CHAPTER 46: THE PRESENTATION DAY! 1

The next morning, Elias woke first, the soft light of dawn slipping through the curtains of the small cottage. The air was cool, the heater’s gentle hum a comforting background noise.

He blinked, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings... the tiled floor, the cosy bed with its soft blankets, the shelves neatly lined with books and supplies.

"Oh! I’m still here,"

For a moment, he felt a flicker of peace, a rare sensation after days of running and worrying. But the weight of his situation quickly settled back in.

’If Viktor’s looking for me. I can’t stay here forever. I can’t get these innocent people involved, but if Viktor catches me, he’ll kill me. That’s why he’s going round, looking for me,’

He pushed the thought aside and got up, careful not to disturb Jace, who was still asleep, one arm flung over the pillow barrier.

Elias tiptoed to the small bathroom, the tiles cold against his bare feet. He splashed water on his face, the shock of it waking him fully. Staring at his reflection in the small mirror, he noticed the faint shadows under his eyes.

’Shit! I forgot my pills last night,’ he realised, his stomach twisting. He’d been so caught up in Viktor’s sudden appearance and the rush to the cottage with just his bag that he hadn’t taken his suppressants. The thought made his chest tighten, but he shook it off.

’I can last for one day. I’ll take one after school. It’ll be fine. What could happen?’

He brushed his teeth with a new spare toothbrush he found in a drawer, changed into a clean T-shirt and jeans from his bag, and headed back to the main room.

Jace was still sprawled across his side of the bed, his dark hair messy, a soft snore escaping him. Elias hesitated, then gently shook his shoulder. "Jace, wake up. We’ve got school."

Jace stirred, blinking up at Elias with a sleepy grin.

"Huh? Morning already? Man, you’re up early." He stretched his hands as his legs did a five-second vibration as he sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Did you sleep well? How’s the house?"

Elias nodded, forcing a small smile.

"Yeah. This place is... nice. Thanks for bringing me here."

Jace’s grin widened, his eyes warm.

"No problem. I told you it was a good spot." He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, stretching again. "Let’s get ready. We’ve got that presentation today."

They moved around the small cottage, gathering their things. Elias grabbed the project materials... a sleek model of a sustainable energy system they’d been working on.

It was a compact prototype, designed to demonstrate how solar and kinetic energy could power a small community. The model was simple but impressive, with tiny solar panels and a small wind turbine that spun with a flick of a switch. Elias ran his fingers over it, double-checking everything.

"We can’t mess this up," he muttered, more to himself than to Jace.

Jace, pulling on a hoodie, glanced over.

"We won’t. You’ve got this, Elias. You know the material inside out."

Elias gave a small nod, his stomach fluttering with nerves. "I hope so."

They packed the project into Jace’s car, a sleek black SUV parked just outside the cottage. As they drove toward school, the forest gave way to open roads, Elias pulled out his notes and started practising his part of the presentation. His voice was soft but steady as he ran through the key points... how the system could reduce energy costs, its environmental benefits, and the scalability for larger communities. Jace kept his eyes on the road, but a small smile played on his lips as he listened.

"Hey," Jace said after a few minutes, glancing at Elias. "You want to grab something to eat before we get to school? There’s a diner just off campus. Best waffles you’ll ever have."

Elias shook his head, his eyes still on his notes. "No, thanks. I’d rather practice. I’m not hungry anyway."

Jace raised an eyebrow but didn’t push.

"Alright, suit yourself. But don’t blame me when your stomach’s growling in the middle of our presentation."

Elias chuckled softly, the tension in his chest easing just a bit. "I’ll survive."

They pulled into the school parking lot, the campus already buzzing with students. As they stepped out of the car, Elias carried the project model, and Jace grabbed their notes. Their heads turned. Whispers followed them, eyes lingering on Jace, who was well-known on campus for his charm and popularity. But it was Elias who drew the most curiosity. His quiet demeanour, pale skin, and delicate features stood out, especially next to Jace.

"I’ve been seeing that guy with Jace. Who the hell is he?"

Elias could almost hear the questions in their stares.

"True! I heard some rumours about him having ties with the Drago family. I know he’s cute, but why’s he with Jace Voss?"

Jace seemed oblivious to the attention, but Elias felt it like a weight on his shoulders. As they walked toward the lecture hall, a group of Jace’s friends approached... Rowan, a tall guy with a cocky grin, and a few others whom Elias recognised from past encounters.

They’d bullied him before, back when he was just the quiet kid trying to keep his head down. His stomach twisted, and he gripped the project tighter, his hands shaking slightly.

"Hey, Jace!" Rowan called, his voice loud. "What’s up, man? You ditching us for this guy now?"

Elias’s heart sank. He didn’t want to deal with this... not today. He turned to Jace, his voice low. "You should talk to them. I’ll meet you inside."

Jace grabbed his arm gently before he could walk away. "Nah, I’m good." He turned to his friends, waving them off. "Sorry, guys, I’m not available right now. I’ll probably catch you later."

Rowan’s grin faltered, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at Elias.

"Seriously, Jace? What’s with you lately?"

Jace just shrugged, his smile easy but firm. "Nothing! I’ve got stuff to do. See you around."

He steered Elias toward the lecture hall, leaving Rowan and the others standing there, muttering among themselves.

"What’s his deal?" one of them said.

Rowan crossed his arms, his jaw tight. "It’s that Elias guy. He’s got Jace acting all weird and responsible. It doesn’t fit him,"