average human’s Reviews > Hectic Elements: Fairview Academy Book 1 > Status Update

I bring up a music app.
And give into the temptation to search Rapid’s name.
A band pops up with his, Tomashi’s, and two other guys names featured on the cover.
XTC.
I snort at the play on letters. XTC = Ecstasy.
Selecting their number 1 viral song, something called ‘Revelry’, I lower my phones volume and settled back into my blanket.
Since Rapid and I had already hashed out our mutual love for old-school rock, I shouldn’t have been surprised the song opened with a stunner of a guitar rip.
But the music, the lyrics…… the absolutely orgasmic artistry that followed was a magic all on its own.
Caught between gritty rock like ‘Nickelback’ and lyrical genius like ‘Imagine Dragons’, I let the rhythm carry me away.
Eventually, I fall back asleep.
But the pain follows me into my dreams and throws me head-first into a realm of horror.


I didn’t want to go down to breakfast.
To the point that I was procrastinating in my room even though my stomach was screaming for food. And I had to get to class.
But all of the guys were down there.
Rapid and Tomashi were down there.
Thinking about the situation since my eyes opened this morning made me realise I hated confrontation.
And yet, I had to confront them.
Or at least tell Rapid not to flirt with me anymore – which I was now sure he had been doing.
Had he not been involved with someone, I would be swooning right about now. Instead, I felt upset, hurt, and a little guilty.
This would really explain why Tomashi hated me so much – his man kept flirting with a female right in front of him.
But that also left me wondering why he hadn’t just said something. I wasn’t vindictive or catty; I would have backed off immediately.
Groaning, I suck it up and grab my jacket and the basket of laundry I had to get done this afternoon.
Making my way down the stairs like I was on my death march to the gallows, I step down into the kitchen and rush past them all to the laundry room.
“Morning.” Fade calls after me.
“Morning.” I chirp back and continue on to dump the basket beside the washing machine.
“Hey, Sin.” Rapid greets, and I squeak.
“I have to get to class.” I rush out, ducking past him.
“Sinta!” Rapid calls after me.
“You do not want breakfast?” Fade questions, following me to the door.
“No, I’m fine. Thank you!”
And then I’m out the door and speed walking my way along the path.
So much for confronting them. All my bluster flew out the damn window.
I needed to visit the Wizard and ask for some courage.
“May I accompany you?” Fade asks.
Jumping, I curse my distraction. I knew better, dammit.
I should have been more alert than this.
“Sure.” I agree.
“I did not mean to scare you.” He murmurs in that lush sexy accent of his.
“I’m just jumpy. It’s been a long week.” I dismiss, tucking my hands into my jacket.
He nods.
It’s quiet as we continue on. Too quiet.
Normally the rustling of leaves in the wind and the gentle calls of birds would be relaxing.
Right now I wished for some thunder. Or an earthquake.
Anything to dispel the tension around us.
“Thank you for walking with me.” I murmur. “You guys normally just disappear after breakfast.”
“Oui. Second year is very busy, but I wanted to spend a little more time with you.” Fade gives me his signature smooth smile, full of charm.
I smile, but it does nothing to get rid of the awkward tension I’m feeling.
It was one hundred percent coming from me.
He was calm, strolling along beside me, his ridiculously handsome features looking extra sexy in the rare sunlight we were getting today.
I think I was nervous because I liked him. More than liked him.
He, Elijah, and Rapid had been very clear in their interest.
I’d chosen to ignore it because I didn’t know how to deal with it.
But now Rapid was very obviously off limits. And it’s not like I’m a nun….
I’d never been in a relationship, and now I was thinking about four different guys.
Three different guys.
Whether I liked it or not my mystery male from Angel’s Fare was still firmly in the back of my mind. But he also wasn’t here.
And Rapid was taken.
So I had to figure out how to navigate between Elijah and Fade without hurting either of them or screwing up.
Or if I was even going to be with one of them.
I was becoming a little too good at overthinking things.
“Are you okay, gorgeous?” Fade inquires, giving me a concerned look.
I’m sure I look confused. “Yes?”
“You groaned.” He tells me, his smile curling up into a grin.
“Oh. Whoops.”
“Is there something you want to talk about?” He asks after a few moments of quiet.
“You’re very straight forward.” I mutter, kicking at the ground as I walked. “And astute.”
“When I want something, yes.” He agrees.
I don’t look up to gauge his expression, thinking maybe I should take a page out of his book instead and just come out with it.
“You have been flirting with me.” I blurt.
His answer is immediate. “Oui.”
“Because you want to date me, or because you want something more……. Casual?” I force myself to get the sentence out, the words hesitant.
It takes a moment this time, but he sounds amused when he finally answers. “Yes, Sinta. Elijah, Rapid, and I are interested. I am interested in whatever you want to pursue.”
I nod casually, like he hadn’t just confirmed he was into me.
I played it cool. Stopped myself from bouncing around like a lunatic chanting ‘he likes me, he likes me’.
But knowing I could and actually doing it are two completely different things.
“And you would……” Clearing my throat, I try to search for the words.
“Yes?” Fade prompts.
Pausing, lifting my head and watching him swerve to stop before me, I force myself to look into his gorgeous eyes and ask, “Envisageriez-vous de sortir avec moi?”
:Would you consider dating me?:
His eyes lit up, flaring with a quiet joy.
I let him take my hand when he reaches for it, watch as he brings it up to his lips and presses a gentle kiss to my knuckles.
“Oui. J’en serais honoré.” He breathes, his smile small but incandescent.
:Yes. I would be honoured.:
My grin was embarrassingly huge.
“The man is supposed to ask, you know? Chivalry is not all dead.” He teases.
I shrug, boldly lacing my fingers through his and squeezing. “You took too long. Better luck next time.”
He shakes his head, squeezing my hand back. “You Americans and your love for speed. Vous pouvez parler français.”
:You can speak French.:
“Oui. J’ai appris au lycée.” I confirm, liking that it seemed to make him so happy.
:Yes. I learned in high school.:
“I do not have many people I can speak my native language with. I’m glad I can share it with you.” He murmurs, the words filled with tangible emotion. “Votre français est très bon.”
:Your French is very good.:
“J’aimais le français à l’école. J’ai envie d’aller à Paris un jour, de visiter le quartier des artistes.” I tell him.
:I liked French at school. I want to go to Paris one day, to visit the artists’ district.:
He smiles again. “An artiste. Maybe I’ll take you one day, show you all the local spots.”
“You lived in Paris?”
He laughs at my excitement, holding my hand as I dance from foot to foot. “Oui. A few blocks from the Eiffel Tower.”
“We’re going one day. I want to know all the good spots, and you have to take me to one of those huge art stores they have.” I insist. “I want a fancy brush set that costs hundreds.”
“Can we have a date first?”
“I’ll be generous and let you plan it.” I tease.
“Merci, Magnifique.” He croons.
:Thank you, Gorgeous.:
Smiling, feeling like I was floating with happiness, I stare at his perfect face and have a moment of complete and utter disbelief.
People always say college is the time to discover and explore.
Does that count when you attend an Academy?
“Are you sure you want to date me?” I check, wanting no misunderstandings.
No boyfriends or a bed buddy hiding in the shadows.
I had to find a way to apologise to Tomashi. Maybe then he’d stop staring at my throat like he wanted to rip it out with his teeth.