Chapter 6 Selena

• ~~SELENA~~
• Did he really just say that, my eyes widening as I looked at him, searching for any hint of jest. Please, let this not be one of those surreal dreams. let it be real, I silently prayed.
• "Se-se," I stuttered before I could find the right words to express my disbelief.
• "Hey, sexy," Teddy interjected with a smirk, plopping down between us as if he owned the place. What in the world...
• Today, right at this moment, I could feel the seeds of resentment taking root towards Teddy.
• My gaze shifted to Cyrus, who seemed oddly detached, his eyes wandering elsewhere as if the conversation was of no interest to him.
• "Ezra would be so excited to hear that," I remarked, trying to inject a semblance of normalcy into the awkward situation.
• "What? You don't need to tell them, baby girl," Teddy retorted, his casual demeanor contrasting sharply with Cyrus's silent disapproval, which I could sense more than see.
• "Just get me a drink, I'm thirsty," I said, eyeing my now-empty cup, eager to divert the conversation to a more better topic.
• "Anything," Teddy chuckled before sauntering away, leaving me with Cyrus and my lingering doubts.
• Oh, right, Reggie warned me earlier not to accept any drinks from Teddy.
• It's not that we don't trust Teddy, but his penchant for reckless behavior has earned him a cautious reputation among us.
• "Thank you," I said to Cyrus, though he remained stoically focused on whatever had captured his attention.
• "You're welcome," he murmured, his response tinged with a hint of warmth that belied his aloof exterior.
• Let's just say the party was enjoyable, and I found myself seated next to Cyrus for the duration, his presence a calming noise amidst the chaos of the festivities.
• And the best part? This guy doesn't even drink or smoke, which made it even better.
• "Goodnight," I bid Ezra, who nodded with a tired smile before disappearing into his room.
• "I love you," I told Reggie, who shot me a playful yet exaggeratedly disgusted look, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
• "Ewwn," he scoffed, his mock-revulsion accompanied by a playful shove before he retreated to his own room.
• "Dream about me," I teased Blue, whose playful banter never failed to lift my spirits.
• "Ahhh, nightmare," he quipped with a smirk before darting off to his room, leaving me to savor the quiet solitude of the night.
• Phew.
• Now, let me go to my room and carefully remember every detail of what transpired today, savoring every moment of what might just be the best day of my life.
• ---
• A whole week had passed, and my parents had just embarked on their trip, leaving me to fend for myself alongside my brothers. Anya had been fortunate enough to escape to Aunt Kate's house. Lucky her. And so it was just me and my brothers.
• Ever since the incident at the party, Cyrus had become increasingly distant, barely acknowledging my presence, let alone engaging in conversation. Gone were the days when his words would light up my world with compliments. It felt like we had regressed back to square one. I know it was only once that he complimented me though.
• "Thanks," I said to our housekeeper, handing her my plate hurriedly. Time was ticking, and I needed to make it to school ASAP.
• "Bye," I called out to Grey as I rushed past him.
• "Take care," he responded, his voice tinged with concern. "If anybody tries to do anything to you, do not hesitate to call me or any of the boys, okay?" His protective instincts kicked in, and I nodded in understanding before going back and giving him a quick hug and darting outside.
• I hurriedly entered my car, the engine roaring to life as I started it up, wasting no time in driving off into the bustling streets, my mind already preoccupied with the day ahead.
• I briskly walked into the classroom, feeling a pang of guilt for being late as I hurried to take my seat, the echo of my footsteps reverberating in the empty space. Settling down, I retrieved my jolting notebook and pen, placing them on my desk with a sense of urgency.
• The sound of my brother's voice suddenly snapped me out of my thoughts, prompting me to look up and realize that he was the one addressing the class. It seemed there was a presentation underway, which meant that higher-level students would come and discuss the topic at hand.
• My eyes widened with surprise when I noticed Cyrus standing alongside my brother. Two other students were also present, adding to the air of anticipation in the room.
• Oh lord. I knew Ezra would be annoyed that I had arrived late to class, but why hadn't he even bothered to wake me up?
• Glancing around the room, I noticed the girls in my class wearing knowing smiles, their excitement palpable. It was evident that the presence of Ezra and Cyrus had drawn quite the crowd today.
• "Your brothers are hot," a girl commented, her smile widening as she spoke.
• "Cyrus is not my brother," I replied, rolling my eyes in exasperation. Couldn't they see that Cyrus and Ezra were just best friends?
• My brother's gaze briefly met mine before quickly shifting away, his attention now focused on Eva, a fact that only served to increase my annoyance.
• "Cyrus will explain the concept now," Ezra announced, prompting a round of applause from the class, their admiration for him evident in their enthusiastic response.
• As I considered Cyrus's popularity, I realized that he was surrounded by admirers throughout the school. It was unlikely that he would notice me, a freshman, when he was already sought after by older, more mature girls in higher levels. Their beauty, charm, and poise made them a more appealing choice for someone of his stature.
• I acknowledged the reality with a tinge of resignation. Cyrus's attention was already captivated by the allure of his peers, making it improbable for him to look my way. The odds were stacked against me, and I knew it. Still, a small part of me held onto the fantasy, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he would see beyond the superficial and notice the real me.
