The loudspeaker crackled during last period.
"Lila Hart. Ethan Cole. Report to detention. Immediately."
The class gasped. Heads whipped toward her. Lila wanted to disappear.
Behind her, Ethan leaned back in his chair, smug grin in place. "Guess we're partners in crime now."
"Shut up," she hissed, stuffing her books into her bag.
The detention room was a dingy corner classroom, blinds half-broken, fluorescent light buzzing faintly. Rows of empty desks stretched out, but of course, Ethan chose the seat right next to hers.
The teacher supervising them looked like she'd rather be anywhere else. "No talking. No phones. One hour. Don't make me regret letting you sit together."
The door shut. Silence.
For three minutes.
Then Ethan leaned back, stretching like he owned the place. "You should thank me."
Lila snapped her head toward him. "For what? Ruining my life?"
"For making lunch entertaining," he said easily. "That was the most fun this school's had in years."
Her blood boiled. "You embarrassed me in front of the entire cafeteria!"
He smirked. "You looked cute when you were mad."
Her pencil nearly snapped in half. "You're impossible."
"And you're in denial," he shot back, tone shifting sharper.
She froze. "Excuse me?"
His eyes locked on hers, no smirk now—just raw intensity. "You feel it too. You can't stand me, but you can't ignore me either. That's why you're pissed. Not because I embarrassed you… but because I got too close."
Her heart pounded so hard it hurt. "You don't know what you're talking about."
He leaned forward, elbows on the desk, voice dropping. "I know exactly what I'm talking about."
The room felt smaller. The air heavier.
For a second—just a second—Lila forgot how to breathe.
Then the door rattled.
"LET HER OUT!" Aiden's voice thundered from the hallway.
Lila nearly jumped out of her chair. Ethan just grinned, leaning back again.
"I'll kill him if he lays a finger on her!" Aiden yelled.
"Calm down," Jordan's voice followed, steady but strained.
Caleb's laughter echoed. "This is gold. Pure gold."
And then Tyler's low, furious voice cut through everything. "If you walk out of this room with her, Cole… I swear I'll end you."
The teacher bolted to the door, shoving it open. "You four—OUT of my hallway, now!"
The brothers' protests faded as they were dragged away, leaving silence again.
Lila buried her face in her hands. "I hate my life."
Ethan chuckled softly. "I don't."
She peeked at him through her fingers, and the look on his face—smug but also something softer, something dangerous—made her stomach flip.
This wasn't just a game to him.
Not anymore.