OWAIN LUTHER

The moment Karima said those words, I knew I had lit a fire in her. Exactly what I wanted. She was wild, she just didn't know it yet. But I did. And I was the only one who could unleash it. Let's see what you've got, Karima, I thought with a smirk. She led the way to the car. I followed behind her. The moment we hopped in, I hit the ignition and slammed the gas.

***

KARIMA HEART

The next day, I left class early. I did everything possible to avoid Ellie. Of course, she noticed, but I didn't care. Maybe avoiding conversations with her would make reality slip by... Just two days would be enough. No, maybe a week. Anything, enough to help me erase the whole nightmare I saw yesterday.

As soon as the lecture ended, and God helping me, Owain didn't show up today, I rushed to the cafeteria.

I spotted Tyla and dodged her. For the record, Tyla was the queen bee cheerleader for the TIGERS Team, the swim team Nathan was in. She was obsessed with him and, even now, she hated my guts since I dated him. She still does, actually.

In one swoop, I slipped into the cafeteria, unnoticed. I ordered some chips drowned in ketchup with a soft drink, scrolling through my phone like I had something meaningful going on in it. That was when I heard Ellie.

"So... this was where you were hiding after ghosting me? You think I won't find you?"

She said. I didn't say a word. I didn't look up. I just buried my face deeper in my phone.

"Hello?" she snapped her fingers in front of my face. "I'm not talking to a ghost, am I?"

On a normal day, I would've side-eyed her and pretended to be p*ss*d, just for fun. But this wasn't a normal day... This time, I couldn't. No matter how hard I tried to un-see what I saw that night, I couldn't. It was replayed over and over. And what killed me most? Ellie acted so d*mn normal... I almost doubted my own eyes.

I wanted to scream in her face. Instead, I held back the moment I locked eyes with her. And all I saw was Ellie... my best friend. The one who supported me the most.

"Cat got your tongue now?" she teased.

I chuckled softly. I didn't even realize when I fell for that.

She took that as her cue, pulled up a chair beside me, and tossed her Gucci bag on the table.

My eyes locked on the bag. My breath hitched.

No way.

It was the same designer bag I gifted Juliet, Nathan's sister. A one-of-a-kind graduation present. The same tag. The same custom design.

What the actual hell?

God! This isn't happening, is it?

"Why do you have this, Ellie?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.

She didn't flinch. Her eyes flicked to the bag, then back to me with that same sweet smile.

"Nathan gave it to me," she said casually. "Enough of the bag, Karry. Don't think this little hide-and-seek game you pulled on me will stop me from scolding you, definitely not the changing of topic either... Why on earth did you miss Jace's party?"

My blood bubbled, but I held it back. "I was out with Owain." I said that before I even thought about it.

"Owain?" she repeated with a flash of that look I know, then squealed, covering her mouth in mock shock.

"Are you freaking kidding me now, Karry?" She nudged my arm with excitement.

"What?"

"What do you mean? You're dating our professor."

"What? No! I'm not dating anyone. Stop saying that."

"But you just said you went out with him? What was that supposed to be? Private tutoring on the road? C'mon, Karry. This is hot gossip!"

I rolled my eyes, pulling her hand off my arm. "You're crazy, Ellie. I don't know what you're talking about."

"Well, I do. I knew something was up when I saw you two together yesterday."

"Wait, you did?" I snapped.

"Yes, I did." She rolled her eyes.

"Where?" I blurted out.

"At SWISS Hotel. I didn't think much of it at the time."

Was she seriously talking about the same hotel where I saw them screwing? Did she just say that casually? Was Ellie kidding me right now?

"Who were you with, Ellie?"

I asked, praying she'd just be honest, because I was holding back all the anger gnawing at me right now.

"Whoa. Chill, Karry. Why are you interrogating me? I'm the one doing the asking here, remember?"

"F*cking answer me, Ellie!" I snapped.

Her face changed, instantly. She sensed the seriousness in my tone.

"I was with Jace and the boys. We had a night out at SWISS HOTEL, wanted to tell you about it, but you nailed out. Happy?"

I sprung up, the anger in me clearly making me vibrate. My hands shook as I ran it through my hair.

"A night out?" I repeated.

"You okay, Karry?"

"Stop calling me that, okay? Just... tell me the truth, Ellie. Are you seriously lying to my face right now?"

Her brows scrunched. "What are you talking about for heaven's sake? Say something that makes sense?"

"Really? You seriously want me to say it? Okay then. Are you f*cking telling me I didn't see you screwing my boyfriend last night? Answer me!"

That was when her face froze. And the mask dropped. For a moment, I prayed-hoped she'd deny it... Maybe denying it would make the pain all go away.

But then Nathan's voice cut through the tension.

