When Ridiculous Plans Lead to Real Laughter

Lucian's POV:

The room hummed with a restless energy as the group went back and forth about Ryker's ridiculous idea. Spin the bottle? Really? This was their grand strategy to figure out what happened to Aria in the infirmary?

Kai, Nico, and Sofia were out to bring Aria here, completely on board with Ryker's nonsense. I couldn't believe how quickly they all agreed.

"She's not going to fall for this," I muttered, my tone laced with irritation. "She's smart, too smart for something this juvenile. She'll know exactly what you're trying to do."

Ryker shrugged, utterly unbothered. “She’s not going to tell us directly, and you’ve seen it yourself—in the infirmary. Whatever it is, she’s keeping it locked up tight.” He leaned forward slightly, his gaze steady. “It’s worth a shot. Besides, you’ve got a better idea?”

“I know she’ll never tell us what she’s hiding,” I said finally, my voice low and steady, “but this ridiculous idea isn’t going to help either. And if she confronts you all for pulling something like this, it’ll be worse. She’s not the kind of person who lets things slide, and you know it.”

Esme broke in, her tone overly confident. “Relax, Lucian. We’ve got it under control. Calen and I will use our powers to stop the bottle exactly where we want. She won’t even realize what’s happening.”

Calen smirked like he’d already won, his arms folded as he leaned casually against the table. “We’ll trap her. Easy.”

Esme, tossing her hair over her shoulder, added with that grating self-assurance, “She’ll think it’s all chance. Meanwhile, we’ll get the truth.”

Their smugness was almost amusing. Almost. I arched an eyebrow, glancing at them both. “You really think you can outmaneuver her?” My voice was calm, clipped, and carried just enough of a challenge to make Calen’s smirk falter.

“It’s a solid plan,” Esme shot back, her confidence flickering for just a second under my gaze. “She won’t see it coming.”

I leaned back against the wall, crossing my arms. “You’re all so confident, it’s almost adorable. But here’s the problem—you’re assuming she’s as oblivious as you are. She’s not. She’ll sense something’s off before you even start.”

Esme stiffened, her jaw tightening, but she didn’t dare argue further. Calen glanced at her for backup, but she stayed quiet, unwilling to press her luck.

“Lucian, it’ll work,” Ryker said, his tone slightly more careful than usual. He knew better than to come at me with his usual cockiness. “She might suspect something, but she’s not going to walk out. She’s too curious.”

I shifted my gaze to him, my expression flat. “Curiosity doesn’t make her naive. If this blows up in your faces, don’t expect me to clean up the mess.”

Dante, spoke up next. “Lucian, we just need her to play the game long enough for the plan to work. Even if she senses something, we’ll handle it.” His tone was calm but edged with a hint of nervousness, as if he was testing how far he could push.

Lila added quickly, “We’re not trying to corner her. It’s just... a nudge. She won’t overthink it. She likes challenges.”

I shot them both a look, and they fell silent. My gaze lingered on Dante for a moment longer, making it clear I wasn’t interested in more excuses.

Esme, however, couldn’t help herself. “We know what we’re doing, Lucian,” she said, but the crack in her voice betrayed her. “Just trust us.”

Trust? I let out a humorless chuckle. “You think trust will make up for a lack of strategy? The only reason I’m letting this play out is because I’m curious how spectacularly you’ll fail.”

Finally, Zane, who had been silently observing, spoke up. “I also know it’s not a good idea,” he said carefully, his tone measured, “but if it works, at least we’ll get to know what she’s going through.”

I looked at Zane, the weight of his words sinking in. He wasn’t trying to justify it like the others—just stating a truth.

Before I could say more, a sharp knock at the door silenced me. The room stilled for a moment before Zane moved to answer it. Sofia swept in, practically glowing with excitement. Nico and Kai followed, but my attention locked on the moment Aria stepped inside.

Esme and Calne exchanged a quick glance, their earlier confidence now tinged with uncertainty. Dante and Lila avoided looking at me altogether.

Let them try their little plan. Aria wasn’t the type to be cornered, and I had no doubt she’d make fools of them all.

Her expression was carefully composed, but I could see the cracks beneath the surface. The way her lips pressed together, like she was physically holding back words. The faint tremor in her hands betrayed her, and her usually bright, sharp eyes flickered with unease, as though she was battling something within herself.

