The sun had barely started to dip below the horizon when I left school.
The halls were quiet, most students having gone home, but the memory of the day still burned in my mind.
Adrian.
Everywhere I looked, he seemed to linger in my thoughts that smirk, those dark, teasing eyes, the way he could make girls shiver with just a glance.
I tightened the strap of my bag and tried to push the images away, convincing myself: He's insufferable. I hate him. Nothing else matters.
But the universe, it seemed, had other plans.
When I arrived home, the familiar smell of dinner cooking greeted me. Mom's voice called out cheerfully, "Chelsea! Dinner's almost ready!"
I was grateful for the mundane normalcy, but it was short-lived.
A sound from upstairs caught my attention. I froze.
Adrian.
I didn't even need to hear his voice to recognize it that slow, confident stride, the way the floorboards creaked under him.
I swallowed. He was here.
I tried to act normal.
"Hi, Mom," I said lightly.
"Chelsea, honey! How was school?"
"Good," I mumbled, already dreading the inevitable encounter.
Then… Adrian appeared in the doorway.
Dark-skinned, perfect posture, and that infuriating smirk plastered across his face. His eyes flicked over me like he had all the time in the world.
"Hey," he said casually, walking past me into the living room.
I stiffened.
My mother, oblivious to my rising tension, smiled warmly at him. "Adrian! Dinner's almost ready. How was your day at school?"
"It was… fine," he said, voice smooth, teasing in that way that made my stomach twist.
After dinner, I tried to retreat to my room.
But the sound of voices upstairs made me pause.
Curiosity and dread got the better of me.
I peeked into the hallway and froze.
Adrian was in the guest room the one directly next to mine leaning toward one of the girls from school. The same girl he had teased earlier at the library.
I could see the way she blushed under his gaze, the way her lips parted slightly as he leaned closer.
I clenched my fists.
He wasn't touching her fully, not yet. But his hand rested near hers on the desk. His proximity, his voice the low, teasing tone made her shiver, gasp, and lean in toward him.
I could feel every detail as though it were a knife twisting in my chest.
The way he tilted his head.
The deliberate pause before speaking.
That smirk, the one that made him look effortlessly in control.
He whispered something in her ear. She stammered, cheeks burning, trying to suppress a giggle.
And then he slowly brushed his hand against hers again, lingering just long enough to make her shiver.
I could barely breathe.
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to run in, pull him away, and yell at him for being so… so… everything.
And yet, I couldn't.
I couldn't stop watching.
I hated myself for it.
I hated him.
And somehow… I hated that I couldn't stop feeling… something in my chest every time he leaned closer to her.
Suddenly, he stood up, stretching casually.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said, voice low, teasing.
The girl nodded, still flushed, and gathered her things quickly.
He watched her leave, then turned slowly, eyes landing on mine wide, unblinking, catching me spying.
I froze.
A thrill ran through me, dangerous and confusing. He had seen me.
And he smirked.
"You're spying," he said, dark voice amused.
I wanted to deny it. I wanted to lie. But my chest tightened, and I swallowed hard.
"I… I wasn't—"
He walked closer, smirk widening. "Relax. I don't bite… unless I'm allowed."
I felt my stomach twist. Rage, disgust, and something else I refused to name.
"Stay away from me," I snapped.
"I'm everywhere, Chelsea," he said softly, leaning just slightly toward me. "You'll get used to it."
I spun around and ran to my room, slamming the door behind me.
I sat on my bed, notebook clutched tightly to my chest, trying to calm the storm inside me.
I hated him.
I hated the way he looked at her. I hated the way he looked at me. I hated the way he made me feel things I didn't want to feel.
And I hated myself for thinking about him the way my heart had skipped when he had caught me watching.
One thing was clear: living under the same roof as Adrian, seeing him flirt with everyone around me, and being forced to work with him…
This was going to destroy me.
Outside my window, the evening sky turned deep gold and purple.
Somewhere out there, Adrian probably walked around confidently, thinking he owned the world.
I clenched my fists.
Maybe I hated him.
Maybe I couldn't stop noticing him.
But one thing was for certain I wasn't going to let him win.
Not yet.
Not until I had him exactly where I wanted… or at least, thought I did.