"And why does she have to answer that, Karima?"

I turned. Ellie shot him a look, silently begging him to stay out of it. But he didn't.

"Ask me. Leave her out of this. She clearly doesn't have the guts to tell you the truth."

"Ellie? Is he telling the truth?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Say something, you b*tch!"

Before I could think of what to say next, Nathan grabbed my wrist. I was already pushing Ellie- maybe too hard.

"Stop it, Karry."

I felt a sting. He sided with her. Right to my face. Seriously?

"Are you for real, Nate? You cheated on me with my best friend, and you're standing there defending her? Is this some kind of joke?"

My voice pitched. People were watching the drama unfold and whispering. But I didn't care.

I tried to charge at Ellie again, but Nathan held me back. Before I thought about it, I slapped him hard across his face.

Ellie immediately sprang to her feet, holding Nathan as if I was the villain. Her face snapped at mine.

Ellie jumped up to defend him, her eyes blazing. "What's wrong with you, Karry?! He said ask him! He literally said that in clear English! Are you deaf?"

"Really?" I hissed,

"Everyone's watching," she muttered. "Can't you take this somewhere else?"

She didn't look like the Ellie I knew... No, she wasn't even talking like Ellie. I am probably going crazy right now. As if I couldn't contain the demon anymore... Something snapped inside of me.

"You goddamn B*TCH," I mumbled before charging at her.

My fingers yanked her hair and slammed her right to the d*mn ground.

Nathan tried to pull me off, but I didn't let go. When he finally did, Ellie was already limp on the floor, un-moving.

My heart leaped from my chest as blood trickled from her nose.

And then... As if the universe wanted to make this worse, Tyla walked in.

She gasped, scrambled for her phone from her purse, and flicked on her camera, with a smirk on her face.

"Oh, Karima! This is so going viral. Say cheese to the camera."

KARIMA HEART

I dropped to my knees beside Ellie, shaking her like that would magically wake her up. My heart raced with guilt. I hated myself for what I'd done, even if I had every right to be mad.

Then Nathan shoved me aside, and before I could blink, his hand cracked across my face.

I hit the ground, dazed.

"Do you always have to turn everything into a d*mn scene? What do you even gain from this?!" he barked.

His voice was thunder. "Just pray nothing happens to my girlfriend."

I sat there, soaked in silence like a stray cat caught in the rain.

His girlfriend? Wait! He just said his girlfriend?

If she was his girlfriend, what was I all along? His backup plan? His fool, who paid for everything and got nothing but heartbreak in return?

You name it... what didn't I do for Nathan?

Every lunch, I paid.

Every date, I picked up the bill.

When he broke down about his sister, I held him, wiped his tears, told him it would be okay... and still paid for everything.

If that wasn't love, then what the hell was?

But none of it mattered.

Because right there, in front of me, he picked her up, held her like she was fragile glass...

And I? I was nothing.

Like, I didn't even exist.

He really left me... This wasn't a nightmare. This was real.

Like a child abandoned in the storm, I crawled toward him, grabbing his ankle.

"Nate, please... I'm sorry. You know I didn't mean to push her-"

My voice cracked into a plea so pathetic, that it felt normal to be that shameless.

He didn't even glance back.

He just kicked my hand away.

And of course, Tyla stood there like she'd just won first prize.

She probably thought this was her big break. That now she had a chance with him.

"Get that camera out of my face, Tyla!" I snapped.

She knelt down, filming closer, grinning like the devil.

"And if I don't? You think I'm gonna miss the golden moment of watching you cry like a homeless puppy?"

As if her words lit a match inside me, something went off.

I didn't even know where the strength came from-maybe it was all the rage I had bottled up for Nathan and Ellie, now finding the nearest outlet.

I grabbed her phone.

And with just a BANG! It shattered against the floor.

I didn't give her a second to gasp. My hand flew to her hair.

She shrieked, twisting and struggling to fight me off.

Then, just like that, a hand yanked me back.

I thrashed, and tried to shake it off, but the grip tightened.

And then I saw him.

Lo and behold! It was Owain.

Oh, perfect.

What a beautiful d*mn timing. *In sarcasm*

I glared at him, my jaw clenched, and then I turned in Ethan's direction.

But before I could take a step, Owain shoved me aside.

"What do you want from me? Can you just stay out of my d*mn business!" I yelled, my voice cracking through the air.

He didn't flinch, he just stood there, staring at me like we were in a theater act, and he was the director trying to figure out which scene needed fixing.

I shoved past Tyla, who was still trying to untangle the mess I left in her hair. Honestly, she looked like a clown whose head had just been set on fire.

"Stop making a fool of yourself, Karima," Owain said, calm as ever.

"Oh, I'm the one being the fool?" I scoffed. "You don't even know what happened, and you're already pinning it on me?"

