A Kiss of Reputations and Teasing

Arvanya's POV:

The dormitory courtyard was eerily silent, the tension thick in the air as we scrambled for cover.

Nico dove behind a wooden bench, pressing himself against it as if he could melt into the shadows. Dante barely managed to crouch behind a tall, decorative planter filled with trimmed shrubs, his fingers gripping the rim as he peeked over cautiously.

Esme slipped behind a large potted plant, its thick leaves concealing her presence. The rustling of the leaves masked the sound of her breath as she peered out, staying as still as possible. Kai and Calen flattened themselves against a lamppost, standing so still they might have been mistaken for statues.

I ducked behind a wrought-iron trellis covered in vines, heart hammering as I stole a glance toward the courtyard entrance.

Then, the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps echoed across the stone pathway.

A shadow stretched under the lamplight.

Someone had entered.

We were all desperately trying to stay hidden, but as I glanced around, I nearly lost it.

Everyone had the same brilliant strategy—shutting their eyes as if that would magically make them invisible. If we weren't in a serious situation, I would've burst out laughing at the sight of them.

Then, the sound of footsteps grew closer.

A familiar scent filled the air. My stomach dropped.

No. Not again.

Of all people, it had to be him.

Lucian.

How does this even happen? Why does he always catch me in these kinds of situations? And does he even sleep? He's always up at night, lurking around like a—like a damn nocturnal predator.

He stopped, his gaze landing on Calen and Kai, who were ridiculously squished behind the lamppost like two overgrown kids playing hide and seek.

Lucian raised a brow, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Really? A lamppost? That's the best you could come up with?"

Kai sighed and straightened up. "It was short notice, okay?"

Calen just groaned, rubbing his temples like he was questioning all his life choices.

Lucian's smirk widened as his gaze swept over the courtyard, locking onto each of my friends one by one.

First, he spotted Esme, who had attempted to squeeze herself behind a potted plant that was way too small to hide anything but a squirrel. With her hands awkwardly pressed against the pot, she looked like she was contemplating merging with the leaves.

Lucian crossed his arms. "Blending in with nature, Esme? Impressive. Maybe if you stay really still, you'll photosynthesize."

Esme huffed, stepping out with a glare.

Next, his eyes flickered to Nico, who was crouched behind a stone bench. Except he hadn't accounted for the fact that his entire upper body was still in plain sight.

Lucian tilted his head. "Ah, yes. The classic 'if I can't see you, you can't see me' strategy. Bold choice, Nico."

Nico muttered something under his breath and reluctantly stood up, his jaw clenched.

Lucian's gaze shifted to Dante, still crouched behind the planter. He gave a low chuckle as he walked over to him. "Dante, if you're trying to hide, you might want to pick a spot where you don't look like an accidental garden decoration."

Dante straightened up, looking far too proud of his awkward hiding spot. "I thought the plan was to blend in with the... foliage."

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Well, you're certainly adding some charm to the shrubbery. Though I'm afraid you don't quite match the vibe."

His eyes then landed on me. I swallowed hard. Unlike the others, I had managed to hide behind a trellis draped in vines, pressing myself as close as possible to stay out of sight.

For a second, I thought—just maybe—I was safe.

Then Lucian walked toward me, his boots echoing in the courtyard.

I slowly peeked through the gaps in the vines.

Big mistake.

He was already staring down at me, his arms crossed, an amused glint in his eyes.

I sighed, standing up with whatever dignity I had left.

He raised an eyebrow. "And here I thought you'd be better at this, Ms. Collins."

I scowled. "Oh, shut up."

Lucian just smirked, shaking his head. "You lot are terrible at sneaking around."

We all exchanged looks, realizing the inevitable. We'd been caught.

Esme groaned. "This is so unfair."

Dante muttered, "Next time, we come up with an actual plan."

Kai sighed. "Yeah, and maybe find better hiding spots."

Lucian chuckled. "Or, hear me out... don't get caught."

