After Death, Love Unveiled

Chapter 19

On the forum, the gossip was still flying, with people saying Elara was no angel. The story of how shed dealt with Lizzie wo spreading like wildfire.

Faced with such obvious provocation, Elara couldn't help but be amused. Maybe to these people, seeing a girl wrapped up in scandal was exactly the kind of drama they craved

She didn't bother getting angry, instead, she calmly asked, "So, you're Crispin Kennedy!

Crispin blinked in surprise, stumbling over his words. "W-what? You know who I am! I, uh, heard you used to you know, take care of Asher Blackwood. Is that true? Shit, you don't have a thing for me, do you? I'm not up for being someone's sugar baby!" He clutched his chest dramatically, like her knowing his name meant she was about to declare her undying love

Elara couldn't hold back her laughter. "Wow. If you don't have a mirror at home, try finding a puddle. Take a good, long look at yourself-me, interested in you? That's a fucking joke" With t

that, she slung her backpack over her shoulder and walked away without another word.

Crispin, clearly offended, stood there trying to save face. "Hey! You don't have to be so damn mean! Im not exactly hard on the eyes, right?"

She didn't even look back as she climbed into her car and drove of

Left standing there, Crispin's wounded pride slowly turned into a cocky grin. Elara Kensington, huh? Dissing me like that? I'll remember you, sweetheart, he thought grimly.

When Elara got home, she found Lysander already there. After disappearing for a few days, he'd finally decided to show up. Cotton was practically glued to his side, showering him with affection after the long absence.

Elara raised an eyebrow, "So, you're finally done with work?"

Lysander, towering over her, gave a small nod. "Yeah."

She crossed her arms, teasing him. "I was starting to think you'd had enough of tutoring me and were bailing for good." She'd tried a few other tutors lately, but none came close to Lysander's knack for explaining things. Lysander shrugged, brushing off her comment. "No way. I've just been slammed with-

"You don't need to explain." Elara interrupted. "I'm just glad you're still helping me out. If you've got other things to handle. I

get it"

to look after her body when everything

the lesson, smiled. "Alright then, let's

a whirlwind of questions

hunched over her desk, scribbling like her life depended on it, Lysander just stood there, watching her quietly. He'd heard all the online drama, and honestly, he'd

All the shit he was going to say to comfort her

down and saw a text from Crispin:

Cupter 19

like Lysander might flake last minute, even though he'd already committed. But it wasn't totally unreasonable-Lysander was known to be unpredictable sometimes. He shot

class wrapped up. Lysander broke the silence. Tll be at your school

Elara looked

a basketball game," he said,

second she

he felt a rush of something he hadn't

her, she'd been glued to Asher's side, acting like Lysander didn't even exist. Now, hearing her say she'd come to support him felt

team was no joke, and everyone was talking about it. "I saw Crispin Kennedy on campus the other day. Damn, that guy's fine,

here. He doesn't even hold a candle to Asher, another girl snapped

poster-straight A's, top athlete, and stupidly good-looking. The guy had more fans

funk. Elara had mentioned something about Asher's dad being a gambler, and that had rubbed

about Asher now? That

near flawless. At Crestview, he was practically a god, and being linked to him was still a major badge of honor

was lost in her book, completely tuning out

a time when, if Asher had a game, she'd be the first to rally the troops to cheer biggest fan-practically overflowing with

looking back, it

on. Back then, she was

support

with some older guy, and before she knew it, when people went to sup Asher, they forgot

was gushing, "I heard Lysander went to Oakridge High too! Think he'll show up?" Everyone knew Lysander because he always outperformed Asher in everything-especially exams-always snagging that