Episode fourteen

Faerie's smile widened, a dangerous gleam flashing in her eyes. "You think you've got me all figured out, huh?" she murmured, her voice dipping into a sultry tone that seemed to wrap around him like a vice. Without warning, she closed the distance between them, pressing her body closer to his until there was barely a sliver of space left.

Aaron's breath hitched as her proximity overwhelmed his senses—the warmth of her skin, the soft curve of her lips hovering just a breath away from his. She leaned in even closer, her lips brushing lightly against his ear as she whispered, "I think you're the one who's scared, Aaron. Scared that maybe you don't hate me as much as you pretend."

Then, without waiting for a response, she tilted her head, letting her lips graze the edge of his jaw, dangerously close to his mouth. Her touch was feather-light, barely more than a tease, but it sent a shiver racing down Aaron's spine. His fists clenched at his sides, his resolve wavering as he fought against the urge to close that last inch between them.

"Wh-what do you think you're doing?" he stammered, trying to maintain his usual cold demeanor, but his voice came out shaky. He could feel his control slipping, like sand slipping through his fingers, and he hated the way she seemed to delight in pushing him to this edge.

Faerie only smirked, her lips still ghosting over his skin, close enough that he could feel the heat radiating from her. "Just proving a point," she said softly, her voice a seductive purr. "You act like you're so above it all, but right now? You're just as tangled up in this as I am." She let her lips hover over his for a heartbeat longer, her breath mingling with his, before she abruptly pulled back, leaving him with the taste of what might have been.

Aaron felt his pulse pounding in his ears, his breath coming quicker than before, as he stared at her with a mixture of anger and confusion. He was furious—furious at her audacity, furious at himself for the way his body had reacted to her nearness. But most of all, he was furious that for just a moment, he had wanted her to follow through with that kiss.

Faerie took a step back, her expression smug and self-assured, like she knew exactly how she'd unraveled him. "See you around, Aaron," she said with a wink, turning on her heel and striding away, leaving him standing there in the front yard, torn between wanting to chase after her and wanting to never see her again.

As Faerie strutted away from Aaron after their intense encounter, a small, satisfied smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Her mind buzzed with the thrill of having left Aaron flustered and off-balance. The evening air was crisp as she crossed the school front yard, heading toward the exit, her footsteps echoing across the empty campus.

But behind her, in the shadows of a nearby tree, Felix stood, his fists clenched tight at his sides. He had seen everything. His eyes, usually so clear and sharp, now blazed with a mixture of emotions he couldn't even begin to sort through. Rage, confusion, jealousy—they all crashed together inside him like a violent storm.

He had followed Faerie out of the building, hoping for just another chance to talk to her, to maybe find a way to patch up whatever had gone wrong that morning. He had thought, or maybe hoped, that the tension between them was a fluke, a misunderstanding. But instead, he stumbled upon that scene—Faerie and Aaron, entangled in their intense, almost intimate exchange.

He watched as Faerie's lips brushed against Aaron's skin, watched as Aaron, usually so composed and unshakeable, faltered under her touch. And Felix's chest tightened painfully, a burning sensation spreading through him that felt almost like betrayal. He wanted to shout, to charge forward and demand answers—why was she with Aaron? Why did she ignore him earlier only to turn around and cozy up to someone else?

Felix bit down hard on his bottom lip, the taste of blood sharp on his tongue, as he tried to keep his emotions in check. He told himself that he didn't care who Faerie spent her time with, that it wasn't his business, that he had only ever felt pity for her—nothing more. But as he watched the way she sauntered away from Aaron, confidence radiating from every step, he felt the lie unraveling inside him.

Jealousy coursed through him, dark and unfamiliar, a sharp contrast to the usual controlled facade he maintained. It clawed at his chest, twisting his thoughts until all he could see was the image of Faerie leaning into Aaron, of that almost-kiss that felt like a slap in the face.