Then his smirk faded, his sharp eyes narrowing as he took a step closer. His voice turned cold, laced with suspicion.

"Now, tell me—what are you all doing here so late in the courtyard?"

Silence.

We all exchanged glances, silently pleading for someone to come up with a decent excuse. But for a painfully long moment, nobody spoke.

Lucian's gaze darkened. "I asked a question," he said, his tone firmer this time.

Nico suddenly cleared his throat. "Actually, today is me, Dante, and Kai's first day at the academy, and, uh... we couldn't sleep. So we thought we'd wander around the courtyard for a bit."

Lucian's eyes flickered between them, unreadable.

Nico continued, his voice steady, "Then Esme and Aria saw us from their balcony and decided to come down and join us."

Lucian raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with skepticism. "Oh, did they? Quite the coincidence."

Esme immediately nodded, stepping forward. "Yeah! We saw them just standing around, and we figured, why not keep them company?" She forced a smile, her voice way too cheerful.

Dante crossed his arms and chimed in, "Right. I mean, it's not against the rules to be in the courtyard, is it? It wasn't that much time, anyway."

Kai gave an awkward chuckle. "Exactly. We just... kinda lost track of time talking."

Lucian's gaze shifted to Calen, his suspicion deepening. "And what about you? How did you end up here?"

Calen stiffened slightly, but before he could even attempt an excuse, Esme quickly jumped in. "I called him," she blurted out. "Yeah, I asked him to come join us."

Lucian's sharp gaze lingered on her for a moment, then swept over all of us. He crossed his arms, clearly not convinced.

"So let me get this straight—you're all just... out here, in the middle of the night, talking?" His voice carried a distinct edge of doubt.

Kai stepped forward, forcing a casual shrug. "After some time, we were going to head back inside, but then a dorm staff member came in. We hid from her, but when she left... she locked the courtyard." He sighed dramatically. "So, yeah... we were stuck here."

Dante nodded in agreement, arms crossed. "It's not like we planned to camp out here all night."

Esme added quickly, "Yeah, we were just trying to avoid getting caught."

Lucian's expression remained unreadable as he glanced between all of us, clearly weighing our words. His jaw tensed, and for a moment, I thought he was going to call us out on the lie.

He let out a slow exhale, shaking his head in disbelief. Then, his eyes locked onto mine, sharp and unwavering.

"If that dorm staff member had seen you all, you'd be in big trouble. Do you know that?" His voice was firm, but there was an undeniable edge of irritation.

His gaze swept over everyone before settling back on me. "Especially you," he added, his tone dropping slightly.

I swallowed hard, already knowing what was coming.

"I told you—Vortex Academy is different from the others," he continued, his voice laced with frustration. "But you didn't listen. And not only that, you didn't even bother telling them you also joined in."

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words stuck in my throat. He wasn't wrong, but the way he was looking at me—like I was some kind of trouble magnet—made my stomach twist.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The others shifted uncomfortably, the weight of Lucian's words sinking in. No one dared to speak.

Kai said "She did tell us," he said smoothly. "But we thought nothing would happen."

Lucian's jaw tightened, his piercing gaze locking onto me. "So, you didn't take her seriously?" His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.

He took a step closer, eyes sweeping over all of us. "Do you even realize where you are? In Vortex Academy, mistakes aren't taken lightly. You can get expelled for something as minor as this."

His gaze sharpened. "And in case you all forgot, roaming the courtyard this late isn’t just against the rules—it’s dangerous. The forest is right next to the academy, especially near the dormitory courtyard, and there are things out there that even you wouldn’t want to run into. If a rule exists, it’s for a reason. Try following it."

I crossed my arms, refusing to look away. "Okay, I get it. And they get it too. So can you not give us a lecture? It’s not like we murdered someone."

As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt Esme and Calen tense beside me. Their wide eyes screamed, Are you insane?

I ignored them, keeping my gaze on Lucian. His expression darkened, his jaw ticking like he was deciding whether to snap at me or just throw me out himself.

