57

KATHERINE THRONES

I couldn't bear the thought of him announcing to the whole school that we had sex, just like he had done with all those other girls.

My mind raced with worry, and without thinking, I bolted away from him as fast as I could. I needed to find a safe place to hide. I dashed through the hallways, my legs carrying me as if my life depended on it. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision.

The door handle to the chemistry lab was the first thing I grabbed, and I tumbled inside and closed the door behind me, leaning against it to catch my breath.

Luckily, it was empty.

My heart thudded in my chest, a mix of anxiety and anticipation flooding my senses. I was scared that he had succeeded in using me, that he didn't care about me at all.

I know he swears that he was a changed man. But I couldn't shake off the feeling. What if everything we had shared meant nothing to him? The thought shattered my fragile hopes, leaving me feeling vulnerable and betrayed.

As I hid in that quiet, sterile space, I couldn't help but question my own worth. Was I just another conquest of him? Did I mean anything more than a game? Doubt consumed me, wrapping its suffocating tendrils around my heart.

I had foolishly let down my guard for him.

This was not supposed to happen.

Time ticked by slowly, each passing second intensifying my fear. I anxiously awaited the sound of the door opening, half-expecting Alexander's voice to boom through the room. Every creak and whisper of the outside world made my heart skip a beat, but his voice didn't come

Just then, the lab door swung open suddenly, catching me off guard. Since I was leaning against it, I lost my balance and crashed down to the floor in a heap.

My eyes widened as I looked up to see Alexander standing there, his face a mixture of surprise and concern. Panic flooded through me, and I scrambled to my feet as fast as I could.

I wanted to run away, to escape from this overwhelming situation.

But then, unexpectedly, he reached out and grabbed my hand, stopping me in my tracks.

His touch sent a jolt of electricity through me, and my heart raced even faster.

I looked at him, my eyes pleading, silently asking him to let me go, to release me from this tumultuous moment.

"Please," he said, his voice filled with earnestness, "don't go. Just... hear me out." His words were simple, but they held a vulnerability that I hadn't expected from him. The way he looked at me, it was like he genuinely cared.

I hesitated, my mind spinning with confusion. Should I stay and listen? Was it worth the risk of getting hurt? But there was something in his eyes, something that made me want to give him a chance. Slowly, I nodded, indicating that I would stay.

His grip on my hand tightened as if seeking reassurance.

Alexander looked at me, his expression serious. "I don't want to waste much of your time, I just want to talk to you," he said, his voice gentle yet determined.

My mind raced, searching for an excuse to avoid this conversation. I blurted out, "I have a class this morning, I'm late."

Alexander looked at me intently, his eyes searching mine. "Katherine," he drawled. "I know you didn't have any class this morning until the third period."

I froze, my heart skipping a beat. How did he know that? Did he... actually pay attention to my schedule? The surprise must have shown on my face because he continued speaking.

"I noticed, Katherine," he said softly, his voice tinged with vulnerability. "I've been paying attention to you, to the little details. I know your morning routine, your classes, your schedule."

His words hung in the air, and I could feel the weight of his observation settle upon me. The realization that he had taken the time to study my routine, wasn't that much of a big deal but it meant something.

My mind raced, trying to come up with a response, but the words eluded me. How could I have underestimated him? I had thought of him as nothing more than a player, someone who used girls without a second thought. Yet here he was, proving me wrong, showing me that he saw me as more than just another conquest.

I mustered the courage to meet his gaze, my voice trembling slightly. "You... you actually noticed?" I managed to say, my tone a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

A small smile played on his lips, genuine and heartfelt. "Yes, Katherine," he replied, his voice filled with a sincerity that caught me off guard. "I noticed because you matter to me. Your presence in my life has made a difference, and I wanted to show you that I care, that I see you for who you truly are."

At that moment, the walls I had built around myself began to crumble, but I wasn't ready to give in yet.

"Fine, you caught me there," I responded, my voice tinged with unease. "What do you want to say?" I took my hand away from him and crossed them on my chest, attempting to appear unaffected, but my body betrayed me, fidgeting with nervous energy.

And then he asked if that made my heart skip a beat. "Why did you avoid me this morning?"

