Urban System in America

Sophie clapped her hands together like she'd already won a prize. "Then it's settled. I'm ordering the most expensive thing on the menu. Lobster, caviar, imported truffles—"

"We're going to the cafeteria, Sophie," Rex cut in dryly.

Her face fell in exaggerated devastation, like he'd just told her Christmas was canceled. "You wound me. You truly wound me."

Daisy snorted. "Don't worry, Soph. He's probably dragging us to some fancy spot. Cafeteria food doesn't match his 'aesthetic.'"

Rex just smirked, not confirming or denying. In truth, he didn't care about them eating well, he could spoil them any day. What he really cared about was Elara. She hadn't said a word during this whole exchange, but Rex didn't miss the way her eyes flickered down at her notebook, how she curled her fingers to still the faint trembling. That little tell-tale sign that she hadn't had a proper meal all morning.

Inviting the trio was the perfect cover. If he asked Elara alone, she'd probably refuse out of pride or awkwardness. But wrapped in the excuse of "group celebration," she'd have no way out.

"Don't worry about the details," Rex finally said, leaning back with that lazy grin of his. "Point is, you'll all eat well. That's my promise."

"Mm-hm," Hannah hummed, eyes narrowing just enough to make Rex wonder if she'd seen through him. "We'll hold you to that."

"Good," Rex said smoothly, even as a flicker of unease shot through him. Hannah had that unnerving talent of cutting straight to the center of things. But she didn't press further, flipping her pen between her fingers like she'd already moved on.

Sophie tapped her pen against his desk again, her smile turning wicked. "Don't think this gets you off the hook, though. You're still putting in your share of the writing. I'm not staying up till three a.m. while you sip coffee and look pretty."

"Correction," Rex said, wagging a finger. "I don't sip coffee and look pretty. I sip coffee, look devastatingly handsome, and occasionally provide moral support."

"Useless," Hannah muttered.

"Agreed," Daisy said.

Elara, to his side, ducked her head quickly—but not before Rex caught the small laugh that slipped out.

That one, tiny, genuine laugh made his grin stretch even wider than before.

The conversation drifted from assignments to random gossip, harmless jokes tossed around like confetti. Nobody brought up Steven's sudden change in attitude, nor the strange business at the Hollywood studio, nor Rex's abrupt disappearance yesterday. They were all sharp enough to know what subjects were better left untouched.

Instead, the table turned into a mini comedy show. Sophie dramatically reenacted a scene where one of the professors nearly tripped over a projector cord, Daisy teased her for overacting, and Hannah cut through their nonsense with sharp, perfectly-timed one-liners. Even Elara, who usually just listened, offered a quiet remark or two that drew chuckles.

Rex, of course, leaned back in his chair like a king on his throne, tossing in witty retorts that only fueled the energy.

To the rest of the class, though, the sight was torture.

There he was, surrounded by the "beauty trio" and Elara…three of the prettiest girls in the department, laughing and chatting as if it were the most natural thing in the world. A few desks away, boys gritted their teeth so hard it was a miracle their molars didn't shatter.

"Seriously? All three?" one whispered under his breath.

"At least leave one for us," another muttered, fists clenched on his desk.

They could only watch in helpless agony as Rex leaned closer to hear something Daisy said, or as Sophie swatted at him for a sarcastic comment. Every time Elara's shy laugh slipped out, it was like a knife to their collective hearts.

If envy could kill, Rex would've dropped dead a hundred times over.

One particularly bitter guy slumped forward on his desk, groaning, "Why him? If I had that face, that voice, that… hair, I'd have a whole fan club too!"

Another clenched his pen like a weapon. "Forget fan club, I'd just march over, smash that smug face of his, and take his seat. Problem solved."

Unfortunately for them, the thought stayed a fantasy. Rex, blissfully unaware, or perhaps deliberately ignoring their murderous gazes…just carried on, basking in the lively chatter, tossing back clever remarks and looking like he belonged there all along.

Suddenly, a sharp little yelp cut through the chatter. Not loud enough to drag the whole class's attention, but definitely enough to make Rex and the nearby circle jolt.

Everyone turned. Sophie, eyes wide as saucers, was staring at her phone like it had just announced her favorite celebrity was moving in next door. Her gaze bounced between the glowing screen and Rex, then back again, mouth opening and closing in disbelief.

"What happened?" Daisy asked, half concerned, half curious.

Hannah leaned in, frowning slightly. "Did someone die? Or worse—did you just get tagged in a bad photo?"

Sophie practically shoved the phone under their noses, squealing, "No, look! LOOK!"

It was a photo… no, practically a glamour shot… of Rex stepping out of his new car earlier that morning. The uploader had caught it at just the right angle, the sunlight bouncing off the polished curves, Rex's figure sharp and elegant like some model in a magazine. Unsurprisingly, it had already made its way to the school forum. After all, half the parking lot had been recording when he arrived.

The girls blinked. The boys across the room clenched their fists harder.

Rex leaned back in his chair, unfazed. "...It's just a car."

"JUST a car?!" Sophie's voice went up an octave, not quite a scream, but loud enough to make the nearby desks glance over in irritation. She grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him like he owed her money. "That's a SPORTS car! Do you even know how long I've been drooling over this model?! It's my dream car, Rex, my DREAM!"

Rex sighed, peeling her hands off. "Dream, nightmare, whatever… it still only has four wheels. Relax."

(End of Chapter)