It took me exactly five hours and forty-three minutes before I understood what Jaxton meant by 'distracting', and since then I could not take in any study materials at the library. I had a quick dinner and returned to my dorm with homework on my mind. I was behind on my readings and all I wanted to do was get them done so I could go to sleep. Except, when I flipped on the lights in my room, I knew who I had to deal with first.

"Evening, gentleman." Without even needing to look, I could sense him standing somewhere near the balcony.

"I'm glad you still think I'm a gentleman."

"Get over yourself, Jaxton, and state your business."

"Well," his eyes followed me as I moved around the room, grabbing my water bottle, cleaning my desk... "I gotta make sure little Miss Snitch here didn't go and snitch on me."

Ha, I almost did.

I ignored him. "It sounds like an excuse for wanting to be here. Guess I wasn't the one distracted during the fight, was I?"

"Of course not," he followed me to the counter, plastering a sly smile on his face, "I was so entranced by your beauty that... I won."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, I see, here to rub your victory in my face. Let's make this clear... you can't just pop in my room whenever you want. I might be getting changed, sleeping, taking a shower-"

"Or inviting your boyfriend over?"

"I don't have a boyfriend."

"Ah, declaring your relationship status, I see." He crossed his arms, amused.

"So what? Are you going to confess your love for me?" I stifled a laugh and lifted my chin. "I reject in advance."

He gave a short whistle, "touché." He looked to the empty wall. "What happened to your mirror?"

"It broke. I threw it away."

He raised a brow and shifted his gaze to the wardrobe, "it's in there."

"You've been looking through my stuff!"

"I need to know who I'm dealing with," he crossed his arms, brows-furrowed, "it's not everyday you meet someone who carries a sword called Iridiscent."

And there goes his subtle warning – I have your leverage, Cassandra.

"It goes by Reflecta now," I warned. "I'm flattered you think I'm the dangerous one here."

"Right back at ya."

"On a serious note, why are you here?"

"On an even more serious note," he threw his leg over a chair and leaned on the backrest, "I already told you."

"On a second serious note, Jaxton, I don't want any part in your business." I said, and I was serious. I could hear it in my stern tone; the tone that I reserved for situations like these. "You have danger on your heels, and I'd still like to live a long life and die only when I'm old." My expression faltered when I recalled briefly of my near-death experiences, "because, unlike you, I might not be that lucky."

There was a moment of silence as we stared at each other, I saw his furrowed brows break apart and the falter in his demeanour. I instantly assessed the harshness in my words, but it was too late by then.

Finally, eyes shifting away from mine, he muttered, "you're right. It's a fair point."

I watched him get up and there was an urge to ask him to stop, to... give me a chance to explain things over. But there was nothing that needed explaining. He was keeping secrets. He had no duty to tell me these secrets, and I shouldn't pry into them. Don't you want to live, Cassie? So stay away from him!

I saw him out to the balcony. The air was fresh and crisp as usual, but we've both changed.

"So... I guess I won't be seeing you around, huh." He mentioned softly.

My gaze flickered, landing on his. I was standing close to him but I didn't move away. "No, I don't think so."

He nodded, emerald eyes shifting. Before I could say anything more, he flipped over the balcony and left; as though he'd never been there in the first place.

Loneliness clung to me like the chilly air I thought I loved. I had grown closer to someone, and I decided to push them away. Logic tells me it was the right choice, but the moment he left, I regretted every word I spat out at him.

Why though? I silently thought to myself. Maybe I got used to his presence.

And suddenly, the air wasn't crisp, and the refreshing chill had stung my skin. I breathed out quietly and stared at the starless sky.

I'll probably never see him again.





***



I didn't see Jaxton for the next three days; not on my balcony, not on school grounds either. How hateful was it that my eyes actually moved in search of this man?

As the sun beamed in a nice warmth, I let Jaxton slip from my mind. I had Physical Training class outdoors, and people were buzzing with excitement.

