I wasn't ready to face the world today.
The idea of stepping into that school, of seeing him, of hearing the whispers, felt unbearable. My body agreed—my head throbbed, and my stomach twisted painfully.
I groaned, turning over in bed and glancing at the clock. 8:30 AM.
I should be getting up. I should be dragging myself out of bed, forcing myself into my usual routine. But instead, I let my eyes slip closed again, my mind drifting back to green eyes and the ghost of a kiss against my forehead.
Sebastian.
I let out a shaky breath, forcing the thought away.
At some point, Mehusa came into my room to check on me. I barely cracked my eyes open as she hovered near the bed.
"You okay?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.
"Yeah," I muttered. "Just not feeling great."
She hesitated but didn't push further. "Alright. I have a meeting with some friends, so I'll be out late. Call me if you need anything."
I hummed in response, not really registering the words.
She left, and I let sleep pull me under again.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
The loud knocking jolted me awake.
I blinked groggily, my body still sluggish as I forced myself to sit up. My head was pounding, and I winced as I swung my legs over the side of the bed.
Who the hell was banging on my door like that?
Heart pounding, I made my way to the front door, my hands slightly unsteady as I reached for the knob.
I pulled it open—
And there he was.
Sebastian.
Standing on my doorstep, smiling like he had all the time in the world.
"Hey," he said, his voice easy and warm.
For a moment, everything inside me stilled. My heart, which had been beating erratically just moments ago, suddenly calmed.
I didn't know why. But looking at him—his relaxed posture, the way his green eyes flickered over my face—it made it easier to breathe.
"Hey," I murmured back.
I knew I should ask what he was doing here, but my brain was still foggy from sleep and pain.
Sebastian chuckled, like he could see the question written all over my face.
"You weren't at school," he said, tilting his head slightly. "I don't have your number, so I figured I'd stop by."
I stared at him, blinking slowly.
He... he noticed?
I swallowed, trying to fight the warmth creeping up my neck. "You skipped school just to check on me?"
He grinned. "Who said I skipped? Maybe I just needed an excuse to leave."
I raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. And I just happened to be that excuse?"
He shrugged, his smirk deepening. "What can I say? Your absence left a tragic void in my day."
Despite myself, I let out a small laugh. "Drama queen."
His eyes sparkled. "So... am I just gonna stand here, or are you gonna invite me in?"
I crossed my arms, leaning against the doorframe. "I don't know. Should I let strange boys into my house?"
Sebastian placed a hand over his heart, mock offense written all over his face. "Strange? I thought we were partners, Olivia. I'm wounded."
I rolled my eyes but stepped aside, gesturing for him to come in. "Fine. But don't steal anything."
"No promises," he murmured as he walked past me, his shoulder brushing mine just slightly.
I shut the door, turning to see him already making himself comfortable, glancing around the space like he belonged here.
"So," he said, plopping onto the couch. "Are you actually sick, or are you faking to avoid me?"
I snorted, moving to sit across from him. "As much as your ego would love that, I actually feel like crap."
Something flickered across his face—something quick, something concerned—but he covered it up with a smirk.
"Well, good thing I came prepared."
I frowned as he reached into the bag he had brought with him. A moment later, he pulled out a small container, placing it on the table in front of me.
I blinked. "What's this?"
"Soup," he said simply. "Homemade. Well, technically store-bought, but I heated it up myself, so that counts for something, right?"
I stared at the container, my chest tightening in a way I wasn't prepared for.
"You... brought me soup?" My voice was quieter than I intended.
Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Don't sound so shocked. I can be thoughtful, you know."
I hesitated, biting my lip. "I just... I didn't expect it."
"Well," he said, leaning back, "get used to it."
I looked at him then, really looked at him.
He was sitting there, completely at ease in my living room, acting like it was the most natural thing in the world to check on me, to care.
I didn't know what to do with that.
So, I just reached for the soup, popping the lid open. The smell of warm broth and spices filled the air, and my stomach grumbled in response.
Sebastian smirked. "Hungry?"
I shot him a glare. "Shut up."
He chuckled, watching as I took a careful sip. It was warm, comforting, good.
I swallowed, glancing at him through my lashes. "Thanks, Seb."
He didn't say anything for a moment, just looking at me like he was studying me. Then, finally, he smiled.
"Anytime, Olivia."
As I sipped the soup, warmth spread through me—not just from the broth but from something deeper, something I didn't want to acknowledge just yet.
Sebastian was watching me, his usual smirk in place, but there was something softer in his eyes. It made my stomach twist in a way that had nothing to do with being sick.
That's when I noticed it.
The scar.
It was just below his left eye, fresh and angry against his skin. My brows furrowed as I instinctively reached out. "What happened to your—"
Before my fingers could graze his skin, he flinched.
It wasn't obvious, just a slight jerk of his head, but it was enough to make me pause. His expression shifted—something unreadable flickered in his eyes before he covered it up with his signature nonchalance.
I pulled my hand back, suddenly unsure.
"You okay?" I asked, my voice quieter now.
Sebastian shrugged, leaning back against the couch. "Yeah. Just got into a fight with some bastard."
I narrowed my eyes. "What kind of bastard?"
"The annoying kind." He smirked, but there was something forced about it. "Don't worry about it, princess. I won."
I wanted to push further, to ask why he actually got into a fight, but something told me I wouldn't get a real answer. So, I let it go. For now.
Instead, I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. "You're ridiculous."
He grinned. "And yet, you're still sitting here with me."
