Elena decided one thing that morning.
Avoid Raven Cortez.
Simple. Logical. Safe.
But logic had been failing her lately.
By lunchtime, she felt his presence again. Not close. Not touching. Just… there. Watching from across the cafeteria while she reviewed her chemistry notes.
Why does he keep looking at me?
She forced herself not to look back.
Unfortunately, the universe had a strange sense of humor.
"Study date?"
She almost dropped her fork.
Raven stood beside her table, hands in his pockets, expression calm like he didn't just cause half the cafeteria to go silent.
"It's not a date," she whispered urgently.
He raised an eyebrow. "Did I say it was?"
Her cheeks burned.
"I have tutoring later," she said quickly.
"Good," he replied. "You can tutor me."
She blinked. "You?"
"Surprised?"
"Yes."
A few students nearby snickered nervously before looking away.
Raven leaned closer. "Library. After school."
"That's not how you ask someone for help."
He studied her for a second.
Then, in a lower voice—
"Will you help me?"
It wasn't mocking.
It wasn't commanding.
It sounded… real.
Elena hesitated.
Helping someone academically wasn't a crime.
Even if that someone led a gang.
"Fine," she said softly.
A small smirk appeared on his face. "See you later, genius."
—
The library after school was quiet. Golden light from the setting sun filtered through the windows.
Elena sat at a table with her books neatly arranged.
Raven arrived five minutes late.
He dropped into the chair across from her. "So. Teach me something."
She pushed a notebook toward him. "Algebra first."
He stared at the page like it personally offended him.
"You run a gang," she muttered, adjusting her glasses. "And you're scared of numbers?"
"I'm not scared," he said. "I just don't see the point."
"The point," she replied, pointing to the equation, "is solving the unknown."
He leaned back slightly. "And what if you don't want to solve it?"
She looked up at him.
"Then you stay confused forever."
Their eyes locked.
Something shifted.
"Fine," he sighed. "Teach me."
For the next hour, she explained variables and formulas while he surprisingly listened. He asked questions. Real ones.
"You're not as dumb as people think," she said without thinking.
He paused.
"You're not as fragile as people think," he replied.
Her breath caught.
The quiet moment lingered—
Until the library doors suddenly slammed open.
Three boys walked in.
Not from their school.
Leather jackets. Sharp expressions.
Elena felt the temperature drop.
Raven's posture changed instantly.
Cold. Alert. Dangerous.
"Well, well," one of the boys sneered. "Didn't expect to find the great Raven Cortez playing student."
Elena's stomach tightened.
Raven stood slowly. "This isn't your territory."
"Relax," the leader smirked. "We just came to talk."
Raven's jaw hardened. "Outside."
The tension in the room was suffocating.
Elena grabbed his sleeve before she could stop herself.
"Don't."
It was barely a whisper.
But he looked down at her hand gripping his jacket.
For a second—
The gangster disappeared.
"Stay here," he said quietly.
"I won't," she replied, surprising even herself.
The rival gang member laughed. "You brought a nerd to your meetings now?"
Raven stepped forward instantly, eyes blazing. "Say one more word about her."
Silence.
The threat was real.
Elena's heart pounded.
She had just stepped into something bigger than school rumors.
Bigger than jealousy.
This wasn't hallway drama anymore.
This was his world.
And now—
She was standing in it.
To be continued…