The shift in Reth's personality was like a physical weight in the hallway. The "invisible student" was dead, replaced by someone who didn't just walk through the school—he owned it.
As the final bell echoed through the corridors of Northwood High, Reth caught sight of Sarah near her locker. He didn't wait for her to notice him. He simply walked up, his shadow falling over her.
"Library. Now," Reth said, his voice low and devoid of any room for debate. "We need to talk."
Sarah stiffened, clutching her books to her chest. She looked at him, her eyes darting toward the exit where her friends were waiting. "What is it now? I have plans after school, Reth. I can't just—"
"Shut the fuck up and just follow me," Reth interrupted, his [Commanding Presence] flaring like a cold flame. He stepped into her personal space, his gaze pinning her against the lockers. "It wasn't a request. It's an order."
Sarah's breath hitched. The boy who used to stutter in the back of the class was gone. In his place stood a predator who made her heart race with a terrifying mix of fear and adrenaline. Without another word, she lowered her head and followed him through the thinning crowd.
They reached the library, the air smelling of old paper and silence. Reth didn't stop at the main tables. He led her deep into the stacks, weaving through the shadows until they reached a secluded, cornered table hidden from the librarian's view.
Reth pulled out a chair and sat, leaning back with a casual, dominant grace. Sarah sat across from him, her hands trembling as she rested them on the wooden surface.
She recognized this table immediately.
It was the same table where Reth has fucked Elena Vance yesterday and she saw it from the window.
Reth watched her, his eyes tracking the color rising in her neck. He knew exactly what she was thinking. He knew she had seen everything.
"You like this spot, Sarah?" Reth asked, his voice a smooth, dangerous silk. "You seemed to enjoy the view yesterday."
Sarah's eyes widened, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. She opened her mouth to deny it, but the words died in her throat. Under Reth's gaze, lying felt impossible.
The conversation at the library table remained quiet, but the air between them was tense. Reth leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on Sarah.
"Tell me, Sarah, how close are you to Mark?" Reth asked.
Sarah shifted in her seat, looking anywhere but at him. "I am not that close to him. I just hang out with him sometimes because he is rich and his family has power over the school."
"What do you know about his relations with his family?" Reth pushed.
Sarah frowned, trying to recall the details. "His family? I think he once said that his mother died and his father remarried."
Reth's expression shifted, a subtle spark of interest appearing in his eyes. "Oh, so Ms. Sterling is his stepmother. That's good information. Gather more about his relationship with her—I want to know everything."
Sarah stared at him, her confusion turning into a flash of defiance. "What? But why? Why are you suddenly interested in his family, and why do I have to do this? I don't want to."
Reth didn't answer immediately. He let her protest hang in the air, right there at the same table where he had demonstrated exactly how much control he had over people like Elena.
"Listen, Sarah. Don't forget I have that photo of you shirtless," Reth said, his eyes showing no mercy. "If you don't want every guy in this school to masturbate to your boobs, don't ever question me again. Just do as I say. Got it?"
Sarah flinched as if he'd slapped her. Her eyes welled up with frustrated tears. "Why are you doing this to me, Reth? What happened to you? I didn't even do anything to you."
Reth didn't answer her directly. Instead, he tilted his head, studying her face with a detached curiosity. "Hmm. Tell me, Sarah... are you a virgin?"
The question caught her completely off guard. "What? What does that have to do with anything?"
Reth just kept looking at her, his silence forcing the answer out of her.
"Y-yes," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I am a virgin."
Reth nodded slowly, a dark, unreadable expression crossing his face. "Then you are right. You haven't done anything to me yet. And don't worry—this time, I won't let you do anything to me in the future, either."
Sarah stared at him, her brow furrowed in total confusion. "What are you saying? I don't understand."
"You don't have to," Reth replied, standing up and smoothing out his uniform. He didn't look back at her as he turned toward the exit. "Now go, and get to work."
He walked out of the library without another word, leaving Sarah sitting alone at the same table where he had dominated Elena, her mind spinning with a mix of fear and confusion about the "future" he had just mentioned.
The quiet of the building replaced by the late afternoon sun as Reth approached the school gates. He was halfway to the sidewalk when a sleek, White Mercedes pulled up beside him, the window sliding down to reveal Elena.
"Reth! Where were you? I've been waiting for you," Elena said, her tone a mix of impatience and relief.
Reth didn't stop walking. He didn't even turn his head. "Why? I never asked you to wait for me."
Elena hopped out of the car, hurrying to catch up to him. She grabbed his arm, looking at him with a pout that usually worked on every other guy in the school. "Did you forget already? You're my boyfriend now. We should be going home together. Come on, I'll give you a lift."
Reth paused, glancing at the expensive leather interior of the Mercedes and then back at Elena. He saw the way the other students were watching them—the "Invisible Student" being chased by the school's most popular girl.
"Fine," Reth said shortly.
He walked around to the passenger side and sat down. Elena smiled, satisfied, and got back behind the wheel. The engine roared to life, and they pulled away from Northwood High, leaving a trail of stunned whispers behind them.
As the school disappeared in the rearview mirror, the interior of the car felt small and private. Elena glanced at him, her grip tightening on the steering wheel.
"So," she started, her voice dropping to a softer, more intimate tone. "What were you doing in the library for so long? And why was Sarah looking so upset when she ran past me a minute ago?"
"Nothing that concerns you," Reth replied, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.
Elena gripped the steering wheel tighter, her pride stinging. "What do you mean? I am more capable of doing anything than her. And as your girlfriend, anything that concerns you concerns me too."
"As a girlfriend, huh?" Reth turned his head slowly, a cold, challenging smirk playing on his lips. "Fine then. Let's go to a motel right now."
The car swerved slightly as Elena gasped. "M-motel? What are you saying, Reth?"
"Why the surprise? You're my girlfriend, after all," Reth said, his voice dropping into that commanding register that left no room for argument. "And you just said you can do anything. So, let's go to the motel."
"But Reth..." Elena stammered, her face turning a bright crimson. She looked at the dashboard, her heart racing. This wasn't the "sweet" boyfriend behavior she had expected, but the raw intensity in his eyes made it impossible to look away.
"I won't repeat myself again," Reth said, his tone final.
Elena swallowed hard, her fingers trembling against the leather steering wheel. She felt a wave of heat rush through her, a mix of fear and a strange, overwhelming excitement she couldn't explain.
"O-okay," she whispered.
She signaled for a turn, steering the luxury car away from the route to Reth's house and toward the edge of town, where the neon signs of the local motels were just beginning to flicker to life.