Bridgette's legs moved intuitively, guiding her down the crowded corridor as the bell rang. Her mind was still disoriented with the overwhelming emotions of her unexpected other opportunity. Her father was alive, and her past deeds had been erased. However, her former memories clung to her like a shadow, preventing her from moving forward.
Lost in her thoughts, she turned a corner too quickly and collided with something solid.
Or rather, someone.
A strong arm wrapped around her waist, halting her fall. She gasped, her heart lurching as she found herself pressed against the firm chest of a tall figure. A familiar scent of musk and sweet candy lingered in the air between them. Slowly, she lifted her gaze, meeting the heavy-lidded eyes of none other than Lucien Devereaux.
Her breath caught.
Oh, crap!
Lucien was infamous. The academy's dark prince. The untouchable rebel. The guy who skipped classes, broke rules, and made teachers pull their hair out in frustration. He was the type to sit back, indifferent to the world, exuding an aura of effortless danger.
But up close...
Bridgette's stomach did a weird flip. His features were sharper than she remembered, his jawline defined, his expression unreadable. His fingers, still gripping her waist, were warm—
Wait. His hands were still on her waist.
She suddenly became aware of how close they were. His grip was firm, his fingers warm against her waist. Her breath hitched as he stared at her tear-streaked face, his eyes briefly flickering with something unreadable. Embarrassment flared in her chest. Was he going to say something? Offer comfort? Mock her?
Instead, he simply continued to look at her in that indifferent, unreadable way.
Realizing she was still in his arms, a comedic frown formed on her lips. "You can let go now."
Lucien blinked once, as if processing her words. Then, without hesitation, he did exactly that.
Bridgette yelped as she landed flat on the floor with a loud thud.
Pain shot up her backside. "Ow! You didn't have to let go so fast!" she snapped, glaring up at him.
Lucien merely shrugged, completely unbothered. "You told me to."
Bridgette opened her mouth, then closed it. Okay, technically, she had said that, but still! Couldn't he have been gentle about it?!
The hallway had gone silent. Too silent.
She looked up and felt her stomach drop.
Cassie and Isabel stood frozen, their expressions torn between horror and disbelief. And it wasn't just them... other students had stopped mid-step, their heads turning like a pack of curious meerkats. Murmurs spread like wildfire.
"Did he just push Bridgette?"
"Wait, why is she on the floor?"
"Oh my god, did Lucien bully her?!"
Bridgette's eye twitched. Oh, for the love of—
"I heard he's got a temper. What if she pissed him off?"
She could already see the ridiculous rumors forming. Before she could salvage the situation, Cassie rushed toward her, voice panicked. "Bridgette! Are you okay? Did he—"
"He didn't do anything wrong!" she blurted out, hands raised in defense.
The crowd hushed, taken aback. Bridgette, defending Lucien? This was not the narrative they expected.
Lucien, meanwhile, looked completely done. Hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. If he cared about the rumors, he didn't show it.
Then, as if the situation couldn't get worse—
Collin appeared.
Bridgette barely had time to react before Collin stepped between her and Lucien, his usual warm expression hardening slightly. "Please don't do anything reckless or hurt the lady," he said firmly.
Lucien stared at Collin. Then, exhaling a long, bored sigh, he turned on his heel and walked away.
Just like that.
No explanation. No defense. No care in the world.
Bridgette watched him disappear down the hallway, fuming. What just happened?
Cassie and Isabel exchanged nervous glances. "What the hell was that?" Isabel whispered, still eyeing Lucien's retreating figure like he was some untamed beast.
Bridgette let out a long sigh, already dreading the rumors that would spread. "That," she muttered, dusting herself off, "was my first real encounter with Lucien Devereaux."
And somehow, she had the terrible feeling it wouldn't be her last.
Collin extended a hand toward her. Bridgette looked at it, hesitating.
Memories flooded her mind. Her past obsession. Her selfishness. She clung to him, believing his kindness meant more. But he wasn't hers to begin with. Not really. Not when his heart was already belongs to Anabella.
She couldn't take his hand. Not this time.
Instead, she pushed herself up on her own. "I'm fine. Lucien didn't do anything to me," she said firmly.
She turned to leave, but Collin gently caught her wrist. "Bridgette... is something wrong?"
His voice was soft. Familiar. Concerned. The same voice that had once made her heart flutter.
But now... it didn't.
Bridgette smiled—small, polite, but distant. "I'm fine," she said. "Please don't worry about me."
And with that, she walked away.
Cassie and Isabel rushed after her, their voices buzzing in her ears.
"Bridgette, are you serious? You just walked away from Collin!" Cassie gasped.
Isabel narrowed her eyes. "You've been obsessed with him for years. What's going on?"
Bridgette didn't answer.
She kept walking, her chest tight with emotions she couldn't quite name.
Because for the first time in a long time...
She wasn't sure if she had ever really loved Collin.
Or if she had only loved the idea of him.
Meanwhile
As Lucien walked, his hands in his pockets, Lucien glanced down at the hand that had just held her waist. His fingers twitched slightly, as if remembering the warmth of her body pressed against him. His brows furrowed ever so slightly, but he quickly shook the thought away.
Instead, he continued towards his favorite place in the school—the old rooftop where no one dared to go. It was the one place he could be alone, where he could breathe without the suffocating expectations of his family or the watchful eyes of judgmental students.
But just as he turned the corner, he caught sight of Bridgette through the large window overlooking the front of the school.
She was walking towards her car, her posture rigid, her head slightly bowed. He noticed the way her hands clenched into fists at her sides, as if she were fighting back emotions that threatened to spill over.
Lucien scoffed under his breath, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets. "Tch. What a drama queen."
Yet, for some reason, he found himself lingering for just a moment longer before finally heading to the rooftop.