"Hey, do you have any of that stuff left from yesterday? If you do, can you hook me up with one?"


    "I''ve only got two small packs left. If you want more, you''ll need to buy them yourself."


    "Studying is killing me. I''ll pay you back with two packs after school!"


    ...


    At lunchtime, two boys in the front row huddled behind a fortress of books on their desks, whispering conspiratorially.


    Fiona''s eyes couldn''t help but drift toward the items they were holding.


    Noticing her interest, the boy sitting next to her grinned and said, "Fiona, want a pack too? It''s great for staying sharp!"


    He waved the small packet wrapped in paper, containing some white powder, with a smug expression.


    Fiona frowned, clearly puzzled. "What is this stuff?"


    "You don''t know? It''s thetest craze. It''s sweet, and once you try it, you''ll crave more. Gives you a real boost."


    With that, he slipped one of the small packs into Fiona''s hand.


    Fiona nced down at the cigarette-like item in her hand.


    Before she could inspect it further, Alec strolled into the ssroom. He effortlessly snatched the small pack from her hand and tossed it back to the boys.


    "Don''t give Fiona this junk."


    Alec''s icy gaze sent a chill across the two boys, who immediately looked down, pretending nothing happened.


    Since Alec showed up yesterday, talking to Fiona had be a mission impossible.


    Even if he was her cousin, did he really have to be such a pain?


    Alec plopped down next to Fiona. He hadn''t nned to lecture her, but seeing Fiona''s eyes glued to the boys'' snacks, he couldn''t resist giving her cheek a yful pinch. "Fiona, what did I tell you this morning? Is your memory that bad? Need me to spell it out again?"


    Alec''s words came through gritted teeth.


    "Ouch! Let go, Alec! That hurts!" Fiona protested.


    "It hurts? Maybe you need a taste of real pain to remember!"


    Their


    tussle at the back of


    the ssroom turned heads and


    the room.


    All eyes were on them.


    A knock echoed from the ssroom door.


    Fiona and Alec froze mid-scuffle.


    Everyone craned their necks to see.


    swre


    A tall, impably dressed man stood outside, his suit perfectly tailored. Though he was in his forties, he looked barely over thirty, exuding a mature charm that made


    every girl in ss nce away shyly.


    "Who''s that? A teacher here?"


    "A teacher that handsome? I''ve never seen him around."


    "Me neither."


    ...


    The girls whispered excitedly among themselves.


    The boys shot envious nces.


    He was the picture-perfect image every guy aspired to be!


    "Everyone, sit down."


    James''s voice cut through the chatter, cold andmanding.


    No one dared to utter a word, silenced by his intense presence.


    People like him were usually way


    stricter than your average teach


    swno


    "Godfather?!"


    Fiona''s exmation was muffled as Alec quickly covered her mouth.


    Peers around them cast curious nces.


    Godfather?!


    Alec gritted his teeth and muttered, "You always talk too fast."