Xavier stares at her face, not once wavering. “Please, Cindy-”
“Sidney,” she dryly corrects, most likely a first for her.
“Sorry,” he apologizes, and then continues, “It’s just that Mona will be alone if I leave her to go with you, and I can’t allow that.” He speaks calmly and gentlemanly, respect now in his tone. I blush at his words, the redness blooming on my slightly pale cheeks.
Sidney glances at me, as if she was really looking at me for the first time. “Mona,” she murmurs to herself, as if she was trying to remember my name. Then she perks up and smiles once more at Xavier. “Okay then,” she says, “maybe another time.” With another snap of her fingers, all three of them turn and start strutting towards the royalty table. However, when Xavier’s head is turned, she looks back and shoots me a glance of pure loathing. The shivers begin again; creeping up and down my spines, chilling me to the bone.
I return my gaze to Xavier finally, my fork lingering over the last bite of steak. “Are you not hungry?” he asks curiously. I barely shake my head, the coldness freezing me silent. I eat the last piece, chewing it robotically.
Suddenly, a warm hand encircles mine, bringing me everlasting warmth. Xavier propels my hand towards his meat, stabbing a juicy piece with my fork. “Try this,” he softly suggests. Drawing my hand and fork towards my face, he prompts me to eat it, awakening butterflies in my stomach. I am now a giant red tomato, with cheeks as red as a fire engine. “Is it good?” he asks, smiling, gently releasing my arm from his grip. Girls all across the lunchroom stare in envy and disgust at me, Xavier’s fan club probably already planning an ambush.
“Yes,” I murmur, distracted by the way his eyes sparkle in the light. His meat is a little different, yet just as good. Embarrassment flickers across my features as I realize that I am staring.
Xavier chuckles, and then shoots me a wink. “I can’t wait to introduce you to Wes,” he laughs, “he will have you melting into a puddle on the floor.”
“Wes?” I ask curiously.
“Only the biggest flirt in the whole world,” he smiles, “you’ll meet him at the mansion after school.”
“Oh really…” I say, not quite grasping his words. Then, I suddenly understand.
“What mansion?! I never heard you talk about going to a mansion!”
“Um, Mona? I told you about it before we got to school,” he clarifies, my lack of memory surprising him.
I scoff, my red hair waving slightly, “Oh yeah, I remember… but you weren’t serious, were you?”
“Of course I was,” he says seriously. I start to laugh, merry pearls of joy that reverberates around the lunchroom.
“There is no way you are taking me there,” I reply. I am NOT going to a mansion alone with Xavier. For all I know, he might kill me in the forest and eat me.
Well, I guess that would defeat the purpose of saving me from definite death, but still.
“You wanna bet?” he asks dangerously, his eyes alight. I look at the floor, not wanting to say anything. If I do spit out a word, he might pick me up and carry me out of the lunchroom to the mansion right now, in front of the whole school.
Yep. Silence is best right now. And careful planning, of course.
I’ll just escape from him…
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