Chapter 139: ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-NINE

NICHOLAS’S POV

Classes were boring.

No, seriously, they were. There was no other way to describe them. I tried to pay attention because I had been away from school for so long, and I didn’t want to return only to spend the entire day staring out the window, but by the time the third class ended, I was already checking the clock every few minutes.

The professors had apparently decided that returning students needed to be reminded exactly how slowly a school day could move.

But still, I still listened to everything.

The students were much quieter around me than they had been that morning, although I could still hear the occasional whisper whenever someone thought I wasn’t paying attention. I ignored them and focused on my work until the final class of the day.

That was when I noticed Elijah standing outside the classroom.

He was leaning against the wall beside the entrance, waiting for me.

The moment our eyes met, he lifted his hand slightly, letting me know he had seen me too. I glanced at the clock and then at the professor, who was still explaining something that seemed completely unnecessary at this point.

Seriously?

I had been sitting here for almost an hour.

Why was he still talking?

I packed one of my books into my bag, then stopped when the professor continued speaking. I forced myself to put it back down and tried to listen again, but my eyes kept drifting toward the entrance. Elijah was still there, waiting patiently and the professor finally stopped. "That’s all for today. Make sure you review the material before the next class."

The room immediately started bustling with the sound of chairs moving and bags being zipped. I packed my things properly this time and walked toward the entrance.

Elijah waited until I reached him before falling into step beside me. "How was your first day back?"

"Long."

He laughed as we walked out through the school gates instead of going to the car. Elijah had suggested driving, but I told him I wanted to walk home. I had spent most of the day sitting down, and the walk gave me a chance to breathe after being surrounded by people for hours.

The two of us talked about the classes as we went, mostly complaining about professors and comparing notes.

By the time we reached the mansion, the sun was already beginning to drop.

Elijah opened the door and stepped in. "Anyone home?"

There was no answer as we walked farther inside and looked around.

No Adrian. No Roman. No Cassian.

Strange.

Elijah dropped his bag onto the sofa. "Where did everyone go?"

"I don’t know." I checked my phone, but there were no messages from any of them.

Elijah wandered toward the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and stared inside for several seconds. "I know what we can do."

I followed him. "What?"

"Cook."

I stared at him and he looked back at me. "What?"

I pointed at him. "You want to cook?"

He ignored me and started pulling ingredients from the refrigerator. "We’re making something I like."

At that, I laughed as I watched him put everything on the counter. "You said you knew how to cook. You know what? I’ll help."

The kitchen turned into a messy point as we kept arguing over what to do. At one point, he moved the spoon away from me. "Stop interfering."

"I am trying to save the food. You know you cook like shit."

He looked offended, and I laughed so hard that I had to turn away.

We were still arguing when the sound of the front door opening reached us and Elijah stopped stirring. "Someone’s home."

I wiped my hands and walked out of the kitchen.

Cassian was standing near the entrance with several grocery bags in both hands and I stared at him.

He stared back at me with wide eyes, then I looked at the bags. "What are you doing?"

Cassian glanced down at them. "Buying groceries."

"You?"

"Yes, me." He looked confused. "Why?"

I looked toward the kitchen and then back at him. "While we’re cooking?"

"I got bored." Cassian put the bags on the counter. "There wasn’t anything else to do."

Cassian looked toward the kitchen. "Ugh, Elijah? We’re going to need a cook."

I laughed again. "Definitely."

Cassian started unpacking the groceries while Elijah returned to the kitchen. I followed him, and after a short discussion, we decided there was no reason to stop what we were doing.

Since Roman and Adrian still hadn’t returned, we would make enough dinner for everyone and leave their portions ready for when they came home.

Cassian joined us and the three of us worked together.

By the time we finished, the table was prepared and the food was ready, but Roman and Adrian still weren’t home.

I decided to go upstairs and after showering and changing, I sat on my bed and stared at the wall for a while, my mind running through a thousand different thoughts.

My mind went back to the principal’s office.

Oh God.

I covered my face with both hands. I still couldn’t believe Adrian had actually said it.

’He’s our brother. He’s also our mate.’ In front of the principal.

They had spoken about wanting to talk to the principal, but they hadn’t even given me a warning or whatever. I just went there not knowing what they planned.

I dropped my hands and stared at the ceiling.

What had the principal thought? What had I even looked like sitting there while they announced something that personal without hesitation?

My face warmed again at the memory and I buried my face in the pillow. "This is ridiculous."

Was I seriously blushing over this? Fuck, I was actually pathetic. But I couldn’t stop.

I stayed like that for several minutes before finally pulling the blanket over myself. The exhaustion from my first day back at school eventually won, and I fell asleep with a faint blush still lingering on my face.