Chapter 5 First Move

Amara didn’t go to administration, not immediately. That was the first thing she changed, because if there was one thing she understood now, was Lucien expected reactions. The expected patterns and people to follow the most logical path and she wasn’t going to give him that.

Instead, she went to class. Third period soon began and Amara just walked in like nothing was wrong. As if her name hadn’t just disappeared or her access stripped piece by piece. She casually walked in like she still belonged there.

The room slightly quieted when Amara entered. She noticed but just ignored it as she took her seat. Not in the back or hidden this time but in the front row. Where she stood out, visible, yet intentional.

A few students exchanged confused looks. Because that wasn’t what someone in her position was supposed to do. The teacher walked in a minute later and soon began flipping through a folder.

“Before we begin,” she said, adjusting her glasses, “we’ll be reviewing yesterday’s assignment submissions.” Amara stilled for a second before slowly opening her bag. She pulled out her paper and placed it on the desk.

The teacher began calling the names, one by one. The papers were collected and comments made. But then, she suddenly stopped. Her eyes scanned the list again; a small frown soon formed on his face.

“Amara Kade?” she called.

Amara didn’t hesitate. “I’m here.” That alone shifted the room.

The teacher blinked. “You’re not on my submission list.”

Amara stood there, calm and composed. “I submitted it yesterday,” she said, a few heads turned while Lucien just sat near the window, without uttering a single word. The teacher hesitated.

“Well, it’s not recorded.”

Amara nodded once. “I expected that.” She replied and that quickly caught attention, not just the teacher’s but everyone’s.

“Excuse me?” the teacher asked. Amara slightly stepped forward, not nervous or defensive but well controlled.

“My name was removed from multiple systems this morning,” she clearly said. “Attendance, access, and now submissions.”

The silence quickly spread and no one spoke because it wasn’t quiet anymore but said out loud.

The teacher frowned. “That’s a serious claim.”

“It is,” Amara agreed. “Which is why I’m saying it here.” Her claims landed without fear or timidity. Finally, she had made it public, documented and heard but Lucien’s gaze didn’t waver.

“You should go to administration,” the teacher said.

“I will,” Amara replied. “But before that…” She slightly lifted the paper. “I’d like you to take this.”

The teacher hesitated because there were eyes on her, now. Students watched and listened with wide ears, waiting to see her next action. There and then, she knew it was not something she could dismiss quietly anymore.

After a second, she took it. “I’ll review it,” she said. Amara nodded with a thank you and then returned to her seat. Just like that, without causing a scene or escalation but her message was clearly delivered.

Lucien leaned back, his expression unreadable but his attention was focused because that wasn’t what he expected. She didn’t go around or confront him again. Neither did she ask him to fix anything. She just went above the system.

Used visibility and turned silence into attention, that wasn’t resistance but her strategy. One which took him off guard.

After class, he didn’t wait but approached her this time around. Amara had just stepped into the hallway when he fell into step beside her. He wasn’t blocking or stopping her, he was just there.

“You’re adapting,” he said.

She didn’t look at him. “I told you,” She replied. “I don’t lose.”

He glanced at her with a faint smile forming on his face. “That wasn’t a win.”

“No,” she agreed. “It was a move.” That was new, his interest sharpened.

“Careful,” he said. “Moves can be countered.”

Amara finally looked at him. “And control can be exposed.”

No one said anymore as they trod on their path. The hallway moved around them, but the space between them stilled again. “You think this changes anything?” he asked.

Amara held his gaze. “I think it makes things inconvenient for you.”

Lucien softly exhaled, almost amused. “Inconvenience isn’t defeat.”

“I know,” she said. “That’s why I didn’t stop there.” That caught him off guard.

“What does that mean?”

Amara slightly tilted her head “You’ll see.” And just like that, she walked past him.

Lucien didn’t follow or stop her. He just stood there for a moment, thinking. Because this was different, she wasn’t reacting anymore. She was playing and worse of it all, she was learning faster than he could comprehend.

A slow smile spread across his face. He knew she wasn’t mocking, because for the first time, he felt real opposition. And Amara Kade wasn’t going to bend soon, she had just made her first move.