CHAPTER 99: I DIDN’T ASK FOR THIS

I turned my head slowly. "June!"

She just grinned. "I’m asking for science."

I laughed, breath catching a little in my chest. "Alright, fine. It was... intense. I was nervous. Scared, even. But Dom was... gentle. Patient. Like, really patient."

"Good," she said quietly. "He better be or else, I’ll break his perfect teeth."

"I know you would." I laughed.

"Okay, but seriously, if he breaks your heart, I will kill him."

"That’s why I have you, juney."

She leaned her head gently against my shoulder. "I’m really proud of you, Ash. For letting someone care about you. For not pushing it away this time."

Her words hit something in my chest. That old ache I always tried to keep buried....the part of me that thought I didn’t deserve softness. Or being seen.

"Thanks, June," I whispered.

She nudged me again. "Also... if you ever have your first actual sex and don’t tell me again, I’m changing my best friend application status to ’pending.’"

I groaned. "I already told you!"

"Yeah, after I emotionally blackmailed you."

Then she pulled back, in a softer tone. "Your mom’s surgery is today, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah. This evening."

She gave me a warm smile. "She’ll be okay, Ash. I can’t wait to see her smile again."

"Me too."

June sat up straighter and tilted her head. "Oh, and now that we’re here... remember yesterday? On the phone? You said someone likes me? Who is it? Tell me now."

My heart jumped. Shit. I walked into that one.

"Oops," I mumbled, already panicking internally. I couldn’t tell her it was Marcus. That would ruin everything. Why did I even say that yesterday?

Before I could come up with a lie, the bell rang.

"We should quickly get to class," I muttered, jumping to my feet.

"Hmmmm, you’re hiding something again," she said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously, as she practically leapt off the desk.

We were barely two steps into the hallway when someone caught my wrist from behind, and yanked me back into the empty classroom.

"Dom!" I gasped, looking startled.

June kept walking, unaware.

"Rivera," Dominic groaned, dragging me gently. "Really?"

He shut the door behind us.

"You haven’t replied to my text all morning. It’s been, like, two hours. I was starting to feel abandoned. Are you ghosting me?" he scoffed.

"I’m so sorry," I said, quickly. "I forgot to...things got kind of crazy."

"Wow," he said, pressing a hand to his chest like I’d just stabbed him. "You just drove a stake through my heart. I hope you know that."

He stepped closer.

I laughed. "You’re so dramatic. I didn’t mean to. I swear."

He stepped closer.

"I should punish you for that," he said softly. "But unfortunately, I have class right now. And someone might walk in."

I bit my lower lip.

He leaned in, brushing the tip of his nose against mine. "It’s hard for me to control myself when you look at me like that," he whispered.

My heart fluttered again.

"I need those lips," he whispered, leaning in just enough that I could smell his cologne. "I’m gonna be a good guy and let you go."

"Reply to my text, okay?"

My breath hitched.

I nodded. "Yes."

He smiled, then brushed his thumb briefly against my cheek, spanked my ass and walked out.

I leaned against the desk after he left, letting myself breathe. My chest was still fluttering all over. I was so gone for him

I stepped into the hallway again, pretending like my face wasn’t burning.

I started heading to class. But my thoughts were all over the place.

Mom’s surgery is today. This evening.

Just thinking about it made my stomach twist.

But before that... I had one more thing to do after class.

I needed to find Mr. Blake.

And finally ask him what the hell that tattoo on his wrist meant.

First period was boring as hell.

I don’t even remember what the teacher was saying...something about linear motion or the velocity, I don’t know.

Half the class had their heads down. A few tried to pretend they were reading the textbook, but they were asleep. Orion was literally snoring. Even the usual classroom noise...pens tapping, chairs scraping, faded into silence. That’s how boring it was.

I swear the clock moved backwards at one point.

Even Marcus was dozing off beside me, with his chin in his palm, blinking every minute.

When the bell finally rang, everyone groaned.

But June?

June moved like she’d just downed four espresso shots.

She snatched up her bag before the bell even stopped ringing, practically bouncing in place.

"Okay, what’s with you?" I asked, rubbing sleep from my eyes.

"She has music next," Marcus said before she could answer. "She gets to be with Ren for a whole hour. That’s why she’s been annoyingly cheerful all morning."

June just smirked as she slung her tote over her shoulder. "Some of us actually like our electives. Don’t be jealous, Marcus. Just because I have a duet partner and you don’t."

"Or because you like Ren," Marcus scoffed, loud enough for her to hear. "And, I’m not jealous."

But he didn’t look at her when he said it. He just sat there, rolling his pen between his fingers.

I slipped my notebook into my bag. Marcus hadn’t said anything else after that Ren comment June made, he just stayed quiet.

I stood up.

"Where are you going?" Marcus asked as I moved toward the door.

I hesitated. "I need to find someone. Just... something I need to ask."

He gave a small nod. "Okay. Don’t forget we had chemistry after.."

I smiled and nodded. "I won’t. Promise. I’ll be back before it starts."

He watched me for a second like he wanted to say more. But then he just nodded. "Okay. Just... don’t forget we have that annoying group presentation. You’re the only one who knows what we’re doing."

"I won’t forget," I said, and turned away before he could ask more questions.

Then I stepped out of the classroom.

The hall was mostly clear now. I wasn’t sure where to find Mr. Blake...he never stayed in one place for too long.

I paused at the stairwell, debating whether to check his classroom or wait near the faculty hallway.

Then my phone buzzed.

I pulled it out, thumb swiping across the screen.

DOMINIC:

Did you see the video? 😏

My heart dropped a little.

I pulled out my phone and typed quickly.

Another message popped in again.

DOMINIC:

It’s blowing up. People are tagging you in comments.

Me:

Yeah.

Why didn’t you tell me you were going to post it?

ME(again):

I didn’t want that kind of attention, Dom.

Everyone keeps looking at me now. It’s weird.

I thought you’d ask me first.

Three dots blinked. Then paused. Then blinked again.

But no reply came yet.

I didn’t mean to sound cold. I just... I didn’t like being seen like that. Like I was some kind of hero or victim or whatever people decided I was after that video. I didn’t ask for it.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket and pushed open the door to the teachers’ lounge.