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"

stuck by her, even making sure someone was there to look after her body when everything went down. A few days of him being MLA

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

into the study with Lysander, her mind was a whirlwind of questions that had been piling up for

stood there, watching her quietly. He'd heard all the online drama, and honestly, he'd been a little worried about how

her now, in person, she looked fine. Better than fine, actually. All the shit he was going to say

Lysander's phone buzzed. He glanced down and saw a text from Crispin: Yo, don't

Cupter 19

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

the class wrapped up. Lysander broke the

looked up,

basketball game," he said, like it was

second she heard that. "Oh my god! I'll totally be there

but inside, he felt a rush of something he hadn't

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

school was buzzing. Oakridge High School's team was no

hold a candle

basically a walking perfection poster-straight A's, top athlete, and stupidly good-looking. The guy had

Elara had mentioned something about Asher's dad being a gambler, and that had rubbed her the wrong

But hearing everyone go on about Asher now? That kind of soothed her nerves. After all, a father's fuck-ups didn't define

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

her book, completely

a time when, if Asher had a game, she'd be the first to rally

back, it felt almost

Back then,

support

and before

he'll show up?" Everyone knew Lysander because he always outperformed Asher in everything-especially exams-always snagging that top spot "I doubt it. He never shows