CHAPTER 75: INFRONT OF ME

Nathan’s POV

Mariam reached into the golden box, her fingers swirling around like she was searching for fate itself.

I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath until she finally pulled out a slip of paper.

She opened it slowly, then grinned wider.

"And her partner is..." she sang, drawing out the moment.

My heart thudded violently in my chest.

"Callum Beckham."

The room exploded.

Whistles, laughter, gasps—every reaction collided at once.

My heart... sank.

It didn’t crack.

It dropped.

Like someone had just ripped it out of my chest and stomped on it right there in front of everyone.

But I didn’t flinch.

No emotion.

I kept my expression hard.

Blank.

Like it meant nothing.

But inside, I was drowning.

I looked up just in time to see Hailee on her feet, cheeks flushed, trying to play it off with a shy laugh.

Callum stepped forward without hesitation, the cocky smirk on his lips already pissing me off.

He didn’t just walk up to her.

He picked her up like it was the easiest thing in the world.

Her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, and the room erupted even louder—students yelling, clapping, hooting.

And then, as if I wasn’t even here, he kissed her.

Right there.

In front of everyone.

Right in front of me.

It wasn’t just a peck either.

It was deep.

Deliberate.

His hand gripped the back of her head while the other supported her thigh.

And she didn’t pull away.

If anything... she melted into it.

I felt a sharp pain shoot through my chest.

But I didn’t move.

I didn’t blink.

Didn’t look away.

I just sat there...

Stuck.

Frozen.

While everyone else laughed and cheered like it was the most entertaining thing they’d seen all week.

I didn’t realize how tightly my jaw was clenched until my teeth ached.

The moment their kiss broke, Callum gently lowered her back to the ground, still grinning like he’d just won the damn lottery.

Hailee gave a small, awkward laugh, brushing her hair behind her ear as the noise in the hall gradually settled.

And then—

Our eyes met.

For a second, everything else faded.

She looked at me.

Really looked at me.

There was guilt there.

Clear as day.

But I tore my eyes away.

Looked down.

Anywhere but at her.

It shouldn’t hurt.

Hell, she’d kissed him before.

Done more than kiss him.

This was nothing new.

Nothing I hadn’t already been tortured by.

But somehow... watching it like that, so public, so casual, like it meant nothing—

It did hurt.

Mariam, the social head, clapped her hands again at the front. "Alright, that was hot! Let’s keep it moving!"

The excitement returned like a wave as she dipped her hand into the box again.

"Next up... Emma and Justin!"

More claps, more cheers as the couple walked up, laughing nervously before doing a quick, playful kiss.

"Next... Kaira and Dan!"

Another cheer. Another kiss.

The room was buzzing now.

One pair after another.

People were laughing, shouting, encouraging the brave (and the reckless) to really go for it.

And then—

"Okay! Let’s see who’s next... Ooh, this’ll be fun," Mariam grinned, pulling a slip from each box.

She read the names slowly, milking the suspense.

"It’s our Alpha in making....Nathan Luciano..." she announced, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

A few cheers broke out. I heard someone whistle behind me.

My jaw clenched.

"And... Zoey!"

Zoey gasped excitedly, tossing her long brown curls over her shoulder as she practically skipped forward.

"Oh my goddess," she giggled. "Finally!"

The crowd broke into whoops and hollers.

I didn’t move.

Everyone was staring now.

"Nate, get up there!" Dave nudged me with a laugh. "She’s hot and ready, bro."

"Come on!" Eli shouted. "You never back down."

Zoey stepped toward me, smiling, clearly expecting me to rise and give everyone the show they were waiting for.

I looked at her.

She was beautiful.

She was willing.

And this was supposed to be fun, right?

I could kiss her.

Hell, I’d kissed her before.

But right now... every part of me was screaming no.

I shook my head. "I’m not in the mood."

The noise dulled instantly.

Zoey blinked. "Wait... what?"

I stood from my chair but didn’t move toward her.

"I said I’m not in the mood."

Laughter turned into murmurs. Whispers crept across the tables.

"What’s wrong with him?"

"Is he serious?"

"Since when does Nathan pass on a challenge?"

"She’s literally throwing herself at you, man," Dave said again, trying to lighten the mood. "What’s the problem?"

I looked him dead in the eye and repeated, quieter but firmer,

"I’m. Not. In. The. Mood."

Then I turned and walked away.

I sat slumped in my chair, back in the empty classroom. The moment I shut the door behind me, the noise of the cafeteria felt a world away.

I pulled out my laptop, not because I cared about the project anymore—but because I needed to do something to drown out the thoughts clawing at my head.

I shoved my earphones in, hit play, and let the music roar through my skull.

It wasn’t helping much.

Every time I blink, I see her.

Her legs around Callum.

Her hands in his hair.

Her lips... on his.

I groaned quietly and buried my face in my hand.

Minutes passed.

Then I heard the door creak open.

I didn’t bother looking up—until a chair scraped against the floor.

Leo dropped into the seat across from me, spinning it around so he straddled it backward like he always did when he had something "important" to say.

He didn’t waste time.

"It’s because of Hailee, right?" he asked flatly.

Not a question.

I yanked out one of the earbuds and sighed heavily.

There was no point pretending.

"Thought you said you were letting her go until she figured out what she wanted," Leo said, folding his arms across the chair. "And to me, I think she has."

My jaw clenched. "Doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck."

Before he could say anything else, the door creaked open again.

Footsteps.

I didn’t need to look.

I knew it was her.

"Hi," Hailee said softly, standing just a few feet from the table.

I didn’t move.

"I just..." she hesitated, "I just want to talk."

I nodded toward Leo without looking at her.

"Tell her I don’t want to talk."

Leo looked at me, then at her.

"She doesn’t look invisible, bro," he muttered.

"Do it anyway."

Leo sighed and turned his head toward her like this was some kind of half-baked sitcom.

"He says he doesn’t want to talk."

Hailee frowned, stepping forward. "Nathan, can you just let me—"

I cut her off coldly.

"Tell her to leave."

Leo blinked. "Dude."

"Tell her to leave," I repeated, my voice low and sharp this time.

He looked at her helplessly. "Yeah... he says, uh... you should go."

Hailee’s lips parted like she wanted to fight it—but then the classroom door opened again.

Callum walked in.

The moment Hailee saw him, she froze.

Her expression changed—guilt, again. Shame.

Then, without another word... she turned and ran out while Callum ran after her.

I leaned back in my chair, my head falling against the wall behind me.

Leo let out a low whistle. "Well. That went well."

I scoffed bitterly. "Yeah. Great. Just... freaking great."