She paused just inside the doorway, her gaze sweeping over the room. I watched as her eyes widened slightly, a flicker of awe crossing her face.

She liked my room.

The thought hit me unexpectedly, and before I could stop myself, a small smile curved my lips. She looked at the dark walls, the shelves lined with books, and the expansive view from the floor-to-ceiling windows. For a brief moment, she seemed... softer, her usual guardedness slipping away.

But the moment didn't last.

Ryker's voice cut through the air, breaking the spell. "So," he said, his tone teasing, "what do you think of the room?"

"I love it," she said simply, her voice soft but certain.

Her words shouldn't have affected me, but they did. I was practically grinning now, though I tried to hide it.

Zane, ever the instigator, grinned and leaned forward. "Do you know whose room this is?"

The air seemed to shift, and I held my breath, waiting for her answer.

"Lucian," she said instantly.

The room froze. Everyone turned to stare at her—me included. My heartbeat quickened, though I kept my expression neutral.

Calen, narrowed his eyes. "How do you know?" he asked sharply. "You've never been here before. How could you possibly know?"

She hesitated, and for the first time since she entered, her composure wavered. Her gaze darted around the room, her fingers fidgeting briefly at her sides. Then, slowly, her eyes met mine.

I felt a jolt of something I couldn't name as our gazes locked.

I smirked, leaning back against the wall. She wasn't getting out of this so easily.

"Well?" I drawled, my voice low and smooth. "How do you know, Aria?"

She faltered for a moment, clearly debating what to say. I could see the gears turning in her mind, the faint crease between her brows as she tried to come up with an explanation.

Finally, she straightened her shoulders, her expression shifting to one of calm confidence.

"Well, it's not exactly a secret," she said, her tone light but deliberate. "This is Vortex Academy, and if there's a room that stands out like this, it's only logical to assume it belongs to Lucian Vortex." She deliberately emphasized my last name, her words sharp and precise.

Zane chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Fair point," he said.

The others seemed to buy her explanation, their tense postures relaxing. But I wasn't convinced.

My smirk deepened as I watched her carefully. She wasn't just guessing—I was certain of it. There was something else at play here, something she wasn't telling us.

She suddenly spoke, her voice softer than I'd ever heard it. "Look... about earlier. I'm sorry for the way I acted. You were only trying to help, and I pushed you away. That wasn't fair to any of you."

From what I knew of her, she wasn't the type to hurt people intentionally. She was always the first to stand up for her friends, even when the odds were against her. Her outburst in the infirmary had been... unlike her. It lingered in my mind like an unsolved riddle.

Lila was the first to speak, her tone warm and reassuring. "Aria, you don't have to apologize. We know you're dealing with a lot, and we're not holding it against you."

Esme nodded in agreement, offering a small, understanding smile. "She's right. Just... don't bottle everything up, okay? We're here to help, whether you like it or not."

Calen crossed his arms, his teasing smirk softening his words. "Honestly, you've got nothing to apologize for. But if you're planning to keep secrets, at least make them a bit less obvious next time."

Dante chuckled, his smirk playful. "What they're saying is, you're forgiven. But if you pull another stunt like that, don't be surprised if we gang up on you—out of love, of course."

Their playful banter seemed to lighten the tension, and I could see the smallest trace of a smile tugging at Aria's lips. But then her gaze found mine. There was something in her eyes—regret, perhaps? Or maybe uncertainty. I couldn't look away. It wasn't just her apology that lingered between us; it was the unspoken understanding that, no matter what, she would never hurt someone deliberately.

I thought back to the girl who had stood up on her first day, challenging a powerful fire elemental to defend someone she barely knew. That was Aria. Not the one who had lashed out in the infirmary. Something had been wrong with her then, and even though her words had stung, I knew they hadn't come from the real her.

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For a moment, it felt like the world had gone quiet, leaving just the two of us in that shared silence. But then Nico, as always, had to ruin it. He stepped in front of her, grinning like an idiot.

“Our friendship is not that weak to break with your silly outburst,” he said, pulling her into a tight hug.

