Alex pushed the front door shut behind him.
He dropped his bag in the entry hall and went straight upstairs. He was tired, but the fatigue was less physical and more mental, a residue of the physical play with Caroline. He needed to wash the day off.
He walked into the bathroom and locked the door behind him. He stripped his clothes off quickly, dropping the grey t-shirt and jeans onto the tiled floor until he was completely naked. He turned the shower handle, waiting for the water to heat up.
When the water was ready, he stepped into the stall and let the hot water drops stream over him.
He faced the showerhead directly, tilting his head up. The hot water hit his face like heavy rain. He closed his eyes and pulled his wet brown hair back from his forehead with one hand. He focused on the heat on his skin and the steady, rushing sound of the water. It was loud. He wanted it to be loud enough to drown out his thoughts.
But it wasn't.
Even with his eyes closed, the scene from the cafeteria flashed into his mind.
The soft, cold touch of her toe, the look in her blue eyes.
It just happened naturally, he thought. She was provoking me, and I was turned on, and then the chemical reaction boom boom.
He immediately cut the thought off. It made him feel strange in his own body.He was supposed to be a clear mind, not like an animal who acts on impulse.
He scrubbed his skin hard, trying to physically wipe the memory away.
But then, another, softer scene played in his mind again. He saw Caroline standing in the road as they parted ways. She had looked at him with those beautiful blue eyes and tried to say something important, he guessed it from the depth in her gaze, but then a small smile appeared on her face, and she had only said: "See you Tomorrow."
It's just I can't forget this scene, especially her eyes, he admitted to himself. The vulnerability in her final look was more unsettling than her initial aggression.
Alex opened his eyes. He reached out and twisted the shower tap hard to the right. The water shut off with a sudden jerk, leaving the stall in dripping silence. He shook the water from his hair, stepped out onto the bath mat, and grabbed the big, thick towel from the rack.
He dried himself off roughly, the rough cotton scratching against his skin. He wrapped the towel around his waist and walked into his bedroom, leaving wet footprints on the dark wood floor.
He selected simple, casual clothes: a clean black long-sleeve shirt and dark chinos. He dressed quickly, feeling the familiar comfort of the fabric against his skin.He ran a hand through his damp hair, not bothering to style it, and left the room.
Downstairs, the grand living room was quiet and shadowy in the evening light. His eyes went to the small, elegant cart that had been there since he moved in. On it sat a tall, clear bottle of premium vodka and a single, heavy crystal glass that shone like a mirror. Next to it was a small silver bucket half-full of melting ice cubes.
He needed a drink. Something to take the sharp edges off his thoughts.
He picked up the glass and poured himself a generous amount of the clear liquid. He used the tongs to drop a few ice cubes into the glass, listening to the clinking sound—click click-as they settled.
He took a large sip. The alcohol was strong, entering his throat with a cool burn before settling warmly in his chest.
He held the cold glass in his hand and walked across the room to the dark wood desk.
An old-fashioned landline phone, cream-colored and heavy, sat in the center. There were things he had to deal with. He remembered the butler from his memory: Alistair, a 50-year-old man who also managed this house from time to time, and there were some of his personal works that were pending under his management.
He put his glass down on the desk, picked up the receiver, and dialed his number he'd memorized from the paperwork.
After a few rings, a calm, middle-aged voice answered. The voice was calm and measured.
"Hello, Master Alex."
"Alistair," Alex said, his tone direct and impatient. "Why hasn't my car been delivered yet?"
"I apologize, Master," Alistair replied smoothly. "There was an unforeseen logistics issue with the transport. It's just some loading problem, Master. It will be delivered tomorrow early morning, certainly."
"Do it fast," Alex instructed, feeling the frustration bubble up. He didn't like the feeling of waiting for anything.
"Okay, Master. I will personally supervise the delivery early in the morning."
"Good," Alex said, and he hung up the phone without another word.
He picked up his glass again, taking another deep sip. He looked up at the dark wood ceiling of the grand living room.
The distance between the house and the school is too long, he thought. He knew the distance didn't matter; with his abnormal super speed, he could cross the entire town in just a few minutes. But walking, or using an obvious taxi service, just doesn't fit in his personality as the rich transfer student.
He was overthinking. He knew he was. He needed to stop, or he'd start picking apart every little look, every word from the day.
He walked away from the desk, glass in hand, to the corner of the room. An antique wooden cabinet housed a modern music system. He pressed the power button. A soft blue light glowed, and a quiet click sounded from the speakers.
He scrolled through a digital menu and selected a playlist labeled Strings. A slow, sad melody began to play. It was a classical piece, just violins and a cello, somber and quiet. The sound filled the large room, dampening the silence.
He walked to the large sofa, finished the last complete sip of the strong drink, and put the glass down on the side table. He rested his head back against the cushion, feeling the soft give of the sofa.
He closed his eyes. He let the music and the dull warmth of the alcohol settle over him, trying to push away the uncomfortable feeling in his heart and relax his mind and soul.
***
BREAKING NEWS✨
The next explosive chapter is NOW LIVE... but there's a CATCH! 🚨
Want to know what happens NEXT? The story is heating up, and secrets are about to be revealed that will change EVERYTHING! But you can only read it FIRST on Patreon!
I'm ON FIRE today and aiming to drop NOT one, but 2 or 3 MORE chapters EXCLUSIVELY for my Patreon subscribers! That's right-while everyone else waits, you could be binge-reading the future of the story THIS AFTERNOON.
Don't get left behind in the comments! Be the first to know the twists, cheer for the heroes, and unravel the mysteries.
🔗 Secure Your Front-Row Seat RIGHT HERE:
P@treon . com / BEYBLADE245
(Just remove the spaces,@!Copy, paste, and join the inner circle!)
For less than the price of a coffee ($5), you unlock:
✅Get the IMMEDIATE NEXT CHAPTER right this second.
✅Potentially get 2-3 MORE CHAPTERS delivered today as soon as I finish them!
✅Support the story directly so I can keep the pace FAST.
The public will have to wait... but YOU don't have to.
Subscribe now, dive in, and let's blow the roof off this story together!
See you on the other side, legends!
→ P@treon . com / BEYBLADE245 ←