I let out a soft snort, shaking my head again as I took another sip of my soup.
"Okay, so if you're actually sick, I'll be nice and let you rest," he said, eyes flickering with mischief. "But if you're just hiding from school, I feel like I deserve the truth."
I rolled my eyes, setting the soup down. "Why do you care so much?"
His smirk softened. "Because I do."
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Because what the hell was I supposed to say to that?
"I just needed a break," I finally admitted, looking down at my hands. "Yesterday was... a lot."
He nodded, like he understood without me even explaining. And maybe he did.
"So, what's the plan?" he asked after a moment. "You gonna stay locked up here all day, or do I need to kidnap you and drag you outside for some fresh air?"
I let out a small laugh. "You wouldn't dare."
His eyes gleamed. "Oh, sweetheart, don't challenge me."
I rolled my eyes, hiding my smile behind my soup spoon. Why was he like this?
We fell into an easy silence after that, the kind that didn't feel awkward or forced. He watched me eat, occasionally making some stupid comment that made me roll my eyes but still somehow made me feel lighter.
And I hated that it felt nice.
A little while later, we were sprawled on the couch, flipping through TV channels aimlessly. My body still ached, but for once, my mind felt quiet.
"Okay, seriously, what do people even watch in the middle of the day?" Sebastian muttered, clicking through more options.
"Probably something other than football highlights and action movies," I said dryly.
He shot me a look. "What, you don't appreciate cinematic masterpieces?"
"Oh, please, if I have to watch one more scene of cars exploding for no reason, I'm gonna pass out."
Sebastian gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. "Don't worry, darling, I will be there to hold you."
My breath just... stopped.
"You're so full of yourself," I muttered, crossing my arms.
Sebastian smirked, stepping closer, his green eyes glinting with mischief. "And yet," he said, tilting his head, "your face is saying something very different."
I hated how he could see right through me.
"You're hallucinating," I shot back, but my voice came out a little weaker than I intended.
Sebastian's smirk widened. "Mmm... sure, Liv." He took another step forward, closing the distance just enough to make my heart stumble. "I think you like me more than you let on."
I scoffed, trying to ignore the way my pulse was pounding. "I think you have a serious case of delusion."
He laughed, low and soft, and for some reason, it felt dangerous.
"Maybe," he admitted. "But it's a fun kind of delusion."
I shook my head, willing my heart to calm the hell down. This boy was going to be the death of me.
After spending a few more hours together—mostly me pretending not to enjoy his company while he made it his mission to annoy me—Sebastian stretched his arms behind his head.
"Well, sick girl, as much as I'd love to stay and entertain you, I should probably get going before Evelyn starts thinking I kidnapped you."
I smirked. "She'd probably assume I was the one holding you hostage."
He laughed, standing up and stretching. "Fair point."
As we walked to the front door, I hesitated.
I didn't want to be alone just yet.
But I also didn't want to burden him with my presence.
I swallowed hard, shifting on my feet. "Thanks for, uh... checking in on me."
Sebastian studied me for a moment before exhaling. "Olivia."
I looked up.
"You don't have to keep acting like you're some kind of problem." His voice was softer now, serious. "You're not."
I opened my mouth, then closed it. Because what the hell was I supposed to say to that?
Instead of answering, I just nodded.
Sebastian sighed, shaking his head slightly before reaching out and tugging me into a quick hug.
And then it was there again.That moment—that flinch.
It was barely noticeable, but I felt it. The brief, involuntary stiffening of his body as if he wasn't used to this—as if he wasn't used to being held.But then, he didn't let me go.
Instead, his grip tightened, his arms locking around me like he was holding on for dear life. Like maybe, just maybe, he needed this more than I did and I stayed still for a second, my mind racing. Why did he flinch? Why did he hesitate before hugging me, but then refuse to let go?
My fingers curled slightly against the fabric of his hoodie, and I felt the faintest tension in his muscles before he finally exhaled, his breath fanning over my shoulder.
His arms were warm, strong, safe.
I wasn't used to this. To people staying. To people caring.
After a few seconds, he pulled away, ruffling my hair. "Get some rest, princess. No skipping school, got it and will meet at the library regarding the assignment?"
I rolled my eyes. "We'll see."
He smirked but didn't push it.
Then, before I could react, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.
My breath caught.By the time I blinked, he was already stepping back, his expression unreadable.
He pulled out his phone and placed it in my hand, his fingers brushing against mine for a second longer than necessary. A spark shot up my arm, but I ignored it, looking up at him with confusion.
"You number, Liv," he said, his voice smooth but firm.
I swallowed, nodding slightly before typing my number into his phone. My fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before I saved it under my name—just my name, plain and simple. No emojis, no special nicknames. Because this was just a number exchange. Nothing more... right?
When I handed his phone back, he barely glanced at it before pressing a button. A second later, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
He had called me.
I looked up at him, raising an eyebrow, but he just smiled—a slow, knowing kind of smile that sent something unsettling through my stomach.
"Just making sure you don't ghost me, sweetheart," he said, leaning back against his seat.
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the tiny, traitorous smile that tugged at the corner of my lips. Damn him and his stupid charm.
"Yeah, because ignoring you would be such a tragedy," I said dryly.
He grinned. "It really would."
I huffed out a laugh, shaking my head.
This boy was impossible.
"Night, Liv."
And then he was gone, his car disappearing into the night.I pressed my fingers to my forehead, my face burning.
What the hell was happening to me?