Before he could say anything, I quickly changed the subject. "Anyway... why were you out here so late?"

Lucian stared at me for a long moment, then exhaled through his nose. "I saw you all standing near the door from my balcony. Thought I'd come see what kind of stupidity you were up to this time."

Calen let out a relieved sigh. "Thank god you did. Otherwise, we'd be stuck here till morning. And that would have been risky."

With that, the whole conversation shifted.

I clapped my hands together. "Alright, enough talking. We should leave before someone actually catches us."

Lucian just shook his head, but I caught the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes as we all moved toward the exit.

As we hurried through the corridors, holding our breath and making sure no one spotted us, I found myself walking at the back with Lucian. The others were ahead, moving as quietly as possible.

Then, out of nowhere, Lucian spoke in a low voice, just for me to hear.

"I told you not to leave your room and wander around the academy. It's not good for you," he said, his tone firm but not angry. "But you didn't listen. If you keep doing this, you'll get expelled one day, or worse, be in big trouble.""

I glanced up at him, surprised by the shift in his voice. He wasn't just scolding me—there was something else there. Concern. Worry.

For a second, I didn't know what to say.

Then, I met his gaze and gave him a small, reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I won't do it again."

His eyes searched mine for a moment, as if trying to decide if I was telling the truth. But he said nothing more, just nodded slightly before looking ahead.

Finally, we all exchanged quick goodnights before parting ways. I glanced at Lucian one last time before turning toward my dorm. His expression was unreadable, but he gave a small nod before heading in the opposite direction.

As soon as we stepped into our room, Esme let out a deep breath and immediately pulled off her hoodie over her head. She tossed it onto her bed and grabbed a pair of loose sweatpants and a soft oversized shirt, quickly changing into more comfortable clothes.

I did the same, pulling off my shoes and swapping my outfit for my coziest nightwear. The exhaustion was finally hitting me like a wave, and all I wanted was to crash onto my bed.

Esme flopped onto her mattress, stretching out with a groan. "Thank the elements it was Lucian and not the dorm staff," she muttered. "And at least he didn't suspect us too much—otherwise, we'd be in serious trouble."

I let out a tired chuckle, running a hand through my hair. "That night felt endless. Now, I just want to sleep. If we don't make it to class tomorrow, we'll definitely get expelled for skipping."

Esme groaned in agreement, already pulling her blanket over her head.

I sighed, sinking into my bed. As exhausted as I was, my mind lingered on everything that had happened—especially Lucian's words. But sleep claimed me before I could think too much, and the chaos of the night finally faded into silence.

Morning came too soon. I barely got any sleep, my mind tangled in endless thoughts. If my friends couldn't see the place directly, how could they help me? And if I couldn't figure out what made it visible to me, how would I ever help those students before it was too late?

The weight of it all pressed on me, making sleep impossible. By the time dawn broke, I was already up, exhaustion buzzing beneath my skin. But I didn't have the luxury to rest—I had to find out more about that strange, hidden place.

With a sigh, I got dressed quickly, brushing off the fatigue that clung to me. Then, I turned to Esme, still tangled in her blanket, snoring softly.

I narrowed my eyes. She wasn't getting out of classes that easily.

"Esme," I called. No response.

I yanked her blanket off. "Get up!"

She groaned, rolling over. "Five more minutes—"

I grabbed a pillow and smacked her with it. "Nope. We're going to class, and you're not skipping!"

Esme sat up with a dramatic whine, rubbing her eyes. "You're evil," she grumbled but finally started getting ready.

Once we were both dressed, we headed for breakfast. The mess hall was already lively with students, and as we stepped inside, we spotted our friends gathered at their usual table.

Nico, Dante, Kai, and Calen were there, along with Lucian, Zane, and Ryker. Sofia and Lila sat next to their mates—Zane and Ryker—who both looked way too comfortable beside them.

As soon as Esme and I sat down, the teasing began.

Nico smirked, leaning forward with mischief in his eyes. "So, Lila, Sofia... did they work hard last night?"