I let out a long, shaky breath. My chest burned from yelling, but slowly the storm inside me began to settle. The tremble in my nerves dulled a little.

I marched to the table and snatched my bag.

He moved closer, his hands shoved in his pockets like this was some casual stroll.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Let me be... Ellie fainted earlier, and I need to f*cking see her. So, kindly move away."

"No, you're not. Not while you're still breathing like fire."

I blinked at him. "Why? Who the hell do you think you are? My boyfriend? Move the hell out of my way!"

"I'm not moving just because you said so," he replied, his voice steady. "And yes, I am your boyfriend. We had a deal, remember?"

Jesus Christ...

Tyla's head jerked up at that. She didn't care about her hair or her phone anymore. "What do you mean you're her boyfriend? You liked me first!"

Seriously? Does every single hot guy she stumbles on have to be her crush?

She shoved me, and for a second, I thought she might just bite me.

Whatever. She could have the stage. I stormed to the door, ready to leave the whole drama behind.

But I didn't make it far.

Something swept my feet off the floor.

"Put me down, you pervert!" I screamed, thrashing over Owain's shoulder.

He didn't flinch. His grip tightened around my waist.

Was he insane?

"I swear to God, I'll sue you for sexual harassment! Let me the hell down!"

Still nothing. My words bounced off him like rubber bullets.

He went straight to his sleek black luxury car, and flung open the door, tossed me inside, and slammed it shut.

I scrambled for the handle, but he was faster. In one smooth move, he slid into the driver's seat and yanked me back.

Before I could speak, he leaned over and strapped the seatbelt around me, tight.

And without another word, he sped off.

***

OWAIN LUTHER

She's so d*mn stubborn. Hard meat to grind, no doubt. But if I'm being honest... I was starting to love every ounce of drama she kept throwing at me. It was like she didn't know how intoxicating her fire was.

The second we pulled into the parking space, she turned to me sharply, those eyes of hers already shouting a thousand things before her lips could even catch up.

And hell, I'd be lying if I said that look didn't do something to me.

"What? Need me to open the door for you?" I smirked.

She didn't have it. Not even a twitch of amusement.

"Why are we here?" she asked, throwing me a glare that could melt steel.

"Why else?" I shrugged. "Brought you home to clear your head. It's the only place you actually stay calm."

"And you think being stuck at home with you would calm me? Is that supposed to be funny?"

"No. Unless you want it to be." I leaned back casually. "You said it yourself, staying indoors keeps you calm."

I didn't even mean to say that. But it came out anyway. And yeah, it was a little embarrassing that I remembered something she said years ago.

Her brows twitched, surprise flickering across her face, but she said nothing. Just opened the door and stormed out like I hadn't just exposed myself.

We barely got inside before she shot straight to her room.

And like the fool I was, I followed right after her, catching the door before she could slam it in my face.

"What now?" she snapped, whirling at me.

"You're seriously going in without me?"

"Was I supposed to invite you in?"

I didn't bother answering. I just pushed the door open and walked in like I owned the place.

The room screamed pinky girl, sweet, soft, too neat. But my eyes found what they needed.

Lying on the reading table... was a frame. The photo we took ten years ago.

Seriously?

She saw what I'd seen and ran for it, then, snatched it like it was her last defense.

"There's no point hiding that," I said, moving closer, my eyes locked on hers.

She clutched the frame behind her, like it could save her from the heat she knew was about to rise between us.

But it wouldn't. Not this time.

***

KARIMA HEART

My eyes stayed locked on Owain as he moved closer, that smug calmness written all over his face.

"Look, I was just clearing out some old stuff and... I found it in the junk pile. It's not what you think," I blurted, even though he hadn't asked for a single d*mn explanation.

Why did I even say that?

"Yeah," he murmured, his voice low like a whisper, "I believe you."

He was already standing right in front of me now, his lips hovering just inches from mine.

I swallowed hard.

My knees gave in a little, but his arms slid around my waist, catching me before I completely lost balance.

God, I hated how that made me feel.

How my body reacted to him, like I had no say in it.

How his dark smirk crawled under my skin, annoying... and yet, frustratingly inviting.

I shouldn't be feeling this way. Not when I was still dealing with heartbreak.

But then his hand shifted slightly lower and my breath hitched.

I bit down on my lower lip, cursing my own body for responding.

He didn't move.

He just stood there, looking at me like he could read every thought I was trying to bury.

I slowly shut my eyes, bracing myself for whatever came next.

Then... the door flung open.

Malcom stepped in.

For a second, he just stared blankly, trying to process what he walked in on.

Then his gaze dropped straight to Owain's arm, wrapped tightly around my waist.

His face turned into stone. "What the hell is going on here?"