And that was it. I didn’t know what bubble of irritation rose within me, but it burned hotter than I cared to admit. Nico’s easy closeness to her always grated on my nerves—his effortless charm, his stupid grin, the way she laughed a little too easily around him. It was infuriating.

Before I could think better of it, my gaze locked onto the cane resting innocently on the table. The idea struck almost instinctively. Summoning my air elemental, I sent it hurtling toward him with just enough force to make my point.

The cane struck him square on the head.

"Ouch! What the hell?" Nico groaned, clutching his head as he staggered back, his expression caught somewhere between pain and confusion.

Aria stared, wide-eyed and baffled. The others looked around in shock, unsure of what had just happened.

Nico straightened, rubbing his forehead and glancing suspiciously at everyone. "Who did that? That cane really hurts!"

Sofia burst out laughing, her voice light with amusement. "Maybe the cane loves you, Nico. It practically threw itself at you!"

Zane's gaze flicked to me, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. "I guess the cane's got a thing for Nico," he quipped, his tone dripping with mischief.

I met his gaze, and though I could tell he knew exactly what had happened, I didn't care. I leaned back against the wall, a satisfied grin playing on my face. At least that blasted cane had gotten Nico away from her.

He was lucky it was just a cane—and not a flaming torch or an entire bookshelf.

"So," Aria asked, her tone laced with skepticism, "what are we doing here, anyway?"

Ryker, who was already raiding the snack stash, barely looked up. Typical. He shrugged casually and said, "Just chilling. Playing some games."

Her eyebrow arched. "Games? What kind of games?"

Before Ryker could dig himself deeper, Lila cut in with a grin so mischievous it should've been illegal. "You'll see soon enough. But first, everyone take a seat!"

The group scrambled like eager kids, flopping onto futon cushions or sitting cross-legged on the floor. I stayed where I was, watching the chaos unfold. Honestly, I wasn't in the mood for this idiotic plan, but if there was even a slim chance it worked, I had to go along with it. With a resigned sigh, I moved to sit in the circle. Of course, the spot beside me was conveniently left empty.

Aria stood there, clearly confused, her eyes darting between us. Calen broke the awkward silence, calling out to her.

"Aria, come sit!" He patted the empty space next to me like it was the most obvious choice.

I tilted my head slightly, curious. Would she sit beside me? Part of me wanted her to. The other part—the part that usually kept a firm grip on my emotions—warned me not to care. But I did care.

After a moment of hesitation, she walked over and lowered herself into the seat beside me. I noticed the subtle tension in her shoulders, the way she seemed to be bracing herself. She was holding something back—something big. I snapped out of my thoughts when Nico grabbed a bottle from the study table and set it in the center of the circle.

Her eyes widened as realization hit her. "Are you serious?" she asked, incredulous. "We're playing this? We're not kids anymore!"

A low chuckle escaped me, unbidden. Of course, she'd think this was ridiculous—because it was.

"You and Lucian are the same, huh? He said the same thing," Zane teased, his smirk aimed squarely at me.

I met her gaze as she turned to look at me. My lips curved into a grin, and I leaned forward slightly. "And we're right. Who even plays these games anymore?"

Dante stretched out lazily, a smug grin on his face. "Come on, you two. We're just trying to act like normal students for once. Have some fun."

Esme chimed in, her voice overly enthusiastic. "He's right. Ever since I got here, it's been all classes, combat practice, and assignments. My life's become so boring. I need this."

I blinked at her theatrics, struggling not to laugh. Were they all secretly auditioning for a drama club? The way they were laying it on thick to manipulate her was almost impressive.

Aria sighed, her resistance wearing thin. Finally, she shook her head and said, "Fine. But what happens when the bottle stops on someone?"

I glanced at Ryker, who was smirking at me like he'd just won a bet. His expression practically screamed, See? My idea is working. I rolled my eyes. It wasn't going to go the way he thought. I was sure of it.

Kai leaned forward with a smirk. "You'll find out soon enough."

As the bottle spun, I couldn't help but recall Ryker's plan—the ridiculous, overconfident idea that he, Calen, and Esme had cooked up. Ryker had even grinned at me, declaring, "She won't even notice. Trust me, Lucian."

