CHAPTER 63: SOMETHING HAPPENED

Hailee’s POV

I could feel the curious gaze of Lila on me as we walked through the school gate. She hadn’t said a word yet, but I could feel her practically eating me alive with her eyes.

"What?" I asked, genuinely confused as I glanced at her.

She raised a brow and crossed her arms. "Don’t ’what’ me."

I blinked. "What are you talking about?"

Lila narrowed her eyes, studying me even harder. "Last night before I left, you were all moody and quiet. Your eyes were lifeless, like the world was crashing on you."

I swallowed, not saying anything.

"But this morning..." she gestured toward me. "You’re glowing. Literally glowing. Your skin looks all soft and happy, and I swear you even smiled at the janitor like you won the lottery."

I tried to play it cool, looking away with a shrug. "You’re imagining things."

"Oh, I don’t think I am," she said, grinning. "Something happened. Something I need to know."

I froze for a second, and she caught it.

"Ha!" she pointed. "I knew it!"

I sighed, my cheeks warming as the memory of being in Nathan’s arms rushed back to me like a wave. I chewed on my lower lip, trying to push back the smile threatening to form.

"Okay, okay," I muttered. "We’ll talk at break, alright?"

Lila squealed quietly beside me. "You better not leave anything out."

I gave her a playful shove as we headed for class, but deep down... I couldn’t stop thinking about him either. His arms. His warmth. That kiss.

Yeah... we were definitely talking at break.

Just as we were about to walk into the building, a sleek black car pulled into the school lot.

Lila nudged me. My eyes followed her gaze and landed on Dane.

Dressed in our school uniform like it was made for him, his tall frame leaned casually against his car for a moment before he reached for his bag. His silver hair looked freshly styled, and those brown eyes of his... ugh. They glinted under the sun like trouble.

I quickly shook my head. Get a grip, Hailee.

He spotted us immediately and headed our way, his confidence as loud as ever in every step he took.

"Morning, ladies," he said with that smirk of his, his eyes lingering on me a little longer. "Hailee, you look... beautiful today."

I blinked, caught off guard. "Uh—thank you."

Lila was already raising her brows behind him like what is happening?

"I was wondering..." Dane continued, stuffing his hands into his pockets, "Would you like to go out with me this evening? Just a simple picnic. Quiet spot. You and me."

My mouth opened before I even thought. "No."

He chuckled, not even bothered. "I figured you’d say that. But don’t worry, I’ll keep asking."

I looked up at him again, this time more curious than annoyed. He was serious. He really meant it.

"...Fine," I said slowly, crossing my arms. "One picnic."

His smile widened just a little. "I’ll take that."

Lila squealed under her breath as we headed inside, and I tried not to think too much of it... but my head was already spinning.

As soon as we entered the classroom, my eyes automatically fell on Callum.

He was seated by the window, one hand resting under his chin. His gaze lifted, and it locked on me... then drifted to Dane walking beside me.

I noticed the way his jaw tensed slightly. The cold look in his eyes. He wasn’t happy.

I looked away quickly and walked to my seat beside him, ignoring the way the air suddenly felt a little heavier.

I tried to act normal, even though nothing about this morning had been normal.

"Hey," I greeted Callum softly.

His eyes met mine for a second before he nodded. "Hey," he responded with a warm smile.

Before I could say more, the teacher walked in and the class began. I tried to focus, tried to take notes, pretended I was paying attention, but my mind was everywhere else.

Nathan wasn’t in class.

He told me before I left that he was going to shower and meet me at school. So where was he?

I bit my lip, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling building in my chest. I didn’t want to panic. But I also knew if anyone found out he hadn’t slept at the packhouse last night, it would be a full-blown scandal. Especially since he wasn’t exactly supposed to be out of bed, much less sneaking into my room.

I slipped my phone out of my bag under the desk and quickly typed out a message:

Me: Where are you? You said you’d be here.

A minute passed.

Then my screen lit up.

Nathan: Missing me already?

I rolled my eyes, but the small smile tugging at my lips betrayed me.

Me: I’m serious. You okay?

Nathan: Yeah, I’m fine. My parents won’t let me come to school today. They worry I haven’t fully recovered yet.

Me: If only they knew...

I paused as that text stared back at me. My fingers hovered over the screen.

Because he would know exactly what I meant.

And sure enough, the little typing dots appeared.

Nathan: If only they knew just how well you’ve "treated" me...

I froze, my cheeks flushing hot as memories from last night slammed back into me.

His hands.

His lips.

My mouth on him.

I swallowed hard and quickly locked my phone, pushing it deep into my bag like it was on fire.

Lila glanced over at me, smirking. "What’s got you all red?"

I shook my head. "Nothing. Just... warm in here."

But inside, my heart was pounding. Nathan’s message replayed in my head on loop, and no matter how hard I tried to focus on the lesson, all I could feel was that fluttery ache deep in my stomach.

The second the bell rang for break, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. My thoughts had been a chaotic mess ever since Nathan’s message, and even now, my cheeks still felt flushed.

I stood and stretched, trying to compose myself, when I noticed Clara and her little entourage—Janet and Rita—heading straight toward my seat like they had something to prove.

Lila was already watching them with narrowed eyes from across the room, silently mouthing, Uh-oh.