Sofia nearly choked on her drink while Lila gasped dramatically. "Nico!" she smacked his arm, but the laughter bubbling from her betrayed her amusement.

Dante joined in, shaking his head. "Yeah, were they satisfactory?"

Lila, never one to back down, smirked. "Oh, they tried their best. But, you know, some people just can't keep up."

Ryker scoffed, placing a hand over his chest in mock offense. "Excuse me? I'm amazing."

Sofia nudged Zane. "And you? Any words of defense?"

Zane, ever composed, took a slow sip of his drink before replying smoothly, "I always deliver."

Kai let out a whistle. "Oh? Confident, aren't we?"

Esme, trying to contain her giggles, chimed in. "You guys make it sound like they ran a marathon instead of just spending time together."

Nico grinned. "Hey, we're just making sure they weren't slacking."

Lila rolled her eyes. "Trust me, we never slack."

The whole table burst into laughter, even Lucian, who usually remained silent during these chaotic moments, had a faint smirk on his lips.

Just as I was about to grab my drink, I felt a warm gaze on me. I turned slightly and met Lucian's eyes. He was watching me, his expression unreadable.

"Did you even sleep last night?" he asked, his voice low enough that only I could hear.

I blinked, surprised. "Yeah. Why?"

Lucian's eyes narrowed slightly. "You don't look like it."

I scoffed. "Wow, thanks."

He didn't break eye contact. "I'm serious."

I sighed, tapping my fingers on the table. "I just... had a lot on my mind."

Lucian tilted his head slightly as if he wanted to press for more details, but before he could, Calen interrupted loudly.

"Lucian, don't tell me you're actually interested in small talk now."

Lucian shot him a warning glance, Esme smirked. "Oh, let him be. Maybe he's just worried about someone."

I rolled my eyes and shot back, "Not even me. You all look like you didn't sleep last night." I glanced around the table, locking eyes with Kai, Dante, Nico, Calen, and Esme.

Their reactions were immediate. Kai suddenly found his food extremely interesting. Dante rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding my gaze. Nico cleared his throat and casually sipped his drink, while Calen started drumming his fingers on the table like he wasn't paying attention. Esme quickly busied herself with her plate, stabbing at her food like it had personally offended her.

Dante chuckled nervously. "Uh... well, you know... new place, new atmosphere. It takes time to adjust, right?"

"Yeah," Nico jumped in quickly. "And, uh, the beds. Not as comfortable as I expected."

Kai nodded way too fast. "Exactly! I was so restless."

I crossed my arms, raising a brow. "Really? Because I seem to recall all of you looking wide awake last night in the courtyard."

Calen coughed. "Uh, technically, we weren't awake—more like... in a trance?"

Esme clicked his tongue. "Okay, okay, moving on! So, Lucian, what exactly brings you to breakfast so early? You're usually the last to show up."

Lucian, who had been silently watching the exchange with mild amusement, finally leaned back in his chair. "Nice try, but I'm not the one deflecting here."

Esme shrugged. "Hey, worth a shot."

Calen sighed in relief, whispering to me, "We barely dodged that one."

I gave him a look. "Barely."

Before we could relax, Zane, who had just caught the tail end of our conversation, raised an eyebrow. "Courtyard? What were you all doing in the courtyard?"

Lucian exhaled sharply, then smirked. "Oh, actually, some idiots got stuck there last night. It's an interesting story—I’ll tell you later." Then, he turned his gaze directly to me.

I stiffened under his stare, feeling the weight of it settle like a silent challenge. Oh, he was enjoying this way too much. My fingers curled slightly, resisting the urge to cross my arms defensively. Instead, I narrowed my eyes at him, silently daring him to say more. If he thought I was just going to sit here and let him toy with us, he had another thing coming.

Zane and Ryker both looked between us, clearly intrigued but deciding not to push—for now.

Suddenly, I noticed Sofia and Lila staring at us, their eyes narrowed in suspicion. They had definitely caught on that something was off.

I met their gazes and silently mouthed, Later.