But now, watching her, I knew better. Her eyes were locked on the bottle, sharp and calculating. There was no way she hadn't figured it out. The way her gaze flicked briefly to Esme, then to Calen, it was obvious—she was on to them. And knowing Aria, she wasn't about to let them play her for a fool. I had told them—repeatedly—that she was too smart to fall for their pathetic little plan.

Sure enough, the bottle spun past her and stopped in front of Lila. For a moment, there was silence. I didn't even need to look at Aria to know she'd caught on—her posture, her steady focus, it all screamed, Nice try.

Esme and Calen looked like they wanted to vanish into thin air, their earlier smugness replaced by awkward smiles. Ryker, on the other hand, looked utterly devastated. His face was priceless—half frustration, half disbelief, and entirely too funny to ignore.

I let a slow smirk stretch across my face. So much for that brilliant plan, I thought, my gaze sliding to Aria. She wasn't saying anything, but the faint quirk of her lips told me she was enjoying their failed attempt as much as I was.

"Well, Lila, looks like you're our first target," she said with a grin, her voice dripping with the kind of mischief that had everyone else scrambling. I could practically feel the change in the room—Aria had just turned the tables, and I had no doubt it was going to be a ride.

As I watched the others react, I knew they were trying to play it cool, but I could see the way their eyes flicked between Aria and the bottle. They'd underestimated her, and now they were going to pay for it.

Sofia, clearly relishing the moment, leaned toward Lila. "So, what do you want to choose? Truth or dare?"

Lila didn't flinch, but there was a momentary pause before she chose truth. I could tell she was trying to play along, but there was a flicker of doubt in her eyes. She wasn't ready for what was coming.

Ryker, as if trying to take control, leaned forward with his possessive tone. "How many boyfriends have you had before?"

Lila didn't hesitate. "I had one. It didn't last long—more than two months. We weren't serious."

Ryker's face tightened, but Lila didn't miss a beat. She threw in a kiss on his cheek, just enough to throw him off balance. "Don't take it to heart, Ryker. It wasn't serious."

I couldn't help but grin. Watching Ryker's confidence crack like that was amusing. But before anyone could dwell on it, Nico jumped in, taking charge and spinning the bottle with all the enthusiasm of someone who didn't have a care in the world.

The bottle spun with a mind of its own, and I saw Calen stiffen, clearly focused on trying to control the game. But then I saw Aria's smile—she wasn't going to let them win so easily. I could see her calculating the spins in her head. When the bottle stopped at Calen, I bit back a laugh. She had deliberately made that happen.

"What?!" Calen exclaimed, looking between the bottle and her like it had betrayed him. "No way. How—?"

Aria grinned like the cat who got the cream. "Oh, would you look at that! The bottle's spoken, Calen. Fate has chosen you."

I settled back, watching with an amused smirk. Aria was having too much fun with this, and I was enjoying every second of it. The others were chuckling, but I could see the gears turning in Calen's head. He was trying to figure out how it had all gone wrong.

Aria tilted her head slightly, resting her chin on her hand, her smirk growing. "So, what's it going to be, Calen? Truth or dare?"

For a second, he hesitated, his bravado slipping. "Dare," he finally declared, attempting confidence, though his voice betrayed a faint tremble.

Her grin widened, almost predatory. "Alright, Calen, here's your dare: stand up, do three chicken dances, and end it with your best opera impression."

The room erupted into laughter. I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from laughing outright. I mean, this? This was absurdly brilliant. Aria's brain must be wired differently to come up with something this ridiculous on the spot.

Calen’s eyes widened in disbelief. "You're joking, right?"

She tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. "Do I look like I'm joking? If you're not up for it, what's the point of playing this game?" Her words dripped with teasing finality, clearly meant to provoke.

But before she could go far, Esme cut in with a wicked grin. "Come on, Calen, it's just a bit of fun. Unless you're scared of a little dare..."

I glanced at Aria, she was playing this like it was a game of royal politics, except instead of a kingdom, she had a circle of friends. The way she effortlessly baited Calen? It reminded me of my mother, Amariel Vortex, the queen of feigned innocence and sly maneuvers. Whenever there was a crisis in the kingdom, she’d smile sweetly, spin the narrative, and leave her opponents tangled in their own schemes.

