I treaded to the right hastily and Lysander stepped on the right, blocking my other attempt to walk past him.

I ran a frustrated hand on my hair and sighed.

"Why don't we eat lunch together?" Lysander suggested, his body leaned ever so slightly forward in my direction as if he couldn't help himself. "Come on, help a guy out like how I helped you out in Math Class."

I grunted. "Why me?"

He stated simply. "I need a distraction from the girls."

True to his word, I panicked when I saw a lot of girls in the hallway around us, murmuring to themselves, while they leered in our direction as if they were vultures waiting for a piece of the carcass to eat.

"I don't think it's a good idea."

The girls looked at how I was practically running away from him and stared at me like I had grown horns.

Most girls would have run towards Lysander if they see him smiling like that.

"Please." Lysander continued as he whispered near my ear, his striking face turning serious. "Believe me, I love the attention but I'm not really into flirting at the moment. It's hard to keep up a perfect image to all these girls."

Okay. And why did he have to involve me?

The bullies will give me a hard time during graduation if he keeps this up. Some jealous girls are experts at creating nasty rumors and scandals. I don't want to be a subject this time.

"Sorry, I'm busy."

I turned around and walked briskly so he couldn't catch up, praying that he will leave me alone. He did.

When I walked a hundred paces to the field, Lysander was nowhere in sight when I looked over my shoulders.

I sighed with relief but I was still anxious.

Lysander may be hot as hell but he's giving off dangerous vibes. He could be giving a girl a heart attack and I tell you, it's not in a pleasant way.

I climbed the stairs hurriedly to get to the bleachers and bumped to someone.

"Oops. Sorry."

That familiar husky voice again.

I've heard it earlier. Good thing I caught my balance or I'll be rolling down the stairs like a tumbleweed in the desert.

My gaze fell on his high-top sneakers, to his black jeans, then to his familiar oversized hoodie. My eyes met Lysander Ailes' playful smile, his green eyes sparkling with mischief.

With both of my hands shaking, I clutched the railings for balance, trying to compose myself as I got over my shock.

"How did you get here first?" I demanded, paling. How did he get here so fast? I was practically walking/running to get away from him and I thought I arrived here first. "Did you fly or something?"

"Yep." He replied nonchalantly as he jammed his hands again in his pockets. "I teleported."

I shrank back and raised both of my hands in surrender in case he wanted to kill me as Gabriel said.

When he saw the disturbed look on my face, his green eyes had a teasing glint in them as he chuckled.

"I was joking, Cassandra. You don't have to look like I was going to push you down the stairs and watch you die."

"Okay, then." I swallowed as I slowly climbed up the stairs, Lysander trailing behind me. "I'm not going to ask. I'm not interested in your secret or whatever it is. I just want to be alone. I'm hungry and the afternoon classes are about to start in an hour."

I glanced around desperately for another person, a witness in case something happened.

Good thing there where a lot of students hanging out by the bleachers. But I realized if this guy wanted to kill me and he's as strong as Gabriel and has magic powers, then nothing could stop him if he wanted to end my life.

Well, this is depressing.

"So come with me and let's eat together. Please. I'll buy you a drink. And you could tell me about the school..." Lysander said slowly, his husky voice suddenly sounded hollow. My inner ears suddenly blocked up, muffling all the sounds around me as if I'm inside an airplane at ten thousand feet.

Something is wrong with his voice.

I shook my head to snap out of it.

"---I just moved from this school from France so naturally, I have questions. I hope you could answer them while we eat or do you prefer we go somewhere else?"

Oh god, what am I supposed to do when Gabriel told me to steer clear from this one?

I already turned him down once and if I do it again, he'll surely follow me everywhere to the ends of the earth until I agree.

"Ugh." I finally said. "Alright."