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"

still stuck by her, even making sure someone was there to look after her body when everything went down. A

eager to dive back into the lesson, smiled. "Alright then, let's get

study with Lysander, her mind was a whirlwind of questions that had been piling up for days. She needed answers, and she

stood there, watching her quietly. He'd heard all the online drama, and honestly, he'd been

Better than fine, actually. All the shit he

and saw a

Cupter 19

committed. But it wasn't totally unreasonable-Lysander was known to be

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

looked

said, like

Elara's eyes lit up the second she heard that. "Oh my god! I'll totally be there to

nodded, but inside, he felt a rush of

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

buzzing. Oakridge High School's team was no joke,

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

A's, top athlete, and stupidly good-looking. The guy had more fans than anyone, no

in a bit of a funk. Elara had mentioned something

go on about Asher now? That kind of

practically a god, and being

was lost in her book, completely tuning out the

had a game, she'd be the first to rally the

back, it felt almost

then,

support

started swirling that she was involved with some older guy, and before she knew it, when people went to sup Asher, they forgot to

somewhere in the crowd, someone 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