• Cyrus stepped forward, his eyes scanning the room with a confident gaze. "Today, we're going to dive into the world of quantum mechanics," he began, his deep voice commanding attention.
• As he started writing on the whiteboard, his hand moved with a fluid grace, equations and diagrams flowing effortlessly from his pen. His words were clear and concise, explaining complex concepts in a way that was easy to understand.
• The classroom was transfixed, our eyes glued to the board as Cyrus brought the subject to life. His passion for physics was infectious, and I found myself getting swept up in the excitement, my earlier annoyance forgotten in the face of his engaging teaching style.
• Lord, he is the epitome of beauty with brains. His voice was like music to my ears, captivating and enchanting. This was the longest I had ever heard him speak, and with each word, I found myself drawn to him even more.
• As the class finally came to an end, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment that it was over. And when it did, Ezra wasted no time in making his way over to me.
• "Late for class, huh?" he quipped, causing me to roll my eyes in response.
• "You didn't even bother to wake me up. How cruel," I retorted, swiftly gathering my books and stuffing them into my handbag.
• He remained silent, his gaze fixed on me with an intensity that made me squirm uncomfortably.
• "I'm having a party today," he announced suddenly, catching me off guard.
• "O...kay," I replied, puzzled as to why he was informing me of this.
• "At our house," he clarified, prompting me to raise an eyebrow in surprise.
• "What??" I exclaimed, my mind racing as I processed this unexpected news.
• "Yep, at 10 pm," he confirmed, a mischievous glint in his eyes that hinted at the trouble to come.
• "Why... your parents specifically told you not to throw any parties," I reminded him, my annoyance beginning to simmer beneath the surface.
• "Just... be in your room, that's all I ask," he insisted, his tone taking on a more serious edge.
• "And I'm not allowed to come out either??" I pressed, my frustration mounting with each passing second.
• "Correct, and your door should be locked," he instructed firmly, his attention suddenly shifting as his gaze landed on something—or rather, someone—else. Following his line of sight, I spotted Eva, her eyes locked onto ours with a hint of curiosity.
• "Bitch," I muttered under my breath, unable to contain my disdain.
• "Why aren't you talking to her anymore?" Ezra inquired, his voice tinged with genuine curiosity.
• "You're seriously asking me that??" I scoffed incredulously before turning on my heel and walking away, leaving him behind to ponder his own question.
• As I glanced around the room, my heart sank when I realized that Cyrus was nowhere to be seen. My Cyrus.
• ~~
• That evening felt like a never-ending nightmare, with the thumping bass of the music pounding relentlessly in my ears, preventing any hope of sleep. Every attempt to drift off was thwarted by the cacophony echoing through the walls, and frustration gnawed at me as the hours dragged on.
• Finally, when exhaustion threatened to overtake me, I managed to slip into a fitful slumber, only to be rudely awakened once again by the booming music.
• "I am so gonna kill Ezra, I swear," I muttered through gritted teeth, checking the time to find it already 2 AM. What the hell...
• Desperate, I resorted to burying my head under the pillow, but the relentless noise pierced through, mocking my feeble attempts at escape. Tears of frustration threatened to spill as I lay there, cursing Ezra's name with every breath.
• Normally, when Ezra threw a party, I would seek refuge at Eva's house for a sleepover. But now that we weren't friends anymore, I was left to endure this torment alone.
• Suddenly, my door creaked open, causing me to bolt upright, ready to fend off any intruder. To my astonishment, it was Cyrus standing there, looking just as surprised as I was.
• "Oh," he mouthed, his eyes meeting mine in confusion.
• "I thought you were out," he explained, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
• "Uh... no," I replied, still bewildered by his unexpected presence in my room, though secretly relieved.
• "All the rooms are occupied, so I thought you would be at your friend's place," he continued, his explanation shedding light on the situation.
• "Oh, you're looking for a place to sleep?" I realized aloud, offering him a solution.
• He nodded in response, his expression grateful.
• "You can sleep on the couch over there," I offered, pointing towards the cozy spot.
• "Seriously?" he asked, his surprise evident.
• "Yeah, sure. I have no problem with that," I reassured him, a faint smile tugging at my lips as he accepted my offer with gratitude.
• "Thanks," he murmured before making his way to the couch, settling in for the night.
• As I lay back in bed, my mind raced with thoughts of Cyrus lying just a few feet away on my couch. It was both surprising and oddly thrilling to have him here with me.
• The sudden noise from the couch jolted me from my thoughts, prompting me to turn and steal a glance at Cyrus. What I saw made my heart skip a beat—he was pulling his shirt off, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of his sculpted physique.
• I quickly averted my eyes, determined not to let him catch me gawking. But I couldn't help but sneak another peek, my breath catching in my throat as I took in his undeniable allure. Damn, his abs were truly a sight to behold.
• Just as I was about to turn away, I felt his gaze lock onto mine, sending a rush of heat to my cheeks.
• I froze, my eyes widening in alarm as I met his smug smirk. In that moment, I felt a jolt of electricity pass between us, but I quickly turn around. Feeling so embarrassed that he caught me staring at him.
• Oh lord, save me!!
• TBC