Chapter 2: Detention with the Devil

“The more I tried to stay away from him, the closer he seemed to get.”

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If I thought I could slip into senior year unnoticed, I was wrong.

By second period, it was clear that Raven Cross had made me his new… hobby.

It started in English Lit. I walked into class early, hoping to claim a back-row seat like always. Safe. Invisible. That was how I liked it. But the moment I set my notebook down, a shadow loomed over me.

“Blake, right?” Raven’s voice was low, lazy, like he had all the time in the world.

I stiffened. “Yeah. Amara Blake.”

Without asking, he dropped into the empty seat beside me, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. The sound was enough to turn every head in the room.

Whispers started immediately.

“Why is he sitting there?”

“Poor girl.”

“Is she… brave or just stupid?”

Great. Exactly the kind of attention I didn’t want.

I leaned toward him, whispering fiercely. “What are you doing?”

“Sitting,” he said, leaning back in his chair like he owned it. His gray eyes flickered with amusement. “Problem?”

“Yes,” I hissed. “You don’t sit here.”

“Didn’t know you had a nameplate.” He smirked, pulling out a pen and spinning it between his fingers. “Relax, princess. I don’t bite… unless you ask.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I ducked my head, pretending to scribble something in my notebook. Why was he like this? Why me?

The teacher walked in before I could respond, but Raven didn’t stop. He leaned closer every few minutes, whispering things only I could hear.

“Boring book, isn’t it?”

“That guy in the front row hasn’t blinked once.”

“You smell like vanilla. I like it.”

I clenched my fists under the desk, doing everything I could to ignore him. But every word stuck in my head, echoing like a song I couldn’t turn off.

When the bell finally rang, I practically bolted out of the room. Maybe if I walked fast enough, I could escape him.

But by lunch, my nerves were frayed.

I grabbed my tray—some mystery pasta, a carton of milk, and fries—and headed straight for an empty table in the far corner. It was my usual spot, far from the buzzing cheerleaders, the loud athletes, and the cliques who lived for drama.

Finally, peace.

Or so I thought.

“Amara!”

I nearly dropped my tray. Raven slid into the seat across from me like it was reserved for him. He didn’t ask, didn’t even pause. He just sat down and immediately stole one of my fries.

I glared. “Do you have a problem with personal space?”

He popped the fry into his mouth, chewing slowly. “Nope. Do you?”

Exasperated, I set my tray down with a little too much force. “Why me? Out of all the people at Northwood, why are you bothering me?”

His smirk faded slightly, and for the first time, he looked almost serious. Almost. His eyes narrowed, sharp and calculating, like he was trying to figure me out.

“Because you’re the only one who doesn’t pretend around me,” he said finally. “Everyone else acts scared or fake. You? You’re real.”

My chest tightened, but I forced myself to scoff. “Real annoyed, maybe.”

His smirk returned. “Cute.”

Before I could argue, his hand darted forward, stealing another fry.

“Hey!” I slapped his hand away. “Buy your own food.”

He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “But yours tastes better.”

I opened my mouth, ready to fire back, but the bell rang again, saving me.

Or maybe not.

Because in History class that afternoon, things went from bad to worse.

Mr. Daniels was droning on about the Civil War when I noticed Raven sliding something across my desk. A folded piece of paper.

I frowned, whispering, “What are you doing?”

“Read it,” he whispered back.

I shook my head firmly. No way was I getting caught. But the universe clearly hated me, because the moment I tried to push the paper back toward him, Mr. Daniels’ voice boomed across the room.

“Miss Blake! Mr. Cross!”

My stomach dropped.

“Passing notes in my class? Detention. Both of you. After school.”

The class erupted in whispers and muffled laughter. My cheeks burned as every eye turned to me.

“No, wait—” I tried to protest, but it was useless. Mr. Daniels had already written our names on the board.

Raven leaned back in his chair, smirking like this was the best day of his life. “Looks like you and I have a date, princess.”

I shot him a death glare, but he only winked.

And just like that, I found myself facing my worst nightmare: detention… with the devil himself.

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