Lila raised an eyebrow but nodded slightly, while Sofia folded her arms, clearly not convinced but willing to wait.

As we finished our breakfast, Lucian, Zane, and Ryker stood up.

"It's time for our classes," Lucian announced, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve.

"As seniors, we can't afford to be late," Ryker added, stretching his arms. "Our reputation has to be perfect in the final year."

Zane smirked at Sofia. "I need some good luck for the day."

Before she could respond, he leaned in and kissed her—a soft yet confident kiss that made Sofia's cheeks flush slightly. She quickly regained her composure and playfully smacked his chest. "Now go before you're late, Mr. Perfect Reputation."

Meanwhile, Ryker, ever the smooth talker, cupped Lila's face and kissed her deeply, making her momentarily forget they were still in the middle of the cafeteria. As he pulled back, he grinned. "That should keep you out of trouble for a few hours."

Lila scoffed. "As if."

Across the table, Nico fake gagged. "Ugh, get a room, will you?"

Dante smirked. "Guess last night wasn’t enough for them. Truly, a love story for the ages."

Kai snickered. "Yeah, makes me wanna throw up my breakfast."

Calen chuckled. "At this rate, they're gonna set a new academy record for Most Unnecessary PDA."

Zane shrugged nonchalantly, glancing at the others. "Hey, if we don’t keep the academy entertained, who will?" He shot a teasing look at Ryker. "Besides, someone's gotta show them how it's done."

Ryker laughed, adjusting his collar with a smug grin. "Oh, absolutely. We're basically setting the standard for what love should look like."

I scrunched my nose in exaggerated disgust. "Seriously? Right in front of us?" I muttered. "You two do realize we just ate, right?"

Lucian, who had been silent, scoffed as he adjusted his cuffs. "Pathetic," he muttered. "Can't even say goodbye without making a whole scene."

I raised a brow at him. "Oh? And what about you? Too ruthless to ever kiss someone in public?"

He turned his head slightly to look at me, his sharp eyes glinting with something unreadable. "I don't waste my time on unnecessary displays."

I smirked. "Ah, so you do have a soft side. You're just too proud to show it."

Lucian's expression remained stoic, but I caught the tiniest twitch in his jaw. "You talk too much."

"Hey, someone has to keep things interesting," I teased before turning back to my plate.

Behind me, Nico snickered. "Ooooh, did Aria just get the last word on Prince Lucian?"

Dante laughed. "Mark the date—history has been made."

Ryker smirked. "Guess that's our cue."

Zane chuckled. "Well, that was... something. I guess Lucian’s not used to someone giving him a run for his money."

Lucian let out an exasperated sigh. "Idiots," he muttered under his breath, his gaze sharp as he turned to walk away.

Zane and Ryker followed closely behind him, but Ryker grinned and called out, "Hey, wait for us! At least we weren’t the ones who said anything—it was Aria!"

The group burst into laughter, with Nico’s voice ringing out, "Looks like they're taking the blame for Lucian’s little defeat."

Lucian didn’t respond, his pace steady as Zane and Ryker trailed behind, still chuckling at the exchange.

I also stood up from the table.

"We should leave now," I said, glancing at my friends. "We're freshers, and we have to maintain a good reputation for the upcoming years."

Everyone laughed again and nodded in agreement, and we walked together toward our classes.

As we made our way through the academy halls, I finally told Sofia and Lila everything—about last night, the courtyard, and, most importantly, the place. The one only I could see.

Sofia's expression shifted from curiosity to deep concern. "Wait, so you're telling me none of us could see it, but you could?"

Lila frowned. "That's... weird. And kind of terrifying."

I nodded. "That's why I need to figure it out. If I'm the only one who can see it, then how are we supposed to help those students?"

Sofia and Lila exchanged a glance before Sofia said, "Well, whatever it is, we're not letting you figure it out alone."

Lila nodded. "Yeah, we're in this together. No more sneaking off without us."

A small smile tugged at my lips. "Deal."