Chapter 3

                       ~SELENA~

I sighed inwardly, feeling a sense of awkwardness settle over us like a heavy blanket. Why was Cyrus sitting here with me? It wasn't like we had never been in the same room together before, but for some reason, this felt different.

I glanced at him, catching his eyes for a brief moment before he quickly averted his gaze to the glass of water in his hand. His sudden shyness puzzled me—after all, he was always so confident and outgoing.

With a shrug, I turned my attention back to the sandwich in my hands, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the prospect of eating in front of him. What if I ate too loudly? Or made a mess?

  The thought alone made me hesitate, my appetite diminishing with each passing second.

I mentally chastised myself for overthinking the situation. After all, Cyrus was always in my house, often joining us for meals and spending time with my brothers. So why was it so hard for me to eat in his presence now?

Maybe it was because we were alone. The absence of my family made the silence between us feel deafening, amplifying the awkwardness of the moment.

I sighed again, unsure of what to do next. Should I try to engage him in conversation? Or would that just make things even more uncomfortable? The uncertainty gnawed at me, leaving me feeling paralyzed and unsure of how to proceed.

I couldn't help but notice the subtle movements of his Adam's apple as he drank from his water, a simple action that somehow managed to captivate my attention entirely. The way it moved up and down, so effortlessly, sent a shiver down my spine, and for a moment, I found myself mesmerized by the sight.

I quickly averted my gaze, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment. Had he noticed me staring at him? I hoped not. The last thing I needed was for him to think I was some kind of weirdo for awkwardly ogling him while he drank water.

With a mental shake of my head, I refocused my attention on my sandwich, taking a hesitant bite as I tried to quell the nervous fluttering in my stomach. It was almost time for my next class, but I found myself hesitating to stand up and leave.

Despite the awkwardness of the moment, I secretly relished the fact that Cyrus was sitting with me. It was a rare occurrence, one that I knew wouldn't happen again anytime soon. So, even if it meant missing a class, I was willing to linger a little while longer, just to enjoy his company.

Finally mustering up the courage, I took another bite of my sandwich, savoring the taste as I savored the sweetness of the moment. When I glanced up, I caught Cyrus's gaze briefly before he quickly looked away, a hint of uncertainty flickering in his eyes.

I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking in that moment. Was he feeling as awkward as I was? Or was it just my imagination? With a sigh, I pushed aside my thoughts and focused on finishing my meal, determined to enjoy the fleeting moment for as long as it lasted.

I suddenly sawEzra settling into the seat beside me, I couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance at his intrusion. Couldn't he see that I was enjoying my time with Cyrus? But of course, being the annoying big brother that he was, he probably didn't care.

"Hey, don't you have a class or something?" he asked casually, reaching for my water without so much as a by-your-leave.

"Ask for permission, asshole," I retorted, rolling my eyes at his audacity. But he just shrugged off my comment, taking a long sip from my water as if he owned the place.

Having a brother – or in my case, four brothers – was a constant source of both amusement and frustration. Ezra was usually laid-back, but he could be irritating when he wanted to be. Reggie, on the other hand, had a tendency to be uptight and demanding, always insisting on respect even when he didn't deserve it. Blue was more easygoing, but he had his moments of annoyance too.

But Grey... Grey was different. He was my favorite, the one I could always count on to have my back. He was lovable and friendly, unlike the rest of my brothers who could be arrogant and stubborn.

Ezra and Cyrus's friendship was something else. Despite rarely hearing them exchange words, they were always together. It was as if they communicated with each other through their eyes rather than their mouths

But I think they're more active when they go partying. Still, you'd hardly see Cyrus doing much at all. All he does is smile a little when he's with the boys and mostly stays quiet.

  Despite the lively atmosphere, he remains in the background, observing rather than participating actively. It's as if he finds solace in the company of his friends, content to simply be present and soak in the moment. His quiet demeanor adds an air of mystery to his personality.

"You have a class now," Ezra said, his eyes fixated on the screen of his phone, undoubtedly checking my timetable. When it comes to protecting me, my brothers take it seriously. They'd rather starve than see me with some boy. Even at 18, I don't get to make decisions for myself.

"I-I don't feel like attending," I muttered, feeling a knot of rebellion tightening in my chest.

"Hm," he murmured, his thumb tapping lightly on the screen of his phone.

