After Death, Love Unveiled

Chapter 22

The whole school was buzzing with gossip: Elara had gotten involved with some older guy

But just when everyone thought they had it figured out, Lysander threw a curveball and declared he was going after her too.

Nobody ever imagined lysander would have to chase anyone. Normally, a tilt of his head was all it took to have people scrambling to get his attention.

When Crispin shot him a look of disbeliel, Lysander raised an eyebrow. "What's your deal? Got something to say?"

"Me? No way!" Crispin replied, scrambling to sound casual. No way in hell he was about to voice his real opinion.

He was just stunned that it was Elara who'd caught Lysander's eye. It hit him like a ton of bricks-everything he'd done today was aimed at someone Lysander was interested in.

Suddenly remembering the snarky comments he'd tossed around earlier, Crispin wished the ground would just swallow himm

"Lysander, man, I had no ideal" he blurted out, sounding almost panicked. "If I'd known. I wouldn't have said all that crap to

hert

Lysander just gave a lazy shrug. "Doesn't matter. She's not into you, anyway."

Crispin blinked, taken aback. "Well, shit. That was straight to the point, he thought.

But then he noticed how serious Lysander looked, and his curiosity got the better of him. "So, uh... how's it going with her! Making any headway?"

Lysander let out a frustrated sigh. "She hasn't fallen for me, if that's what you're asking. He was being blunt. Even though he was her tutor now, he believed Elara clearly hadn't developed any feelings for him.

In his eyes, it was obvious her heart was still hung up on Asher. Lysander knew well he might just be a pawn in her little game to get a rise out of Asher,

1

But as long as he could be of some use to her, he wasn't going to complain. Being close to her was enough for him, at least for

HOW.

Crispin followed Lysander's gaze over to where Elara stood gracefully in the crowd, her eyes locked in their direction.

The way she'd been calling out earlier, he'd almost believed she was one of Lysander's biggest fans. Now, though, it was clear Lysander was the one doing the admiring

they'd just uncovered some scandalous secret, while the ones involved were keeping

was on fire with speculation: [Could it be true? Was

him, and

it was Lysander-better than Asher in every imaginable way-who'd somehow ended

out of his gym clothes, Asher stormed out, frustration written

being so thoroughly upstaged by someone he'd never considered a threat? That was a whole different

wanting to say something to make him feel better, but they were just as stunned as Minutes ago, they would've sworn that Lysander would never

his damn mind? Is he seriously into Elara' How

was a mix of shock and something else-jealousy, maybe. She'id always figured that no matter what Elara Asher would never waver. He was supposed to be

with Lysander suddenly stepping in, it was like the rug had been

Deest

muttered under he breath. Maybe we just didn't try hard enough. If we'd cheered him on today, then who knows. As Elara

a slight

are you guys, like, dating? They'd seen the way Lysander had looked at her, with something more than

a small, knowing smile on her

had everything to

she wasn't about to make any assumptions. The last thing

that our families know each other, so we've stayed

suddenly made sense, but one of them couldn't resist asking. "So, is

guy, huh?" Elara

thinking about the rumors they'd heard-how she'd been seen getting picked up from

hell you want.

need some guy to take

some girls from other classes, Elara headed back to her own

her, but she was used to that by now. She casually

sarcastic grin. "We lost the game, and you're

trying to get a rise

into a lazy smile. "Well, you lost the game,

I see. You think you're special just because Lysander gave

tell me you're pissed he didn't notice

his mouth shut,

into the classroom

Grugged on the wit the most grannaly

T