<h4>Chapter 95: The Top Scorers</h4>
<strong>Evaline:</strong>
If someone had told mest weekend that the following days would pass without any drama, I would haveughed in their face. But here I was, Friday evening, five whole dayster and not a single emotional explosion, argument, or surprise ambush by any of the Rogue Alpha brothers.
Well, except Draven.
But even he had been... different.
After Sunday night, I was expecting him to slip back into his usual teasing, overly forward self. Yet, despite seeing him every single evening in the library, he kept his promise.
He didn’t hover. He didn’t push. He just existed like a quiet, consistent presence at the front desk of the library - checking in books, organizing the archive shelves, and asionally waving at me with a bright smile when I entered and left the ce.
And I couldn’t lie... it surprised me.
<fn5443> For original chapters go to fινdnοvel</fn5443>
Maybe I was underestimating him. Maybe beneath all that smug confidence and flirtatious bravado was someone who genuinely wanted to do better.
By Wednesday, his presence stopped bothering me. In fact, it even started to feel normal, like part of my routine. I would take my spot by the window in the far corner on second floor, light a small studymp, sip on the water, and do my work while he quietly moved about.
He only approached me once all week.
Thursday evening, I was organizing my history notes when I heard the soft thud of a book being ced on the table.
"Herbs and Healing Through the Ages. Thought this might help with your next essay," he said.
I nced up. "Thanks."
He nodded, gave me a soft smile, and walked away.
That was it. No unnecessary words. No lingering stares. Just quiet help, respectfully offered.
The only time he actually <i>pestered</i> me was in-game.
<strong>Draven</strong>: <i>Come on, Eva. You have reached level 25! Join my Co-op team already.</i>
<strong>Draven:</strong><i>It’s</i><i>Team Darkfang</i>. <i>We are number one for a reason. Don’t make me beg.</i>
<strong>Draven</strong>: <i>Okay, I’m begging. PLEASE. We need your strategy brain for the next tournament.</i>
I chuckled when I read his messages.
It turned out that he was the leader of the top-ranked team in the town-building game we started ying together. He took it very seriously. Daily logins, coordinated side missions, tournament schedules - it was more intense than I expected. But it was fun. More fun than I’d had in a while.
So, after a bit of teasing on my part, I finally epted his invitation. His victory message was a barrage of celebratory stickers and virtual confetti.
Despite myself, I was smiling more this week, especially on Wednesday.
The quiz results were announced and I nearly dropped my toast when I saw the top scorers posted on the notice board in the main hallway.
Evaline – 100/100
Kyros Graves – 100/100
Celine Warter - 98/100
Nadine Parker - 97/100
Rowan Bane – 94/100
Kyros let out a sigh of satisfaction before speaking, "Tied with you at the top. As it should be."
"Should I feel threatened?" I teased.
"Maybe just a little."
But the real surprise was Rowan.
He shrugged when we pointed at his name. "Guess I got lucky."
"Rowan," I narrowed my eyes. "Don’t even pretend. You <i>studied</i>."
He smirked in response. "Might hve. Just a bit. And the credit goes to you."
I shook my head before speaking, "Don’t push the credit to me. You did a great job this time." I was indeed happy about his achievement, even proud. Not only he listened to me and appeared for the quiz, but even made it in top five.
Mallory and Selene nodded their heads in agreement to my words, and thetter voiced out her appreciation for him. "Okay, now he’s hot and smart."
It felt good to share a win with my friends. It was like a tiny bubble of normalcy in a sea of chaos.
Kieran did congratte us during his ss, and though he <i>did</i> nce my way a few times, we didn’t exchange any direct words. But I did notice the look in his eyes that I failed to decipher. It was something quiet, almost regretful. But he never approached me.
And I wasn’t sure if I was relieved or disappointed.
After the results, he canceled our sses for the rest of the week, iming that he was caught up with something important. But he made sure to leave us with ample amount of homework.
I spent the better part of every evening working throughplicated potion analysis essays, herb mapping diagrams, and cross-referencing medicinal history.
Still... the silence was appreciated.
Since it were weekdays, I was saved from River’s annoying presence in my life. And Oscar - well, I spotted him once, walking through the Academy halls with a couple of other instructors and professors.
Part of me was grateful for the brothers’ absence and the distance they had kept from me over the week.
I needed this space. This breath of calm to gather myself. But this peace finally shattered Friday evening.
I just submitted my History project to Professor Elira and was walking back to the dorms. Since the sses were over, the hallway was empty and quiet. Thete afternoon light was filtering through the tall windows, casting long golden shadows on the marble floor.
Just as I turned a corner, I ended up nearly running into <i>him</i>.
Oscar.
He was alone. Dressed in a blue shirt and white pants. As his emerald gaze locked on mine, I almost forgot to breathe.
Before I could have said a word, before I could have reacted, he reached out and wrapped his hand around my wrist. Not painfully, not harshly... but firmly.
"Oscar-what-"
"We need to talk."
And then we were walking. We didn’t stop until he had pulled me into the nearest empty ssroom and closed the door behind us.
The room was dim, filled with old desks and covered boards, abandoned for the evening. My heart was pounding in my chest as I stepped back, creating that much-needed space between us.