DARK CHEMISTRY
The final period was halfway through when a shadow fell across Lizzie's desk.
She looked up.
Daniel walked by casually, like he was just checking notebooks…
but something small slipped from his fingers and landed on her open textbook.
A folded piece of paper.
Lizzie's heart jumped into her throat.
She waited until he walked away, pretending to focus on the blackboard.
Then, with trembling fingers, she quietly unfolded the note under her desk.
Inside was a single line.
"Save this."
And a phone number.
Lizzie nearly dropped the note.
Her pulse was so loud she thought the whole class could hear it.
She folded it quickly and hid it under her sleeve.
At the end of class, everyone left.
Lizzie was packing her bag shakily when Daniel approached her desk again, stopping right beside her.
"Did you read it?" he asked softly, without looking at her.
Lizzie nodded, cheeks burning.
His eyes slid to her — dark, razor-sharp, too intense for her weak knees.
"Good."
He leaned down slightly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Tomorrow. Seven p.m."
Lizzie blinked.
"T-Tomorrow… where?"
"The club downtown."
Her eyes widened in shock.
"A… a club?! I'm not even— I've never—"
Daniel smirked, his voice low and dangerous.
"I know."
Her breath caught.
"T-then why—"
He cut her off.
"Because I want you there."
Lizzie looked like she might pass out again.
Her fingers tangled with each other nervously.
"W-what do I even wear?"
Daniel stepped closer, his breath brushing her ear as he spoke.
"Something I'd like on you."
Her heart broke rhythm.
She stared at him, eyes wide and terrified and… something else.
Daniel straightened, lips tugging into a faint smirk.
"Don't be late."
He turned to walk away—
But paused at the doorway, glancing back at her one last time.
"And Lizzie…"
His voice dropped, deep and velvety.
"Don't call me 'sir' tomorrow."
He left.
Lizzie sat frozen in her chair, gripping her backpack like it was the only thing keeping her heart inside her chest.
7:00 PM — The Night That Changes Everything
Lizzie stood outside the club's glowing entrance, her heart thudding like it wanted to escape her chest. Neon lights painted the pavement pink and blue. Music thumped from inside—heavy bass, muffled laughter, clinking glasses.
She tugged nervously at the outfit she'd chosen.
Not too flashy.
Not too plain.
Just… something he would like.
A soft black dress that hugged her waist, a thin cardigan slipping off her shoulders, and her hair lightly curled the way Daniel once said he thought would look "pretty on her."
She exhaled shakily.
Why did I come?
Why did I agree?
What does he want?
She was about to turn around and leave when—
A hand caught her wrist.
"Lizzie."
His voice.
Deep. Low. Controlling without needing to be loud.
Daniel stood there under the neon lights, wearing a fitted black shirt, sleeves rolled up, veins visible, tattoos peeking from his wrists. His lip ring glinted when he gave that unreadable half-smirk.
He scanned her slowly from head to toe.
"That's…"
His eyes darkened.
"…exactly what I like on you."
Lizzie's face flushed crimson.
He stepped closer, invading her personal space effortlessly, the scent of cedar and cold night air wrapping around her.
"You look scared," he murmured.
"I— I'm not," she lied.
He chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear—a touch so gentle compared to everything he showed in school.
Then he bent down slightly, whispering into the shell of her ear:
"Good. Because I didn't call you here to scare you, Lizzie."
She swallowed.
"What… did you call me for… then?"
Daniel's fingers slid to her jaw, tilting her face upward.
"For this night to be ours," he said quietly. "No school. No teacher. No student. Just you… and me."
Her breath caught.
Daniel opens the door to the club, placing a hand at the small of her back.
"Stay close," he murmured.
"I won't lose you in there."
Lizzie nods, stepping inside as the music swells.
And Daniel's hand never leaves her waist.
The door creaked open.
A guy—probably a senior from another class—poked his head out.
"Sir! Daniel! They're asking for—"
Daniel snapped his head toward him, jaw clenched, eyes dark with pure irritation.
"Get. Out."
The guy blinked, confused.
"But—"
"I said leave."
The cold sharpness in Daniel's voice made the boy swallow and scramble back inside, shutting the door quickly behind him.
Silence returned.
Lizzie stood frozen, pressed against the railing, her chest rising and falling quickly.
Daniel turned back to her—slowly.
His expression wasn't irritated anymore.
It was something far more dangerous.
"You made me forget the entire world for a moment," he murmured, voice low.
Lizzie's breath hitched.
"D-Daniel…"
He stepped closer until he caged her between his arms and the railing, his body brushing hers, heat pouring from him.
"You said you didn't want me to stop."
His fingers slid to her jaw.
"You meant it, right?"
She nodded, barely a whisper.
"Yes…"
That was all he needed.
Daniel tilted her chin up firmly and pulled her into a kiss.
Not soft.
Not careful.
A deep, hungry, possessive kiss.
Lizzie gasped at the suddenness, and that tiny parting of her lips was all the invitation he needed—he deepened it instantly, his mouth claiming hers with a slow, intoxicating hunger.
His hand slid behind her waist, drawing her closer until there was no space left between them.
Lizzie's fingers gripped his shirt, holding onto him as his tongue brushed hers—
Her knees went weak.
Daniel's other hand caught the back of her head, steadying her, deepening the kiss even more, tasting her, guiding her, completely taking over.
When he finally pulled away, they were both breathing hard.
Lizzie's lips were swollen.
Daniel's forehead rested against hers again, but this time his voice was rough, shaken.
"That…" he exhaled, "…shouldn't have felt that good."
Lizzie whispered, flustered,
"Daniel…"
He brushed his thumb across her bottom lip, still warm from his kiss.
"From now on," he murmured, "don't run from me… understand?"
Her heart thumped wildly.
"Y-yes…"
He smirked slightly.
"Good."