The bully's redemption

As Xavier's face inched closer, Kamsi's nerves got the better of her. Suddenly, a sneeze built up inside her, and she couldn't hold it back.

"Achoo!" she sneezed, her head jerking forward.

Their foreheads collided, and they both recoiled in surprise.

Xavier winced, rubbing his sore forehead. "What the hell was that?" he asked, his tone sharp.

Kamsi stepped back, her face burning with embarrassment. "Sorry, okay? I couldn't help it."

Xavier smirked. "Seems like the nudist caught a cold."

Kamsi's embarrassment quickly turned to irritation. "Well, it's all your fault," she muttered.

Xavier chuckled, his grin widening. "Oh, I think it's hilarious. You're standing here, sneezing and apologizing, and I'm the one who's supposed to be the reckless one."

Kamsi scowled, crossing her arms. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Xavier shrugged, his smile still plastered on his face.

Kamsi sneezed again, her body jerking forward. Xavier burst out laughing.

Kamsi's face turned bright red as she glared at him. He took a step closer, his eyes sparkling with mirth, and touched her forehead, checking her temperature. Kamsi's eyes widened in shock, her mind racing with confusion. Why was this Bully being nice to her all of a sudden?

Xavier's voice cut through Kamsi's daze. "Do you have any meds at home?" His tone was surprisingly gentle, a stark contrast to the sharpness she'd come to expect.

Kamsi nodded, still in shock. "Yeah, my mom's a nurse. We always have medicine around, just in case."

Why are you being nice to me ? The question swirled in her mind, leaving her more confused by the second. Before she could fully grasp what was happening, Xavier started walking from the balcony toward her room, moving with a calm assurance that left her dumbstruck.

"Are you going to stand there until you freeze?" His rhetorical question snapped her back to reality, and she trailed after him, still unable to shake the feeling that she was dreaming.

As they entered her room, Kamsi's eyes darted around, noting the warmth of the soft lighting, the familiar scent of lavender from the diffuser her mom insisted on using. It felt surreal to have Xavier there, in her personal space, a place where she usually felt safe and alone.

"Have you eaten?" he asked, turning to her with a seriousness that made her stomach flutter.

"Yes," she replied, her voice small, still wrestling with the dissonance between the Xavier she knew and the one standing in front of her. Is this some kind of trick.

"Good. Now get the medicine," he instructed, his gaze steady as he followed her downstairs. His presence made her hyper-aware of every step she took. She could feel his eyes on her, a silent reminder that he was right there, closer than he'd ever been.

As they reached the kitchen, Kamsi hesitated, fumbling with the cabinet doors. Why was he still here? Shouldn't he have left by now?

Xavier watched her for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward. "Never mind," he said, his tone decisive as he moved to the stove. He turned on the kettle, his movements swift and sure. Kamsi watched in disbelief, her mind racing. This can't be real .

When the water boiled, Xavier poured a glass and handed it to her. "Take the medicine," he ordered, his tone firm yet not unkind.

Kamsi stared at the pills in her hand, the warmth of the glass seeping into her skin. She hesitated, doubt gnawing at her. Is this really happening?

Xavier noticed her reluctance and raised an eyebrow. "You were bold enough to call me a 'bla monkey' the other day," he remarked, a smirk playing on his lips.

Kamsi's heart skipped a beat. He heard that ? Wait ,how ? She felt a flush of embarrassment creeping up her neck. Why didn't he say anything then?

She quickly swallowed the medicine, the heat from the water warming her insides as she tried to steady her breathing. Her body was still burning with fever, and she felt his gaze on her, intense and unwavering. Why won't he leave?

Finally, she forced herself to ask, "Aren't you going to leave?"

Xavier's lips curled into that infuriatingly sly smile. "What, are you scared I might…?" He trailed off, his voice low and teasing, sending a shiver down her spine. Before she could respond, he stepped closer, the space between them narrowing, and reached out to touch her forehead.

"You're still burning up," he muttered, his expression unreadable. Kamsi's breath caught as his hand lingered for a moment longer than necessary, the touch strangely comforting despite her confusion.

He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and headed to the restroom. Kamsi stood frozen, her mind a jumble of thoughts and emotions. What is he doing? Why is he doing this?

She watched as he returned with the damp handkerchief, his expression focused as he gently placed it on her forehead. The coolness of the cloth contrasted sharply with the warmth of his fingers, grounding her in the strange reality of the situation.

Kamsi lay still, feeling the cool handkerchief on her forehead, her thoughts swirling with confusion. She couldn't take it anymore. The question that had been burning inside her finally burst out.

"Why are you being nice to me?"

Xavier paused, the question hanging in the air between them. For a moment, he just stared at her, his dark eyes studying her face as if searching for something. The silence stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity. Kamsi's heartbeat quickened, her mind racing with possibilities. What is he thinking .

Finally, he leaned back slightly, his gaze breaking away as he looked at something distant, something only he could see. He took a deep breath, and for the first time since he had walked in, Xavier seemed uncertain.

"I don't know," he started, his voice quieter now, as if he was admitting something to himself as much as to her. He hesitated, then looked back at her, his eyes locking onto hers. "I guess… I find you intriguing."

Kamsi's breath caught in her throat. Intriguing ?Of all the things she had expected him to say, this wasn't one of them. She tried to process the word, its implications, but it felt too big, too loaded with meaning.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, afraid that if she spoke too loudly, she'd shatter this strange, fragile moment.

Xavier's expression remained unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—something that made her feel exposed, like he was seeing more of her than she was willing to show. "You're not like the others," he finally said, his tone thoughtful, almost reflective. "You don't just… follow the script."

Kamsi blinked, trying to grasp what he was saying. Not like the others? The words were foreign, and yet, they stirred something in her, a sense of pride mixed with confusion.

He shifted his weight, looking a bit uncomfortable, as if he had said more than he intended. "You're not afraid to speak your mind, even when you know it might get you into trouble. And I… I guess I respect that."

Kamsi felt her face flush, not from fever this time, but from the intensity of his words. Respect?The bully who had taunted her, who had made her question herself time and again, respected her? It was too much to process.

Xavier's gaze softened slightly, and for a brief moment, the mask he always wore seemed to slip, revealing something raw, something real. "You're different, Kamsi. And that… makes you worth paying attention to."

The room felt warmer suddenly, the air between them charged with a new kind of tension. Kamsi didn't know how to respond, her mind spinning with this new revelation, trying to reconcile it with everything she thought she knew about him.

Then, as if sensing her turmoil, Xavier leaned in closer, a devilish smile curving his lips. His eyes glinted with a mix of mischief and something darker, something thrilling. "Looks like you've caught the attention of the big bad wolf," he murmured, his voice low and teasing.

Kamsi's heart skipped a beat, her breath hitching. The big bad wolf? The playful menace in his words sent a shiver down her spine, making her acutely aware of how close he was, of the intensity in his gaze. It was as if he was challenging her, daring her to keep up with him.

And in that moment, Kamsi realized that whatever game Xavier was playing, she was now a part of it—whether she was ready or not.