My eyes searched the crowd for familiar faces but there were almost none, except someone with distinct purple eyes. Our gazes met and I gave her a wave.

"Velvet," I greeted and sat down next to her. "How are you?"

It had been ages since I've Velvet. She was in my troop but she hardly seems to be out and about. She attended her classes and training as usual but kept to herself most of the time. So, since there was a chance to get to know her, I was going to do it.

Velvet shrugged, tucking a piece of loose hair behind her ears. "I'm alright. Sorry, we didn't get to talk more last time, I was being weird."

"There's nothing to apologise for," I quickly said. I wasn't going to mess up on someone revealing their insecurities. I've been there once or twice. "You looked like you had something troubling you."

"Yeah, I did," she smiled sweetly, "but it's sorted now. No troubles at all."

"That's great news," I smiled. "Any idea what we're doing today?"

Velvet gave a playful shake of her head, "no idea, but Professor Gill is here so she'll tell us. I heard from the others it's always something fun."

Professor Gill walked in with a dazzling charm, her steps were light, and her eyes were the colour of stars. Her long hair waved to her waist, the tip of her hair tied casually with a blue ribbon. Her pale skin seemed untouched by any sunlight.

She stood under a lush green tree and introduced herself, "Hello class, I'm your instructor for Physical Training this year. I would like for you to find a partner, you have one minute."

There wasn't much time, and the class erupted into excited chatters. People shuffled around, others waved at their friend to come and join them... I looked at Velvet.

"I would like to be in a team with you," she initiated.

"Same here," I grinned.

"One minute is up!"

"You can see the forest behind me," she gestured with her outstretched arm. Everyone lifted their heads to admire nature, but I was quite frightened by the power of it.

"Your mission today is to retrieve the grand treasure by navigating your way around the forest. This is to test teamwork and survival skills." Professor Gill paused and eyed a chattering group of boys before she continued, "you all have an earpiece so you can contact your team members or me directly if anything goes wrong. There will be obstacles and challenges, that you shall all discover yourself.

"You will be split into two big groups. In each group, there will be four teams. One team, out of the four, will be the traitors. They will know the first clue ahead of the others."

I slanted a smile. Oh, it was going to get interesting. The traitors had to get the treasure before anyone else!

"You have time to discuss while I randomly select out the traitors."

The large groups were instantly separated into two. Velvet and I flopped down on a wooden bench and listened carefully to our team's tactics.

"Here's the plan," a boy with caffeine hair said, "find clues. The instructions given are vague, no one has any idea where we are going, so I know we have to figure that out ourselves."

I raised my brows, impressed. Clearly, he knew his direction. His partner was nodding in agreement as well.

"What about the traitor?" A girl sitting beside me said. She had lovely short hair that moved in slivers in the breeze, she and the boy shared the same hair colour and their unique looks. Siblings, I bet.

"We'll have to see," the caffeine-haired boy said. That boy was planning something. We have a pair of traitors among us, and he wasn't going to reveal anything.

I narrowed my eyes, Velvet mimicked my actions more subtly.

"Are you the traitor?" The girl asked skeptically.

"I'm not the traitor."

"You sound awfully suspicious."

"Rain," the boy said between his teeth.

"Greg," Rain replied with a mischievous grin.

"You're just distracting us! You're the traitor!"

Soon, the others started to murmur, eventually escalating to arguments and accusations.

"Stop!" Greg's partner finally decided to say something. He had been the one out of the argument circle. "I think the traitors are not announced yet."

His blue and grey — yes, one colour in each eyeball — flitted around the silenced group and he cleared his throat awkwardly. Everyone had paused their arguments and settled down to apologise.

"Sorry!"

"That's alright."

"It's understandable."

"I'm sorry..."

"I would've done the same."

"You wouldn't be the traitor."

"No worries! We're still friends!"

I threw a knowing glance at Velvet and she replied with a nod.



***



A/N

The game is on! Who do you think is the traitor?

;)

L