The school buzzed with excitement after the announcement — a weekend-long school tour to a scenic lakeside camp. It wasn't every day they got a break from classes, and the idea of a trip had the hallways packed with chatter and chaotic plans.
Students talked over each other about who they'd bunk with, what they'd pack, and, most importantly… who they'd sit with on the bus.
Eliza wasn't thinking about the campfires or the sightseeing. Her mind was stuck on one thing: that damn bus seat.
She wasn't stupid. Lily wasn't going to miss this chance, and Eliza wasn't about to let her win.
---
Saturday morning came faster than Eliza wanted.
She was running on pure adrenaline as she tossed her bag over her shoulder, barely listening to Ava, who walked beside her.
"You look like you're preparing for battle," Ava teased, eyeing her with amusement.
"I am," Eliza muttered, her voice dead serious.
Ava snorted. "You know she's gonna make a move, right?"
"Yeah." Eliza's eyes scanned the crowd like a hawk. "But I'm faster."
Ava grinned, bumping her shoulder lightly. "Go get him, tiger."
---
The buses lined up, engines humming, and the students piled in with loud excitement.
Eliza spotted Lucifer near the back of the second bus, standing in the aisle with his backpack slung over one shoulder, chatting with a few guys from the team.
Lily was already nearby, looking way too confident for Eliza's liking.
Her heart sped up. Not today, Satan.
Lucifer turned when he saw her, his face lighting up. "Hey, Princess! Took you long enough."
Before Eliza could answer, Lily slid closer to him like a snake in lip gloss.
"Lucifer," Lily smiled sweetly, voice dripping with fake innocence, "wanna sit together?"
Oh, hell no.
"Actually," Eliza cut in smoothly, stepping up beside him and grabbing his wrist like it was the most natural thing in the world. "We always sit together. Right, Luc?"
Lucifer blinked at her, surprised — but a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Uh… yeah. Guess we do."
"Sorry, Lily," Eliza added, her voice light but laced with steel. "He's already taken."
"It's okay," Lily's smile stayed fixed, but Eliza saw the flicker of frustration behind her eyes. Without another word, Lily turned and stalked off to the other bus, her head held high.
Eliza let out a breath, heart still racing. Round one: won.
---
The ride started off easy, for the most part.
Lucifer stole half her snacks, and Eliza stole his earbuds. They argued over his terrible music taste, and she mock-threatened to throw his phone out the window.
"You wouldn't dare," he said, grinning.
"Watch me," Eliza shot back, but her smile gave her away.
He leaned in a little closer, their shoulders pressing together. "You're feisty today, Princess."
Her heart skipped embarrassingly, but she managed to keep her voice steady. "I'm always feisty. You're just slow."
Lucifer chuckled, shaking his head.
Eliza didn't dare look around to see if Lily was watching — but she could feel it. Like a laser burning into her back.
Good. Let her watch.
---
The tour itself was a blur of hiking trails, lakeside photos, and way too much walking for Eliza's liking. Lucifer stuck by her side the entire time, dragging her into group photos, stealing her water bottle, and teasing her every chance he got.
"You sound like an old lady," he laughed as she groaned about the uphill climb.
"Yeah? Well, you look like one."
"You wish I looked this good as an old man."
She rolled her eyes, but she was laughing anyway.
Lily hovered around them all day — never too close, but never far enough away either. Eliza noticed every time Lily tried to slip into their conversations, every time she laughed a little too loudly at Lucifer's jokes — jokes Eliza didn't even think were that funny.
Lily wasn't done.
---
As they reached the parking lot, Lily tried one more time.
She stepped up beside Lucifer, her voice smooth and sweet. "Hey, Luc," she smiled, eyes flicking briefly to Eliza. "Wanna switch seats for the ride back? Give your legs some space?"
Eliza didn't even give him a chance to answer.
She grabbed his wrist, tugging him along with her like she'd done it a million times before.
"Nope. He's already sitting with me. He's gotta keep me company," Eliza said with a polite, almost too-sweet smile.
Lucifer blinked, clearly amused. "Guess I am."
Lily's expression didn't crack — but her eyes said enough.
That's when Ava struck.
She appeared out of nowhere, slinging an arm around Eliza's shoulder with a grin.
"Yeah, Lily," Ava said, voice dripping with fake sympathy. "Maybe you can sit with the driver. Bet he'd love to hear all about your split ends and desperate flirting."
Eliza slapped a hand over her mouth to muffle her laugh, but Lily's eyes snapped to Ava, glaring daggers.
"Real mature, Ava," Lily hissed.
Ava smirked. "I aim to please."
Lily huffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder before stomping toward the other bus.
Lucifer let out a loud, exaggerated sigh. "You girls are seriously impossible to understand."
Eliza rolled her eyes, nudging him playfully. "You're a guy. You're not meant to understand."
Lucifer chuckled, shaking his head. "Fair point."
Eliza leaned back into her seat with a smirk, feeling Lily's glare from the other bus.
Let her watch.
Because as long as Eliza had Lucifer by her side… she wasn't losing.
Not to Lily. Not to anyone.
To be continued....