OWAIN LUTHER

I didn't plan for Malcom to show up early, but it wasn't exactly shocking either. The guy had a sixth sense for walking in at the worst possible moment... And we weren't even doing anything illegal, just her in my arms, that's all, but...

When his eyes locked on us-Karima in my arms, her lips parted like she'd just caught herself wanting something she shouldn't. For a second, he froze. Then his brain finally registered the scene.

Before I could blink, he was moving. I could swear he wanted to murder me, with that fury in his eyes... Karima broke out of my hold as if he hadn't seen everything-stepping between us just as he closed the distance.

"We... Owain was just comforting me. That's all. It's been a rough day," she rushed out.

I didn't say a word. There was really no point. The lie was weak, but she tried. Which meant something. She wasn't really the hard girl she pretended to be.

Exactly why she needed someone like me to bring out that wild in her and maybe with a little bit of learning and Devil's spice, she'd catch up quick.

Malcom's eyes narrowed. "Are you serious? That's supposed to mean anything to me?"

Karima's tough-girl act slipped. Her body edged slightly back like his voice alone could break her. She swallowed hard.

"I swear, Malcom. You can ask Owain... I just found out Nathan and Ellie were dating behind my back," she said, her voice softer now, but a little cracked. "I lost it, okay? Owain stopped me before I did something stupid."

Malcom turned to me, that unspoken you'd-better-confirm-this-look in his eyes. I gave him a calm shrug. Nothing else.

She covered for me. I could return the favor. She was already playing well, though.

He sighed, his jaw tight. Then, his anger shifted but still a little protective, but less ready to kill like before.

The only thing holding Malcom back was Karima standing there, and that hurt in her eyes, he couldn't bring himself to add more weight to it.

"You could've called me," he muttered to her, his voice thick with guilt. "I'd have shown up and handled that *ssh*l* myself."

"You wouldn't have made it in time, bro," I said under my breath.

He didn't look at me. He just placed a hand on her shoulder, the other brushing over her cheek with that quiet big-brother tenderness.

"Go fix us something to eat, alright? We'll be out in a minute."

She nodded, her eyes lowering to the ground, before she walked out without another word.

The door clicked shut.

And just like that, Malcom's eyes cut straight to me.

"Stay away from my little sister, Owain. That's not a suggestion, it's a warning."

I almost laughed. Seriously? Calling her little. Was that supposed to be a joke?"

"You sure she's still little?" I muttered with a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.

His jaw tightened. "Don't push me. She's not one of your girls you can play games with."

"Relax, man," I held my hands up in mock surrender. "She told you I was just comforting her. Why are you still wound up? Don't you trust her?"

His eyes narrowed, his fists clenched at his side. "I trust her. It's you I don't."

He stepped closer, invading my space, his voice lower but sharper this time. "So just do what I said. Stay. Away."

I chuckled. "Alright, fine. I'll stay off her lane... but you better pray she doesn't come back to mine. I'm not the one chasing her."

He shot me a death glare. "I'm watching you, Owain."

I leaned my head back, letting the silence sit between us before meeting his gaze dead-on. His forehead was pulsing with veins bulging like they were about to explode. That's how you know Malcom's boiling.

I gave a low whistle. "You're acting like she's your girlfriend, not your sister. Might want to tone down that possessiveness a little."

That was it.

His fist slammed into my jaw.

My head jerked sideways, but I didn't stagger. Nah, I'd been expecting it. He needed to blow off steam, and I gave him the spark.

"You don't f*cking tell me how to protect my own blood!" he growled. "Especially not from a s*x-crazed freaks like you."

I rubbed my jaw with a laugh, with a slow and sharp move. "Okay. As you wish. Just try not to make it so obvious you're in love with her. I've done my part keeping your little secret... I'm done now."

That hit home. Exactly, how I imagined it.

He charged forward, and this time I didn't play nice. I caught him mid-swing, twisted him around and drove my fist across his face once, then another shot to his ribs. That first punch was payback, the second was just for fun.

He tackled me again, and we rolled hard across the floor, knocking over a chair and slamming into the side table. He wasn't bad, but he wasn't better than me. Not in a fight.

He obviously did some work out, he'd improved a little but he was still behind me.

Right in the middle of the chaos, there was a knock. It came sharp and fast.

We froze, both of us breathing hard as if we just ran a marathon.

The door creaked open slowly.

And there she was. Karima Heart.

And behind her was... Yasmin.

My d*mm girlfriend.

Sh*t!

My jaw locked immediately.

Yasmin's eyes darted between our blood-flushed faces, the mess on the floor, and our stiff bodies. She blinked.

"Were you guys... fighting?" she asked, her voice low and confused.

Karima said nothing.

And me?

I knew right there, I was officially screwed.