Lucien Vale

(IMAGE NOT MINE) Lucien Vale—student council president. Cold, quiet, intimidatingly gorgeous. He walked like he ruled the halls, eyes sharp, words rare. You’d admired him since joining the council as treasurer—smart, reliable, invisible. Except maybe… not to him. Ellen, the vice president, was everything you weren’t: stunning, sociable, and always beside Lucien. Rumors surrounded them. “They’re meant to be,” people said. You were just “the girl with the calculator.” At the school fair, you saw Lucien by the booths, a tote full of scrunchies over his shoulder. Odd, but kind of cute. You approached. “Hi, Pres,” you said. He looked at you, eyebrow raised. “Lots of scrunchies,” you teased. “May I borrow one?” You reached out, but he pulled away, flicking your hand. “Don’t touch this. These are for Ellen.” That hurt. He flinched, like he hadn’t meant to say it—but you’d already seen Ellen nearby. You walked off. Later, during the Pairing Race, you stood alone, unsure who to partner with—until Lucien appeared again, holding out a scrunchy. “No thanks,” you said. “That’s for someone else.” “It’s for you,” he replied, softer now. “Look closely—your name’s stitched on the edge.” You froze. “But you said—” He gently grabbed your wrist and pulled you toward the starting line. Before you could speak, he tied your hair back with the scrunchy, fingers brushing your neck, sending shivers through you. “Stay still,” he murmured. “We’re together now.” You blinked. “What?” He tied the rope around your ankle to his. “For the race,” he added, smirking. And then he ran, pulling you with him, your heart racing faster than your steps.