I froze, caught off guard by his directness. A million thoughts raced through my mind, but I struggled to find the right words. The truth was, I was scared. Scared of what he might say, scared of my own feelings, scared of getting hurt.

I averted my gaze, trying to compose myself. "I... I didn't avoid you," I stammered, my voice betraying my inner turmoil. I could feel my cheeks flush, a clear sign that my attempt to feign indifference was failing miserably.

But Alexander saw through my feeble façade. His eyes searched mine, and I could see the concern in his gaze. "Katherine," he said softly, his voice filled with a mix of earnestness and vulnerability. "I need to know. Did I do something wrong? Did I hurt you?"

His words pierced through my defenses, and I realized that I couldn't keep hiding. Taking a deep breath, I summoned my courage and met his gaze. "No, it's not that," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I... I've been scared. Scared of my own feelings, scared of being vulnerable,”

“I thought you were going to break up with me, right there, in front of everyone. And... and I felt as if you had used me like I was just another girl on your list."

The words spilled out, carrying the insecurities that had plagued me. I could feel the lump forming in my throat as I continued, my voice barely above a whisper. "It was hard for me to trust you, especially after seeing how you treated other girls. I couldn't shake the feeling that you would just leave me, just like you did with them."

As the weight of my confession settled upon us, I could see the impact of my words on Alexander's face. His expression softened, his eyes filled with remorse. It was as if he truly understood the pain he had inadvertently caused me.

He gave out a stifled chuckle and I watched as he looked away, his gaze fixed on an empty space. His response had caught me off guard and caused a flutter of uncertainty within me. Did he find my lack of trust amusing?

"So you can't trust me, huh?" he finally said, his tone carrying a hint of humor.

I stammered, my voice barely audible as I whispered, "Yes."

But then something shifted in his expression, and his laughter rang out, genuine and heartfelt. My eyes widened in surprise as I watched him laugh for real, his voice filling the space between us. It was a sound I had never expected to hear, and it both perplexed and intrigued me.

With a smile on his face, Alexander stepped closer, his hand finding its place on my waist. His touch sent shivers down my spine, a mix of vulnerability and affection. His eyes locked with mine, and he spoke, his voice filled with sincerity.

"Katherine, I would never disgrace you like that," he said earnestly, his gaze unwavering. "I may have had a reputation, but with you, it's different. I didn't use you for your body. I want you to understand that. Every moment we shared, every intimate connection we had, it was because I love you."

His words echoed in my mind, drowning out the doubts that had plagued me. I searched his eyes for any sign of deceit, any trace of insincerity, but all I found was a genuine affection, a vulnerability that matched my own.

"Katherine," he said, his voice laced with regret, "I'm so sorry. I never wanted you to feel that way, to doubt my intentions. I admit, I used to be that person, the playboy who didn't think twice about breaking hearts. But something changed when I met you. I started to see the consequences of my actions, the pain I had caused."

His words held a sincerity that touched my wounded heart, making me wonder if it was possible for him to change, for us to move past our past mistakes. I allowed myself a glimmer of hope as I met his gaze.

"I don't want to be that person anymore," he continued, his voice filled with conviction. "I want to be different, to show you that you mean more to me than just a conquest. I want to earn your trust, Katherine, and prove to you that my intentions are genuine."

“Alexander, I—”

‘Katherine, I love you," he confessed, His voice trembling with raw emotion. "I truly love you, more than anything. You've shown me what it means to care for someone deeply, to want to be a better person for them."

His declaration washed over me, overwhelming me with a flood of emotions. The doubts and insecurities that had plagued me seemed insignificant in the face of his unwavering affection.

Before I could respond, before I could find the right words to express the love that swelled within me, he closed the distance between us. His lips met mine in a tender, passionate kiss, filled with a depth of feeling that words could never capture.

In that moment, everything faded away—the doubts, the fears, the uncertainties. There was only the warmth of his touch, the taste of his love on my lips. Our kiss spoke volumes, conveying the depths of our connection and the promise of a future built on trust and genuine affection.

Time seemed to stand still as we embraced, lost in the sweet surrender of our love.

As we broke apart, our breaths mingled, and our eyes locked once again.

“I fucking love you too, Alexender,'' I said, and then I threw myself at him in another kiss.