Page 10 of Picture Perfect

His hazel eyes dance with amusement as he strolls inside. "Well, well...what do we have here?"

My cheeks flush hotly as I scramble for an excuse. "I...I was just..." But lies fail me. He’s caught me red-handed, defying my regimented diet. If word gets back to Cheryl, there will be hell to pay.

Chess lifts his hands disarmingly. "Hey, no judgment. We all need a secret stash now and then." He winks and leans casually against a desk. "So this is your sanctuary, hm? Cozy."

I frown, thrown by his casual demeanor. He doesn't seem intent on exposing or blackmailing me. But trusting anyone's motives feels dangerous.

"Did you follow me?" I ask carefully.

He shrugs. "I like to know people's hiding spots. Information is power and all that."

I bristle at the implied threat. But before I can respond, he smiles warmly. "Relax, princess. Your secret snack closet is safe with me." He pantomimes locking his lips and tossing the key.

Against my better judgment, I feel myself soften. Perhaps I’ve misjudged him.

My heart is racing. Despite his playful demeanor, there's a sharpness in Chess' eyes that makes me wary. I try to shrug it off, to make light of the situation. But my body feels hot and tight.

"Well, now that you've found my secret snack stash," I say, forcing my voice to sound unaffected. "Is there anything else you wanted?"

"Oh, princess," He takes a step closer until we're only inches apart. I can feel his breath on my face as he leans in to whisper in my ear. "That's a dangerous question."

My whole body tenses up at his words. My mind races and I can feel the panic rising within me. What is happening to me? I've never felt anything like this before.

Hell, I've never felt much of anything at all. It's too dangerous. But, my reaction to Chess is as visceral as my reaction to Dre last night.

I take a deep breath and try to calm myself down. This is just another game for him, another way to manipulate people into getting what he wants. He and his friends have a reputation, one they've more than earned.

But despite my logical reasoning, there's a part of me that wants to believe in Chess. A glimmer of empathy in his eyes that I can't ignore. Maybe, just maybe, he's more than the reputation he wears. Maybe he understands what it's like to be trapped in a web of expectations and secrets.

I shake off the internal struggle and narrow my eyes at him.

"You think you can scare me, Chess?" I say, my voice dripping with defiance.

Chess raises an eyebrow, seemingly amused by my bravado. "Oh, I don't doubt your ability to put up a fight. I think I'd enjoy it."

I reel back at the implication. People didn't speak to me like this. But Chess isn't just anyone. He's different. And that difference, as unsettling as it is, intrigues me.

It's like he can see through the layers of my carefully crafted façade, straight into the depths of my soul. And somewhere deep down, I want to let him in.

But, that's too dangerous. I square my shoulders, ready to take him on when the bell rings, puncturing the moment. Students start to stream past in the hall outside.

"Time for prison, I mean class," he offers a roguish wink that has me wrinkling my nose. "See you around, princess."

I sling my worn backpack over my shoulder and hastily maneuver around him, accidentally brushing against his broad chest. Trying to keep my cool, I quicken my steps and hold my breath as I pass by him.

I'd barely made it a step down the hallway when a hand grips my wrist tightly and yanks me back.

"What the hell do you think you're doing with him?" My brother's voice is like ice, freezing any warmth or emotion within me.

I try to pull away from his grip but he only tightens it, causing a sharp pain to shoot through my arm.

I meet Chess's eyes beyond Wesley's shoulder. I can see the muscles in his neck tense and his jaw clench. Without a word, he turns and strides away from us. My gaze follows his rigid profile as he storms down the hall, shoulders tense and fists clenched at his sides, leaving me standing alone with a heavy weight of disappointment sinking in my chest.

"Let go!" I hiss through gritted teeth.

He finally releases me but not before giving me a shove against the lockers.

"Stay away from him. Do you hear me?" His eyes are full of anger and control, just like our parents'.

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