Chapter Two
HELIOS ANDREADIS WAS waiting outside her classroom when she came out. For a second, MJ remained rooted in her spot next to the door, hyperventilating silently as she tried to figure out what was the best thing to do. Ignore him? Greet him like everything could be normal between them?
But then Helios started to move, and in the next second, the power to decide was taken from her. Suddenly he was there, looming over her and dominating her world like an eclipse. He used to be the sun, but now he was the darkness.
Over her head, MJ heard Helios ask in an unusually strained voice, “Can we talk?”
Helios held his breath as he waited for MJ’s answer, and the tension that held his body captive only left at her tiny nod. Every cell in his being was hyper-aware of her proximity. She was like an addictive and incurable drug to his senses, and it took inhuman willpower not to reach out to her and make sure she was indeed real.
Theo, how he had missed her.
Helios walked slowly, making sure that MJ was with him every step of the way. A part of him was wary and vigilant, knowing that MJ had every reason to change her mind about wasting her time on him. She could bolt any moment, and he wanted to be ready if that happened.
He would not let her go this time, or at least not without putting up the best goddamn fight of his life. He was done waiting. He was at the end of his tether, and even if it was fucking selfish of him, Helios knew he would still do his damnedest to win MJ back. He had to. If there was one thing the two-week separation from MJ had taught him, it was that loving MJ was the only way for him to live.
When Helios stopped in front of a bench under one of the leafy trees lining the sidewalk, MJ awkwardly took a seat. She automatically scooted to the other end of the bench when she realized that Helios was going to sit next to her. Her childish reaction made her grimace, but she didn’t regret doing it. Any closer to Helios would be emotional suicide.
Around them, she could feel innumerable pairs of eyes darting towards her and Helios, could sense the way people tended to slow down when passing in front of them. The realization made MJ wince. She had a good idea about what they were thinking, especially after what Yuri had told her. Who the hell did she think she was, playing around with two of the hottest bikers in the racing world?
If only , she thought hysterically, that was true . If only she could play that kind of game, she would not be hurting so much now.
“My...my next class will start in ten minutes.” She could feel her cheeks flaming as she uttered the lie, but it was the only thing she could think of to keep things short between her and Helios.
His lips twisted as MJ mumbled the words without looking at him, her head bent down, her gaze trained on her sneakers with keen concentration. He knew MJ’s class schedule by heart, and because of that, he knew she was lying. Was it because she hated being with him that much?
He said abruptly, “I miss you.”
MJ’s teeth slowly sank into her lower lip.
Helios continued doggedly, “I’ve done my best to give you space, but I...I can’t stay away any longer.” Silence dragged on between them after his words, and a part of him wondered if MJ meant to ignore him completely. He said roughly, “Please look at me.”
He lifted his hand, intending to touch her—
MJ flinched.
At the sight of it, a vivid memory flashed through his mind.
MJ’s body twisted on the ground, blood running down the side of her forehead.
His hand fell to his side as guilt flamed his insides.
Knowing he had no right to touch MJ against her will, all he could say hoarsely was, “Please.” He knew that people around them might be able to hear him begging, but he didn’t give a fuck. Pride had lost its meaning to him in the face of losing MJ forever.
“Please look at me.”
The fact that he was begging her in public, that he was making no attempt to hide the fact that he was the one wanting to talk and not her...it hurt. Making it impossible for her to lie. She said in a small voice, “I can’t.”
Pain exploded in his chest. “Why not?”
“Because...” A choked, teary laugh escaped her. Oh God, there went her promise not to cry another tear for what she thought but never had. “My stupid heart...” Her hand moved, clutching her chest, an unconscious movement to protect herself from more hurt. “It doesn’t know how to stop racing when you’re around.”
It took a moment for Helios to understand what MJ was saying, a moment to appreciate how the girl he loved had not changed. She was still as disarmingly honest as ever, and the fact only served to prove how much he did not deserve to have someone like MJ in his life.
When his head snapped towards her, Helios was stunned to find that MJ was now looking at him.
And she was crying.
Theo, she was crying.
When the fuck would he stop making her cry?
He started to speak, but she shook her head, tears still running down her face.
She said unevenly, ““I know...it wasn’t your intention to hurt me. It wasn’t your fault I thought I was...different. I also know you’re not a bad guy...President.”
The catch in her voice made Helios flinch. He knew what it meant, knew she had been about to call him by his name, knew that this time she didn’t think she had any business using it.
“...which is why, I know you won’t say no if I ask you to...” Her voice broke.
“MJ—”
Her heart ripped into pieces at hearing his beautiful voice say her name. She choked out, “Please help me get over you? I just want a normal life. A normal guy to love me and for me to love back. Could you...could you help me do that, President?”