Chapter 34: Tutoring, Teasing & Tension
(Lyra's POV)
The café smelled like warm bread and chocolate, but honestly, nothing could calm the storm swirling in my chest. Exams weren't over yet, and somehow, Cassian had volunteered to tutor me again. Why did I agree to this?
"You sure you're ready for this, Sol?" Cassian's smirk practically radiated mischief as he spread the textbooks across the table.
"I... I think so," I muttered, clutching my pen like a life raft.
Soraya and Saphira plopped down across from me, their eyes sparkling with glee.
"Ready to fail spectacularly?" Saphira teased.
"I will not fail," I said, trying to sound confident, but my cheeks warmed anyway.
Cassian leaned closer over my workbook, pointing at an equation. "See? It's simple. Just-"
"Sol, stop looking at him like that," Soraya interrupted with a grin.
"What?!" I squeaked, confused.
"He's glaring at you," Saphira said, barely holding back a laugh.
I glanced up - and, of course, Evan was there, tall and golden, leaning against the counter, casually sipping his water but somehow radiating intense attention. He tilted his head slightly, as if silently judging my every move.
Why does he always have to look like that?
Cassian noticed, too. "Ohhh, look who's watching," he whispered in my ear, grinning.
"Shut up!" I hissed, but my hands were trembling.
Evan walked closer, lowering his voice. "Focus. Don't make me come over there."
I froze, heart pounding. "Y-You... you're going to... what?"
"Correct your mistakes. That's all," he said, smirk tugging at his lips. "But you're mine, Sol. Remember that."
I blinked. My fingers tightened around my pen. Mine? He really says that every time... and I can't... I can't stop thinking about it.
Hours passed. Cassian quizzed me relentlessly, but every so often, Evan would lean closer, his warm presence sending shivers down my spine. I felt like my chest was too small to contain my heart.
"Stop spacing out!" Cassian laughed, clearly enjoying my flustered state.
"I-I'm not!" I protested, cheeks flaming.
Evan's smirk deepened. "Sol... focus. Or I'll have to... supervise more closely."
I nearly dropped my pen. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," he said, leaning just slightly closer, golden hair brushing my shoulder. My stomach twisted. Why does he have to be so impossibly close?
Later, during lunch, the teasing escalated. Soraya and Saphira would not let me live it down.
"Ooooh, Sol, is he making you sweat because he's jealous of Cassian?" Soraya whispered loudly.
"I don't even-" I began, but Saphira cut me off.
"Or maybe because you like him?" Saphira teased, leaning forward with a grin.
I flushed, glancing at Evan, who looked impossibly tall, arms crossed, jaw tight. His gaze met mine, sharp and possessive, and I couldn't help the small shiver that ran down my spine.
"Stop teasing her," he murmured, voice low but fierce.
"Oh, Vale," Soraya grinned. "Careful, you're making her even cuter when you're possessive."
I groaned, hiding my face in my hands. Cassian leaned back, shaking his head. "You two are hopeless."
Evan didn't reply. Instead, he reached over, lightly brushing my hand with his fingers. Lightly, but enough to send sparks through me.
By the end of the day, I was exhausted, stressed from exams, tutoring, teasing, and... him.
Evan walked me home again, his long strides easily keeping pace with my shorter ones. Every step reminded me of our height difference - him towering over me, shoulders broad, aura protective yet teasing.
"Sol," he murmured softly as we neared my gate. "Don't forget. You're mine. Always."
My chest fluttered. "I... I know..."
He smirked, brushing past me just slightly, leaving me flustered and breathless.
I stepped inside my house, clutching my bag, my heart still hammering. My mom glanced up, smiling knowingly. "Long day?"
"Yes," I murmured, adjusting my necklace. "But... good."
I collapsed on my bed, exhausted, but couldn't stop replaying the day in my mind: the teasing, the possessive glances, the way Evan hovered and made me feel... so small, so cared for, so flustered.
And somehow... I think I'm completely, utterly, ridiculously in love with him.