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The hallway buzzed with after-lunch chaos. Lockers slammed. Laughter echoed. Sneakers squeaked on the linoleum floors. But Maya didn't hear any of it.
She was frozen in place outside the art room, her fingers trembling as they gripped the edge of her sketchbook — the one Elias had returned. The pages still smelled like him: cold rain, cigarette smoke, and something darker she couldn't name.
She'd barely made it through the rest of the day after their encounter in the library. His words kept spinning in her head like shards of glass:
> "You draw too honestly, Maya. Maybe one day that'll kill you too."
She wanted to believe he was just being cruel.
But the way he looked at her — like he wanted to destroy her but couldn't stop looking — made her wonder if maybe there was something more dangerous behind his hate.
She hadn't expected to see him again that day.
And yet, there he was.
Across the hall. Leaning against his locker like he didn't care that the whole school watched him like a god.
Elias Cross.
Tall. Sharp. Ice in his veins.
His dark eyes found her like magnets — and didn't let go.
Her stomach twisted.
His lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. It was too cold for that. Too full of intent.
Then he did something she didn't expect.
He pushed off the locker and started walking toward her.
Straight toward her.
People turned. Whispered. Stared.
Maya backed up until she hit the wall.
"You always run, Mouse?" he said lowly, stopping just inches away. "Or is it just when I'm around?"
"I'm not running," she said, her voice too soft.
He reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. Slowly. Like he had every right to touch her. Her breath caught.
"You should," he murmured. "Because I'm not done with you."
Her heart slammed in her chest.
"What do you want from me, Elias?" she whispered.
His smile faded.
"I want to break you."
The words didn't sting. They shattered. But even as she flinched, something inside her stayed still. Stronger than fear. More dangerous than pain.
She looked him in the eyes. "Then do it. You already have the pieces."
His expression darkened.
Something flickered there — frustration? Curiosity? Hunger?
Before he could say more, a voice cut through the air.
"Hey, Elias! We're doing it today, yeah?"
It was Jax, one of his friends. Loud. Smug. The kind of boy who always laughed too hard and watched girls too long.
Elias didn't look away from her. "Doing what?"
"The dare," Jax said, grinning. "You said you'd do it before the semester ends."
Maya tensed. Dare?
Jax kept going. "Come on, man. Kiss the freaky twin. Make her fall for you. Break her heart. Isn't that what you said?"
Silence.
Maya felt every eye in the hallway shift toward them.
Heat flushed her cheeks. Her throat closed.
Jax laughed. "I mean, unless you're going soft."
That did it.
Elias stepped back, turned his head slightly — and looked her up and down like she was nothing but a puzzle he was bored of solving.
Then he said it.
"Fine. I'll do it."
The hallway erupted.
Maya stood there, stunned, as Elias leaned back in close. Only this time, he didn't whisper hate.
He whispered something worse.
"Try not to fall too fast, Maya. I don't play fair."
And with that, he walked away.
Leaving her drowning in a dare she never agreed to.
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