Free Web NovelChapter 34: Who are you?
WILLA
I shivered as the voice washed over me. A slight tingle brushed against my side, and I turned toward whoever had spoken.
He leaned against a locker with his back turned.
All I could make out were long legs accentuated by black pants, dark messy hair curling slightly at the nape of his neck, and the silver piping lining the edge of his blazer.
Valerius. The same House as me.
I kept staring, silently willing him to turn around. At the same time, I noticed the sudden shift in the atmosphere.
Several students hurried away from the lockers like they didn’t want to stand too close to him.
Cadence’s hand dropped from my shoulder as she pushed a strand of curly red hair behind her ear.
Her lips stretched into a nervous smile.
"Hi!" she chirped suddenly, her voice unnaturally shrill. "I was only kidding. We have a play today, and I’m trying to practice my mean girl role."
She clenched her teeth while glaring at me.
Then, under her breath, she muttered, "You know I’d never do that. Not even when my House Alpha is involved."
The boy still hadn’t turned around. I doubted he even heard her. He searched through his locker for a moment before slamming it shut loudly.
Then he turned.
I forgot to breathe.
He was...gorgeous.
Dark hair fell across his forehead in careless strands, brushing against brows darker than the rest of his features.
His eyes, God, were the strangest shade of grey I had ever seen.
Not light enough to look silver. Not dark enough to soften. Granite.
His face looked unfairly structured. Sharp jaw carved clean beneath bronze skin, cheekbones high and severe enough to make him look almost unreal beneath the fluorescent hallway lights.
There was a slight bump along the bridge of his nose. A small bandage rested just beneath it.
The imperfection should have ruined his face. Instead, it somehow made him more attractive.
Our eyes locked. His lips parted slightly, like he’d almost said something.
But whatever it was, he swallowed it. His jaw tightened. Suddenly, the look in his eyes hardened into something unmistakable.
Hatred.
The breath caught painfully in my throat. I glanced behind me instinctively before looking back at him.
His gaze never moved. Still on me. What had I done to him?
He pushed away from the locker and started toward us.
Cadence immediately jumped in front of me, her shoulder knocking into mine hard enough to shove me slightly backward.
When he stopped in front of us, she forced out another laugh. "Like I was saying, my voice came out—"
"I don’t care," he cut in coldly. "Move."
Cadence winced instantly. But she obeyed, slowly stepping aside.
I remained standing in front of the classroom door, staring up at him.
He frowned. "You too."
"W-what?" I blinked.
He tipped his head back slightly, letting out a slow, frustrated sigh.
"You’re blocking the entrance," Cadence whispered quickly.
"Oh." Heat rushed into my cheeks. "Sorry."
I stumbled out of the way immediately.
Without another word, he grabbed the door handle, stepped inside, and slammed it shut behind him.
I flinched.
Laughter burst through the hallway almost instantly. Cadence included. I didn’t understand what was so funny. The boy had looked at me like he wanted to tear me apart with his bare hands.
And somehow, I still had no idea why. I puffed out a breath, ignoring the laughing student, and stepped into the classroom.
—
Students from different Houses filled the classroom, their voices blending into low chatter.
Bookshelves lined one side of the room while classical literature portraits covered the other, each with small plaques beneath them explaining their significance.
The projector glowed at the front of the class where Professor John stood, the light washing across his face.
The moment I stepped in, he turned toward me along with everyone else.
"Sorry I’m late," I apologized.
"You’re not sorry," he replied sourly.
"I am..." The words died in my throat when he glared at me.
I scoffed inwardly. First the boy from earlier, now the professor.
What had I even done to deserve these looks?
Professor John pointed toward the middle row. "Take your seat before I change my mind and send you to the library."
I didn’t hesitate. I hurried toward the vacant seat he’d pointed out.
Honestly, the library sounded nice. But with the way he said it, I doubted anyone willingly wanted to end up there.
I slipped into the chair, setting my backpack beside the desk. Someone beside me grunted.
I turned.
It was the boy from earlier. He glanced at me once before looking away again.
Okay. This was getting uncomfortable.
I discreetly sniffed myself, even checking my breath, wondering if the cereal I’d eaten earlier had somehow given me horrible breath.
Nothing.
"Can love exist peacefully when bloodlines are already at war?" Professor John asked as the lesson began.
I glanced toward the projector. Romeo and Juliet. My stomach fluttered slightly.
