School Newspaper
The faint light of the flickering fluorescent lamp cast uneven shadows over the desks littered with papers and scattered pens. The smell of cold coffee mingled with the slightly sweet aroma of freshly printed pages, saturating the air with the essence of a bustling student newspaper.
Chloe sat in front of the computer, her fingers tapping rapidly on the keyboard. Her gaze was locked on the screen, brows furrowed as she edited the latest article. Small, irritated taps echoed through the empty room.
She sighed, leaning back in her chair for a moment, cracking her knuckles. The pile of work seemed endless.
The sound of the door opening shattered the silence.
She looked up.
Alicia Baker stood there.
For a moment, Chloe didn't react.
The blonde hair was perfectly styled, her outfit chosen with a casual care that felt too deliberate for a simple drop-by. But what caught Chloe's attention most were her eyes.
They gleamed with an odd softness.
As if this were a friendly visit.
Alicia smiled.
"Hi, Chloe."
Her hand gripped the strap of her bag lightly, as if she were far too comfortable in that space.
Chloe swiveled in her chair slowly.
'Of all people, her?'
Her gaze scanned Alicia up and down, trying to discern the real intent behind that serene expression.
"What do you want?"
Alicia blinked, seeming slightly surprised by the blunt reception. She took a few steps inside, unfazed.
"I came to talk."
Chloe crossed her arms, licking her lips before speaking.
"Talk."
Alicia nodded, her smile unwavering.
"About the newspaper."
Skepticism flashed in Chloe's eyes.
"Since when do you care about journalism?"
Alicia gave a small laugh, adjusting the bag on her shoulder.
"I've always thought it was interesting… but I never considered getting involved. Until now."
Chloe stayed still, her fingers tapping lightly against the armrest.
'Why now?'
The newspaper had never been a place that drew Alicia in. And Chloe remembered the last time she'd shown up here.
It was about Clark.
Always about Clark.
Alicia's eyes gleamed.
"I wanted to see if you need any help."
Chloe's stomach twisted.
'I do. But from her? Not a chance.'
Alicia tilted her head slightly.
"You look swamped."
Chloe's gaze flicked to the desk cluttered with notes and unfinished materials. Exhaustion weighed on her shoulders. She really did need help.
But not from her.
Never from her.
Alicia smiled softly.
"I'm good at organizing. I could help with interviews, transcribe notes… anything."
Chloe held her breath for a second, analyzing every word, every gesture.
There was no sarcasm in her voice.
No taunting.
No trace of the Clark obsession.
It was a genuine offer.
Which made it all the more unsettling.
Chloe uncrossed her arms, resting her hands on the desk.
"Why do you want this?"
Alicia blinked, as if weighing her response.
"I think you do great work."
The tension thickened.
The answer came too smoothly.
Too calculated.
Chloe narrowed her eyes.
"I don't think that's why."
Alicia sighed, stepping back as if reflecting for a moment.
"Maybe… I just want to try something new."
Her gaze was calm, but there was something there. Something subtle. Something Chloe couldn't quite pin down.
Alicia smiled.
"If you need help, just let me know."
She turned slowly, heading for the door.
The silence grew heavy as she reached the handle.
Chloe felt an odd chill run down her spine.
Something wasn't right.
She frowned.
"Alicia."
The girl paused but didn't turn around.
Chloe's heart beat a little faster.
"This doesn't have anything to do with Clark, does it?"
Alicia stayed silent for a second longer than she should have.
Then she tilted her head, her tone almost amused.
"Why would it?"
The chill on Chloe's neck deepened.
The door opened slowly.
Alicia's smile was still visible before she vanished into the hallway.
The sound of her footsteps echoed on the tiled floor.
Chloe's chest rose and fell slowly, her eyes fixed on the open door.
Alicia's presence lingered.
Even though she was gone.
And that…
That bothered her.
A lot.