And here was Aria, practically channeling her energy. Could she really be... a queen in the making? The thought hit me, and I froze, realizing where my mind had wandered. What am I thinking?

Calen groaned dramatically, throwing his head back like the weight of the world had landed squarely on his shoulders. "Alright, alright, I'll do it. But remember, this is war. I'm coming for all of you."

Of course, you are, I thought with an internal smirk. First, you wanted to fool her, and now, here you are, about to do a chicken dance in my room. This is poetic justice at its finest.

Reluctantly, Calen rose, the circle clapping and cheering as he prepared for his fate.

With exaggerated movements, he began flapping his arms. "Bawk-bawk-bawk!" His voice cracked as he hopped in place, wiggling his hips in an awkward, erratic rhythm.

The sight was too much. He wasn’t just doing the chicken dance—he was committing to it like it was some grand, theatrical performance.

"Bawk-baaaawwk!" he squawked again, this time spinning in a circle like a dizzy, deranged chicken.

The room was a complete mess of laughter. Dante was nearly rolling on the floor, Sofia was clutching Zane’s arm as tears streamed down her face, and Kai was wiping his eyes, trying to breathe.

Aria was beside me, clutching her stomach as laughter spilled out of her like music. Her smile—it was like a burst of sunlight breaking through a storm. Since waking up in the infirmary, she hadn’t looked like herself. But now? She was radiant, and for reasons I couldn’t fully understand, seeing her like this made something inside me feel... lighter.

Ryker’s idea may have been ridiculous—completely foolish, even—and it hadn’t worked out the way they hoped. But at least it made her laugh, and for that, I couldn’t entirely hate it.

Warmth spread through me as I watched her laugh, her head tilting back slightly, completely unguarded. It wasn’t the sharp, sarcastic smile she wore like armor—it was real, and I couldn’t look away.

And then she leaned into me, her shoulder brushing mine, grounding me in the moment. My hand instinctively reached out to steady her, landing gently on her arm. What was I doing? My chest tightened, heat crawling up my neck.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. I wasn’t supposed to feel this. But as her laughter rang out again, I found myself thinking... maybe it wasn’t so bad.

Calen groaned, shaking his head like a condemned man walking to his fate. Still, he took a dramatic pose, one hand pressed to his chest and the other raised in theatrical flair. "La-la-LAAAA!" he warbled, his voice cracking so badly on the high note it sounded like a dying animal.

I leaned back, trying to steady myself, but the sound of that horrendous "opera" kept replaying in my head. It was so absurdly bad that even I couldn’t suppress the rare bubble of amusement that slipped past my composure. I never imagined I’d find myself in my own room, subjected to this. It was chaos, pure and simple.

My amusement faltered when I glanced at Aria again. She was looking at me now, her gaze steady and unwavering. The world seemed to narrow, the laughter of the others fading into a distant hum as her blue eyes locked on mine. Something surged in my chest, unbidden and unwelcome. It wasn’t just the way she looked at me—it was the way I felt when she did.

She straightened up abruptly, pulling away from that invisible thread between us. The moment was gone, and something inside me felt hollow, as if she'd taken all the air with her when she looked away.

That emptiness twisted into something sharper—need, maybe. No, it was more than that. I needed to understand her, to know what it was about her that made her so infuriatingly magnetic. She had answers to questions I hadn’t even known I was asking, and I wouldn’t stop until I found them.

Nico’s voice cut through the lingering haze, his snickers still audible. "Let’s keep it moving before Calen decides to break out into an entire musical number."

Calen groaned loudly, which only set everyone off again, but I barely noticed. My focus had already shifted back to her, to the way she laughed, the way she carried herself, and the way I couldn’t seem to look away.

Nico spun the bottle with a flourish, watching it glide smoothly across the floor. It slowed to a stop, and for a heartbeat, everything seemed to freeze. My eyes followed the path of the bottle as it pointed directly at me.

I raised an eyebrow, my gaze flicking to Aria, who, to my surprise, was smirking at me. That smirk, a challenge, as if she was daring me to play along.

Oh, so now she wants to play with me, huh? I couldn’t help the small, dark thrill that surged through me at the thought. Fine. If she was going to push, I’d be ready to see just how far she was willing to go.