I’d always wanted to watch it in a cinema before. I never had the chance. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
This should’ve excited me.
But it was hard to focus with the boy beside me muttering curses under his breath every few seconds.
I tried ignoring him. It didn’t work. Taking a careful breath, I leaned slightly toward him.
Immediately, he leaned away, his nose wrinkling in disgust.
"Sorry," I muttered, straightening quickly. My fingers curled beneath the desk.
This was clearly the wrong approach. Maybe asking him directly would work better.
I turned to him again. Luckily, he was already looking at me.
"Did I do something wrong to you?" I asked quietly. "Because if I did, I can apologize."
I laughed nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. The boy stared at me like I’d completely lost my mind.
Maybe I had. He sneered slightly, opening his mouth. Before he could speak, Professor John’s voice cut through the classroom.
"Miss Maddox. Mr Ashford."
I jumped violently. "Y-yes?"
"I believe the two of you would rather teach the class yourselves."
My eyes widened. "What?"
"You both seem very invested in your conversation," Professor John continued dryly.
Beside me, Mr Ashford groaned, dragging a hand through his dark hair like he already knew where this was going.
He stood abruptly, yanking his bag off the floor. "Excuse me," he said flatly. "I have swim practice."
"Not so fast, Mr Ashford," Professor John interrupted. "Coach Riley already said I could have your time."
Mr Ashford turned toward me with a glare sharp enough to make me shrink slightly into my chair.
I still had no idea what his problem was. Professor John smiled at me. "Miss Maddox," he announced, "you’ll be Juliet."
Oh no.
"And Mr Ashford will be Romeo."
Absolutely not. That was what I wanted to scream. I didn’t want to be Juliet. Especially not with him.
"We don’t have all day," Professor John barked.
A groan escaped me as I pushed myself out of my chair.
At the front of the room, a small table and chair had already been arranged near the projector screen.
I walked toward it slowly while Mr Ashford remained exactly where he was.
Professor John narrowed his eyes. "Mr Ashford?"
"I want detention," he answered immediately.
Wow.
Detention over acting out a scene with me?
That was honestly excessive.
This guy was somehow even more arrogant and irritating than the motorcycle jerk from earlier.
Seriously, what the hell was wrong with him?
Heat crept into my cheeks as I glanced around the classroom in embarrassment.
Some students had their hands clamped over their mouths, trying—and failing—not to laugh.
Others looked completely uninterested, like they couldn’t care less about whatever awkward drama was unfolding between Mr. Ashford and me.
"Sorry," Professor John said, though he didn’t sound remotely apologetic. "Detention isn’t an option today."
He folded his arms. "So your choices are simple, Mr. Ashford." A short pause. "You’re either playing Romeo... or you’re playing Romeo."
Again, he looked at me like I was the one punishing him.
Mr Ashford dropped his bag onto the floor with a loud thud before swaggering to the front of the classroom, stopping three steps away from me.
I didn’t care anymore. I just wanted it over with.
Time dragged painfully while the jerk and I became the center of everyone’s attention, forced to act out roles neither of us wanted.
It was unbearable. Eventually, the scene ended.
The moment Professor John dismissed us, Mr Ashford snatched his bag off the floor and headed straight for the exit.
I yanked my backpack over my shoulder and hurried after him.
"Wait!" I called.
He didn’t stop. My jaw tightened. "I said wait!"
Still nothing.
By the time I caught up to him, irritation had completely drowned out my embarrassment. I grabbed his wrist without thinking.
The moment my fingers wrapped around him, a strange tingling sensation rushed through my hand.
I ignored it. Moving in front of him, I folded my arms across my chest.
"What is your problem with me?!"
Students immediately slowed around us, shamelessly paying attention now.
I didn’t care.
"I’ve been trying to be nice to you this entire time. I’m not asking you to like me, but stop acting like I personally ruined your life!"
The chatter around us died instantly. Mr Ashford stared at me for one long second. Then his expression twisted, eyes flashing a golden-brown.
The breath stuck in my throat. "Will you just—"
His hand snapped around my wrist, cutting me off. Before I could react, he dragged me down the hallway.
My heart slammed against my ribs as students quickly moved out of our path. Not one person tried stopping him.
That scared me more than his grip did. He didn’t stop until we were outside the classroom corridor.
Then he shoved me lightly against the wall.
His palms planted against either side of me, blocking every possible escape. "What are you..."
"Who are you?" he asked coldly.
