Chapter 5 Lia
LIA
The cafeteria buzzes with pre-prom excitement, a noise that makes my head throb. I push the salad around my plate, barely listening as Megan details her epic plan to convince her parents to extend her curfew tomorrow night.
“I told them the after-party is at James's house, and his parents will be home,” she says, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. “They don't need to know his parents are actually in Cabo.”
“My dress is so tight I can barely breathe,” Zoe groans, “but worth it. Tyler's going to lose his mind.”
Dani nudges me. “Earth to Lia. You've been weirdly quiet all week.”
I straighten up, plastering on a smile. “Just stressed about finals.”
“Finals? Who cares about finals when prom is tomorrow!” Megan leans across the table. “Speaking of which, you still haven't told us who you're going with. Please tell me you're not going alone.”
My stomach twists. Two weeks have passed since that video call with Vane. Two weeks of ignoring his texts, avoiding his eyes in Chem, and avoiding this exact conversation with my friends. I open my mouth, but the words stick in my throat.
“She's probably going with some hot college guy,” James says, rescuing me without realizing it. “Too embarrassed to tell us mere mortals.”
“As if,” I manage to say, but my laugh sounds hollow even to my own ears.
Across the cafeteria, I feel him before I see him.
Vane enters with his usual swagger, a few guys from the basketball team trailing behind him.
His eyes find mine immediately, like he has some internal Lia-radar.
The corner of his mouth lifts in that smirk that makes me want to slap him and kiss him in equal measure.
“Seriously, though,” Zoe persists, “who are you going with? We need to coordinate the group photos.”
I tear my eyes away from Vane. “I—I'm just—”
“Don't tell me you're still deciding between offers,” Dani teases. “The prom is literally tomorrow.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I already know who it is without looking.
“I'll figure it out,” I mumble. “Just haven't made up my mind yet.”
My phone buzzes again, more insistent this time. I slip it from my pocket under the table, angling it away from my friends' curious eyes.
You look fucking gorgeous today. That blue top really brings out the color of your eyes. I've been watching you pretend I don't exist for two weeks now.
Heat crawls up my neck. I glance across the cafeteria, finding him staring directly at me, phone in hand. Unlike me, he doesn't bother hiding it. The intensity in his eyes makes my stomach flip.
I'm still waiting for the answer to my prom invitation.
I swallow hard, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. He's right—I haven't bought a dress. I've been stuck in limbo, telling myself I might not even go, all while secretly imagining what it would feel like to walk in with his hand at the small of my back.
“Who keeps texting you?” Zoe tries to peek at my screen.
I tilt the phone away. “Nobody important.”
I know you watched that video I sent last night. Liked what you saw?
My cheeks burn hotter. Last night's video—Vane in his bedroom, shirtless, telling me exactly what he plans to do to me after prom. I'd watched it repeatedly as I touched myself, hating myself for it each time.
“Your face is all red,” Dani points out, grinning. “Definitely not nobody.”
I look up again. Vane raises an eyebrow, challenging me. His confidence is infuriating. And worse—justified. Because, despite everything, despite knowing better, my body responds to him as if it's been programmed.
Say yes, Lia. One word. That's all it takes.
I stare at my phone, my heart pounding against my ribs. My fingers hover over the keyboard, a war raging inside me. Pride tells me to ignore him. Something else—something I don't want to name—tells me to say yes.
Fine. Yes. If it gets you to shut up.
I hit send before I can change my mind, immediately regretting the impulse. Across the cafeteria, I see Vane's face break into a genuine smile—not his usual smirk, but something that transforms his entire face. He looks almost... happy. It's concerning.
“Okay, seriously, what is going on with you?” Megan demands, waving her hand in front of my face. “You're being super weird.”
I take a deep breath. They're going to find out tomorrow anyway.
“I'm going to prom with Vane Blackwood.”
The reaction is immediate. Zoe chokes on her diet soda. James's eyebrows shoot up to his hairline. Dani lets out a low whistle.
“Vane? As in the guy you've been complaining about all year?” Megan's voice rises an octave. “The arrogant jerk who thinks he's God's gift to the school?”
“The very same,” I mutter.
“I knew it!” Dani claps her hands together. “I totally called this back in September. You two have had chemistry since, well, Chemistry.”
“Oh, please,” I roll my eyes. “It's not like that.”
“Not like what? Not like you've been obsessed with each other?” James teases. “Everyone can see it. The way you two argue is basically foreplay.”
“When did this happen?” Zoe leans forward, hungry for details. “Why didn't you tell us?”
“Because there's nothing to tell,” I insist, even as my phone buzzes with another message from Vane. “He asked, I said yes. End of story.”
“End of story? Girl, this is just the beginning,” Megan says with another whistle. “Vane Blackwood. Damn.”
My phone buzzes again in my hand. I glance down, angling the screen away from my friends' prying eyes.
It's another message from Vane.
My breath catches when I open it. It's a close-up photo of his mouth, with his lips parted slightly and his tongue visible. The caption reads.
Can't wait for you to sit on my face.
Heat rushes through my body, pooling low in my stomach. I snap my phone face down on the table, heart hammering against my ribs. The cafeteria suddenly feels way too warm.
“What did he say?” Megan tries to reach for my phone. “You look like you're about to combust.”
“Nothing,” I say too quickly, shoving my phone into my pocket. “Just confirming details for tomorrow.”
I chance a glance across the cafeteria. Vane is watching me with one eyebrow raised as if asking if I got his message. When our eyes meet, he slowly licks his bottom lip, making the meaning crystal clear even from across the room.
“You are so lying,” Dani says, following my gaze. “Oh my god, are you two sexting right now? In the middle of lunch?”
“No!” My voice comes out too high-pitched. “Of course not.”
James snorts. “Your face says otherwise.”
I gather my things, desperate to escape before they can interrogate me further. “I need to go... study. For the Calc test.”
“The Calc test was yesterday,” Zoe points out, grinning.
“Right. I meant... I need to go buy a dress. For prom. Tomorrow.” I stand up so abruptly that I nearly knock over my water bottle. “See you guys later.”
As I hurry toward the exit, I feel Vane's eyes following me the entire way, burning into my back. My phone buzzes again in my pocket, but I don't dare look at it until I'm safely alone.