---
Clark's House – Garden
The morning sun filtered through the leaves, casting soft shadows over the well-kept lawn. The breeze carried the fresh scent of earth and flowers, a soothing contrast to any thoughts that might weigh on the mind.
Clark sat on a wooden bench, his gaze lost in the blue sky, savoring the lightness of the moment. Tranquility was a rare luxury, and he knew it.
The sound of footsteps on the grass wasn't a surprise. He'd heard them long before they'd become audible to anyone else.
Kyla.
Her dark hair swayed gently in the wind as she stopped a few steps away, watching him. Her gaze held more than mere curiosity.
"You always seem so at ease here."
Clark shifted his eyes from the sky to her.
"It's a good place to think."
Kyla tilted her head, her eyes glinting with something beyond simple interest.
"Or to wait for fate."
Clark stayed silent for a moment, weighing her words.
She stepped closer, her bare feet brushing the grass, her lightly tanned skin glowing in the daylight.
"Fate brought us here, Clark."
He held his breath for a second.
'Fate has nothing to do with it.'
But he kept the thought to himself.
Kyla sat beside him on the bench, her closeness deliberate, her scent mingling with the flowers around them.
"My grandfather always said Naman and his chosen one would be bound beyond time, beyond the will of men."
Clark didn't look away, but he felt the intent behind her words.
She turned slightly, her dark eyes fixed on him, her lips curving into an almost shy smile.
"I've always believed that."
The wind blew harder, tossing her hair in an almost theatrical sweep.
Clark knew Kyla was intense. He knew her belief in her Native heritage was real. But he also knew her attraction to him wasn't just spiritual.
It was physical.
And the worst part?
He was interested.
Kyla raised her hand, lightly brushing the back of his hand, her soft fingers tracing imaginary lines over his skin.
"You feel it, don't you?"
The air between them grew heavier.
Clark watched her touch, the warmth spreading slowly across his skin.
He could pull away. He could say something to end this right there.
But he didn't.
Her eyes searched his for an answer. A confirmation.
The silence stretched, thick with possibilities.
Kyla smiled faintly, leaning in a little closer.
"Maybe you just need to stop fighting what's already decided."
Clark took a deep breath, his jaw muscles tensing slightly.
'Fate doesn't decide anything. I do.'
The wind blew harder, tousling her hair, sending dry leaves skittering across the lawn. The scent of the flowers mingled with her perfume, creating an almost hypnotic sensation.
Clark took in every detail. Kyla's determined gaze, the way her breathing slowed as if anticipating something inevitable.
Her fingers lingered on his hand, tracing small circles on his skin, warm, soft.
There was something magnetic about the moment.
He leaned in slowly.
Kyla's breath hitched.
For an instant, everything stopped.
Her eyes closed before their lips even met.
The first kiss was light. A test.
Her lips were soft, warm. A perfect fit against his.
The world around them melted away.
Kyla sighed against his mouth, her fingers sliding up his arm, gripping him more firmly, as if afraid he'd pull back.
But he didn't.
The kiss deepened.
Clark slid his hand to her waist, pulling her closer. The heat between them grew, the rhythm of the kiss becoming more intense, more urgent.
Her nails dug lightly into his shoulder, drawing him nearer.
The air between them crackled.
Clark's hands glided along her back, feeling every curve, every detail.
The kiss was no longer just a kiss.
It was a statement.
An acknowledgment of something that had been there for a long time.
When they finally parted, both were breathing heavily. Kyla's eyes sparkled, her cheeks faintly flushed.
Clark ran his tongue over his lips, tasting her.
She smiled.
"I knew it."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Knew it?"
She nodded, her fingers still brushing his face.
"That fate always finds a way."
Clark let out a quiet sigh.
'Fate, huh? Or maybe it's just that I can't turn down free food served at my door.'
He smirked faintly, saying nothing.
Kyla rested her forehead against his, her eyes closing for a moment.
Her heart still pounded in her chest.
'Fate is finally coming true.'
She didn't want to open her eyes.
She didn't want the moment to end.
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