"Your dad would be so happy to hear that," he remarked, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. My dad? As if he wasn't his dad too. It's moments like these that remind me of the invisible strings that tie me to them, the suffocating weight of their expectations pressing down on me.

"I hate you," I whispered, the words barely audible as I pushed myself up from the chair. Why did he have to ruin that moment between Cyrus and me? We may not have been speaking, but there was a comfort in his presence, a sense of freedom that I rarely felt with anyone else.

Glancing back, I could feel Ezra's eyes boring into me, a silent command to obey. If only I were the eldest, maybe then I wouldn't constantly feel like I'm drowning in their suffocating protectiveness.

  As I entered the classroom, already in session, I made a beeline for my seat, trying not to draw too much attention to my tardiness. The professor seemed engrossed in his lecture, unfazed by my late arrival.

I managed to catch a few snippets of what he was saying before the class finally ended. Stuffing my jolting book into my bag, I felt a prickling sensation at the back of my neck, as if someone's eyes were boring into me from afar.

Glancing up, I spotted Eva staring at me from across the room. I rolled my eyes in exasperation, already anticipating what was to come. Just as I rose from my seat, intending to leave, she intercepted me, blocking my path.

"Lena," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of apprehension and remorse. I let out an involuntary scoff, trying to brush past her.

"I'm sorry," she blurted out, her words catching me off guard. I paused, meeting her gaze with a mixture of skepticism and irritation.

"I know I shouldn't have done that," she continued, her tone pleading. "And you warned me about him. I was just stupid, nervous, and blinded by lust."

"Are you done?" I interjected, my patience wearing thin as I attempted to sidestep her once more.

"I just want you to forgive me," she implored, her voice softening with genuine remorse. "And please, let's forget whatever happened in the past and just be best friends again. I miss you like crazy."

"Okay," I relented, feeling a pang of sympathy for her despite my lingering reservations. With a nod, I finally managed to walk past her, leaving behind the weight of our unresolved history, if only momentarily.

Getting to the parking lot, I made a beeline for my car, eager to escape the frustrations of the day. But as I reached into my bag for my keys, panic washed over me as I realized they were nowhere to be found.

"Where the hell did I put my keys?" I muttered, frantically rummaging through my bag atop the car. But no matter how much I searched, they remained elusive.

With a sinking feeling in my chest, I hurried back to my class, hoping against hope that I had left them there. Minutes passed like hours as I scoured the room, but my efforts proved futile.

Turning back in defeat, I retraced my steps to the café, though I knew deep down it was a lost cause. And as expected, my keys were nowhere to be found among the scattered remnants of my earlier visit.

Sighing in frustration, I reached for my phone, dialing Ezra's number in desperation.

"What's up?" he answered immediately, his voice a welcome relief.

"I lost my keys," I blurted out, my frustration evident even through the phone.

"Don't use that as an excuse to let a random boy bring you home," he quipped, earning an eye roll from me, even though he couldn't see it.

"I lost my keys, are you in school?" I pressed, urgency creeping into my tone.

"No," he replied simply.

"What should I do?" I asked, feeling the weight of my predicament pressing down on me.

"Just give me a second," he said, before abruptly ending the call.

Left hanging, I fumed silently, torn between the convenience of calling an Uber and the looming disapproval of my brothers if they found out I hadn't informed them of my predicament.

My phone buzzed, and I quickly retrieved it from my bag, seeing Ezra's name flashing on the screen.

Answering the call, I brought the phone to my ear, eager for a solution.

"So, none of our brothers are in school right now," Ezra began, his voice calm and collected.

"But Cyrus is, so you'll come home with Cyrus," he announced matter-of-factly.

Wait, what? Me, ride home with Cyrus? The very thought sent a flurry of conflicting emotions coursing through me.

"Wait, seriously?" I questioned incredulously.

"Yes, and he's outside waiting for you now. Go find his car," Ezra instructed, before promptly ending the call.

Feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement, I made my way towards where Cyrus's car was parked. I knew his license plate number by heart, a testament to my somewhat obsessive fascination with him.

Approaching his car, I stood in front of it, unsure of what to do next. He didn't even turn to acknowledge my presence.

With a shaky hand, I reached for the handle and opened the car door, slipping inside. The scent of his cologne enveloped me, sending a shiver down my spine.

As he started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, I couldn't help but wonder what will happen in this 30 minutes long drive.

TBC