He Said I Was Too Ugly... Now I'm His Fiancée

I hadn't slept all night. My pillow was soaked, my eyes were burning. Since that dinner, everything had fallen apart. Kaelan Winton. My fiancé. Just thinking about it made me sick.

I was pacing around my room. Even my favorite spot by the window, where I usually wrote, felt hostile now. The world had collapsed silently, without warning.

> My parents didn't even ask for my opinion. It was decided. Signed. I'm just a pawn on their social chessboard.

I'd spent the whole evening imagining how I could avoid him at school. But as soon as I stepped through the gates, I knew it was too late.

Rumors had arrived before me.

— Did you hear Kaelan is engaged?

— No way! To who?

— Some weird girl. Like, really weird. Quiet. Creepy almost.

— Seriously? I thought he'd end up with Zoey or some other bombshell...

I heard them. All of them. I wanted to disappear into the pavement. My throat was tight. The words sliced through me.

> Why him? Why me? How am I supposed to survive this?

And as if fate wasn't done tormenting me, I ran right into him.

Kaelan.

He was there, leaning casually against the lockers, his bag thrown at his feet. Surrounded by his crew, wearing that smug smile I knew too well.

Our eyes met. I immediately wanted to flee, but he called out:

— You're not planning to ignore me forever, are you?

I didn't answer. Just quickened my pace.

He followed.

— I thought we were supposed to "make a good impression," you and me. For the parents. How are you gonna do that if you avoid me like the plague?

I stopped. Slowly. Breathing like each breath was a battle.

— You should be the one avoiding me, I murmured.

He raised an eyebrow.

— Excuse me?

— I said… leave me alone, Kaelan. This isn't a game to me. I just want to live my life normally, without this... ridiculous act.

He stepped closer, a mocking smile on his lips.

— Have you looked at me, Liora? My life has never been "normal." And now, yours isn't either. Congratulations.

> He's provoking me. Like always. He wants to see how far he can push me until I break. But this time… I refuse to give him that satisfaction.

— Well, he sighed, looks like you already love me as much as all my exes.

I clenched my jaw. I was about to snap back… when the biology teacher walked into the room.

— Perfect. Winton, Bennett — you'll be partners this week for the nervous system project. You've got until Friday to present it.

I almost fell off my chair.

— What?! I blurted out without thinking.

— Something wrong, Miss Bennett ? the teacher asked.

— No, sir… I mumbled.

Kaelan, of course, was glowing. He turned to me, leaning across his desk.

— See, Liora… the universe wants us closer. We should listen to it.

I shot him a death glare.

> I'm going to survive this. I'll prove I can exist without being crushed. But why do I feel like he's going to destroy me… little by little?