Casey
Leanna crouches down, helping me slip on my shoes. She helps me untangle my hair, smoothing it down with careful fingers.
She's been putting me together this whole time.
And I feel bad. Bad for all the cruel thoughts I had. Bad for the silent curses I sent her way when I pictured her with Cesar. Bad for the things I prayed would happen to her.
Because, honestly? She doesn't deserve it. She's so nice to me.
Just as the car starts pulling out of the parking lot, she suddenly screams.
"Oh my God, my phone! I forgot my phone!"
Cesar exhales loudly like this is the greatest inconvenience of his life.
"You're gonna have to ditch the phone," he mutters, still driving.
But Leanna shakes her head frantically.
"No! I can't leave without my phone!"
And before either of us can stop her, she's already pulling open the car door, jumping out, and running toward the dorms.
Cesar watches her. His head turns as he tracks her movement, watching her run, run, run until she disappears inside. Then he turns around.
His eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror. And for a second, he just stares. Calculating.
Like he's figuring something out. Then he turns back and keeps driving.
I freeze. Wait—what?
Should I say something? Should I tell him to stop the car? We should wait for Leanna?
I mean, not even ten minutes have passed since he was inside her, but here we are—ditching her. Like she meant nothing. Like she never even existed.
I stare at him, trying to wrap my head around it, but he is clearly unbothered, he doesn't care. He just drives.
We take a road that cuts through the campus, passing between departments. The path follows a small lake, surrounded by tall trees.
The university left this area untouched—it's beautiful, green, almost like a tiny forest in the middle of everything. Sometimes small animals wander here, making it feel even more wild.
It's peaceful. Isolated.
As we start driving this way, I realize I'm a bad person. I know it. But the idea comes into my head, and before I can stop myself I just shout.
"Stop."
Cesar doesn't react. He just keeps driving, like I didn't say anything at all. So I try again.
"Stop the car."
This time, he hears me. He turns slightly, glancing at me.
"Did you say something?"
I swallow.
"Stop the car."
He laughs. Like I just told the funniest joke in the world.
"Are you serious?"
"Just stop the car, please," I add, keeping my tone firm.
He shakes his head, amused.
"All right, fine."
But then, he smirks.
"So you want me to leave you here? In the middle of this road?" His voice drops to something mocking. "Are you trying to make me the villain in some twisted horror film? Thriller? Documentary?"
I don't answer, but he does stop the car.
Now, I'm just sitting here feeling lost. I didn't think this through. The truth is, I don't know how to do this.
I don't know what happens next. I've never seduced anyone before. I have no idea how to do this and have zero plan.
Cesar sighs loudly.
"Okay. What are we doing?" His fingers drum against the steering wheel. "Because if we're just gonna sit here in silence—" He waves a hand, impatient. "I have people waiting for me. You're not gonna waste my time, are you?"
Such a douche. I scramble for something to say.
"I don't feel well sitting in the back," I lie. "I want to sit in the front with you."
He raises an eyebrow. Then shrugs.
"Whatever."
I open the door and step out, half-expecting him to drive off and leave me here. But he doesn't.
So I climb into the front seat, shutting the door behind me. He glances at me and gestures toward the seatbelt. I ignore it.
Instead, I turn to him.
"Do you mind going to that little place by the river? The one where people go to watch the stars?"
He stares at me. Like he's trying to figure out if I'm serious. Then he laughs.
A deep, amused, mocking laugh.
"What do you mean—the couple chilling place?" He shakes his head. "You want me to take you there?"
He sounds genuinely entertained. I nod and he scoffs.
"I've been in this college for four years, and I've never taken anyone there." He leans back against his seat, smirking. "And now you expect me to take you to the most romantic spot on campus?"
His voice drops, teasing.
"To do what, exactly?"
"I've never been there," I say quickly. "I just want to see it. Just this once. It won't even take five minutes."
Cesar exhales sharply, shaking his head.
"I have places to be." He taps the steering wheel impatiently. "I'm not your errand boy. I'm not your boyfriend. Why don't you tell your boyfriend to take you there?"
I swallow.
"Because I don't have a boyfriend."
He gives me a flat look.
"Then find someone else."
I cross my arms. He sighs and straightens before he says, his voice getting impatient
"Look, I need to be somewhere, so either I take off and you walk there, or we go to the party. But I'm not going anywhere else."
I tilt my head.
"So you do know where it is."
Cesar's lips twitch.
"Yeah. I know it. Everybody knows it. How do you not know it?"
I shrug.
"I don't know it. I've never seen it before. Is it beautiful?"
He sighs heavily.
"You're wasting my time."
I press my lips together.
"Well," I say, tilting my head, "if you really think about it—"
His eyes narrow. I smirk.
"The time you've spent arguing with me? We would've already been there and back by now."
For a second, he just looks at me. And then— It's dark, so I might be imagining it, but I swear—
I swear he smiles.
Then he turns the wheel. Driving toward the river.
My heart races as we drive through the dimly lit road. The path winds through the trees, and when we finally reach the clearing, it's exactly as I imagined—quiet, secluded, beautiful. The party must be keeping everyone away because there's no one here.
Cesar stops the car. He shifts in his seat, glancing at me.
"Now what?"
My heart beats faster. This is it.//
Before I can second-guess myself— Before I can think— I move. I jump on him and kiss him.
Oh my god. I am kissing Caesar Blackwell.
My first kiss.