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

[Could it be

practically throwing herself at him, and he didn't

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

his gym clothes, Asher stormed

upstaged by someone he'd never considered a threat? That was a whole

make him feel better, but they were just as stunned as Minutes ago, they

Lysander lost his damn mind? Is he seriously into Elara' How could he

a mix of shock and something else-jealousy, maybe. She'id always figured that no matter what Elara Asher would

was like

Deest

somehow.catching Lysander's eye. Daphine muttered under he breath. Maybe we just didn't try hard enough. If we'd cheered him on today, then who knows. As Elara stepped out of the gym, her friends pounced on her with curious stares. "Elara, did you

gave a slight nod.

seen the way Lysander had looked at her, with something more than just casual interest, and now

head, a small, knowing smile on her

was, they were engaged. But her pursuit of Lysander had everything to do with stuff

about to make any assumptions. The last thing she wanted was to be the butt of

their curious faces, Elara shrugged. "Relax, it's just that our families know each other, so we've stayed in

They all nodded, acting like it suddenly made sense, but one of them couldn't resist

baby being kept by a rich old guy, huh?" Elara cut in, deadpan, not even flinching as she

bit sheepish, probably thinking about the rumors they'd heard-how she'd been

can think whatever the hell you want. It doesn't

need some guy to take care of me!

girls from other classes, Elara

she was

her turned around with a sarcastic grin. "We lost the game, and

clearly trying

the game, not me. Why shouldn't I

special just

"Aw, don't tell me you're pissed he didn't notice

with frustration, and he snapped his mouth shut, unable to come

the classroom with Daphne and Lizzie

las Grugged on the wit the most grannaly set the

T