The Bully's Hated Mate
The Bully’s Hated Mate – Chapter 34

LUCIUS’ POV:

I watched Cassia watch the history teacher as he informed us for the tenth time that we were to work with our partners for every given task.

I had told her not to stay close to me and she was doing a very good job being obedient.

I was not sure how to feel.

Usually, she was the persistent type and the fact that she was avoiding me now meant that she was okay being away from me. It was what I wanted, but I still felt irked.

I was painfully aware of every one of her little movements, the way she touched her fingers to her chin, the way her eyes glimmered with laughter when Hoover, a classmate of ours who had a talent for getting into trouble, whispered something to her.

Without intending to do so, I craned my neck to hear what they spoke about before catching myself and turning away.

It bothered me that she bothered me so much.

“We’ll be having a welcoming event tonight for everyone, so I expect you all to get her here after dinner.” The teacher said.

Even the promise of a fun event did not manage to thrill anybody. After all, the history teacher had his own definition of fun and the last time we made the shabby decision to believe him, he had left us arranging very old and very dusty history textbooks in the library in alphabetical order.

When the history teacher finally decided to let our ears rest and allowed us to return to our tents, I turned determinedly away from Cassia and started off towards our tent only to come face to face with a disgruntled looking Ariadne standing with Silva behind her.

She gave me a piercing look and stomped off in the opposite direction. Silva, who looked a little confused and maybe even frustrated, nodded at me before running after her.

So, Ariadne was going to ignore me now?

Fine by me.

The last thing I wanted at the moment was to be reminded that Cassia was an enemy who I needed to deal with.

I entered the tent and set about unpacking my luggage. Cassia’s bag sat undisturbed on one corner of the bed, and I wondered when she would come in to unpack.

Was she still with Hoover?

What were they talking about that was taking so long?

I shook those thoughts out of my head and reminded myself that I did not want to be near her, or have anything to do with her. It was her business if she decided to get together with Hoover, or any other person for that matter.

But was it really? After all, I had marked her.

I took out the few books I packed and lay them carefully on the table. Since no gadgets were allowed, I figured they would come in handy. The rebellious part of me had wanted to sneak in a few gadgets but I knew Cassia would not like that.

Maybe I should have, just to annoy her.

I finished unpacking and even set our room in order but Cassia was still nowhere around. I peered out, only to realize that darkness had fallen and alot of our classmates stood in groups, talking or playing games.

We were not supposed to leave the camp grounds, but I was in desperate need of a run. Maybe I could slip in and out without anyone ever noticing.

“Lucius.”

I whirred around, even though I knew that wasn’t the voice of Cassia. Of course, it was Ariadne. I g*****d internally.

Was she already tired of ignoring me because I could go on for years without speaking to her, and still not get tired?

“Shouldn’t you be with your partner?” I asked in a tone that clearly said I wasn’t in the mood to talk to her.

“I could ask you the same. Did your partner run off?” She looked at me eagerly as she spoke, as if she desperately wanted me to reveal that there was something wrong between me and Cassia.

I wasn’t going to let her have a field day and so, I turned away.

After my brief encounter with Ariadne, I really needed to run but sneaking out had suddenly lost its appeal. I decided instead to wait in the room until whatever the teachers had slept off.

Later that night, I walked alone to the field where the history teacher so graciously decided to host whatever event he had in mind.

Cassia had not come anywhere near our room since we arrived and her luggage still lay on the bed, unpacked.

In the middle of the field, I could see the rest of our classmates gathered and sit on the ground, chattering loudly and laughing amongst themselves. On closer look, I realized they were all sitting around a bonfire.

To say the least, I was impressed.

It was common knowledge that our history teacher was not very gifted in planning fun gatherings and this must have eaten away at all his creative muscles.

Although, we could most likely attribute this idea to the English teacher.

I moved twice round the circle of students gathered around the fire before I finally spotted Cassia, sitting beside a blonde guy from our class who looked more interested in her than in his partner.

Or maybe I was just paranoid.

I wiggled between a group of students who looked like they did not take kindly to my behavior but couldn’t say a word about it, and planted myself discreetly behind her.

To my left, I glimpsed Ariadne shooting eye daggers at me while Silva who sat beside her looked on in confusion. Poor him.

I ignored Ariadne’s glare and instead, alternated between focusing on the teacher and Cassia, who unlike most other students still wore the clothes she arrived in.

“I sincerely wish to welcome everyone here today, and I know that with every event we have planned out for this trip, it will be an enjoyable stay.” The teacher said, a sheepish grin spreading over his face.

He seldom ever smiled and this smile looked so out of place on his face, he almost looked scary.

The English teacher who stood beside him with her more natural smile. She added that as long as we obeyed the rules, we would have no problem.

After their too long speech detailing the paired hunting event scheduled for the next morning, our sleeping arrangements and the punishments to be meted out to any erring student, they let us relax and enjoy the ambiance.

Somebody had brought a flute and volunteered to sing to us as drinks were being passed round.

As the campfire crackled and the smoke from the flames pirouetted towards the sky, I watched Cassia.

Her face glowed in the dim light, making it even harder for me not to notice her. It was as if she was stealing all the light around and channeling it onto her skin.

I felt a chill go down my spine even though the fire had warmed the night.

As if sensing my eyes on her, she turned her face in my direction and locked eyes with me.

I averted my gaze like a child caught stealing from his mother’s purse but not without first glimpsing the look of confusion on her radiant face.

I hated that I was giving myself away and turned back to her direction. This time, I was determined to stare back at her until she looked away first.

But when I looked, she was back to enjoying the display before us.

Two girls from our class were now dancing ballet so dangerously close to the fire that the mischievous part of me wished they would fall in.

At least in that way, we would not have to watch them embarrass themselves further and maybe, I could slip away and go for a run in the woods.

I was itching badly to get away from here but the history teacher, who was perilously close and after our last encounter, I was sure it was unwise to get in his bad books.

Also, if he deducted points from our team for unruly behavior, I was certain Cassia would kill me. The thought was amusing, and I wondered if it wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

In a few hours, the singing and dancing had died down and everyone joked and talked amongst themselves.

The kids that flanked me tried but failed on several occasions to start up a conversation with me and eventually, they gave up.

When I realized that the teachers were distracted, I pulled away from the group and went back into the tent. Maybe I could sleep this melancholia I felt away.

Some thirty minutes later, I sensed movement at the entrance of the tent and then, Cassia entered.

It was too late to pretend like I was asleep and so, I just stared as she opened her luggage and set about unpacking her things.

I must have fallen asleep somewhere between watching her unpack and thinking to myself that the tension was almost unbearable because the next time I opened my eyes, Cassia was looming above me and shaking me awake.