His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 150

**Chapter 150**

**Claire’s POV**

Jessica had barely stepped into the staff room when she waved her half-empty smoothie cup at me, her voice barely audible over the din of the cafeteria. “Can you believe that wicked test score mix-up?” she muttered, her eyes wide with indignation. I opened my mouth to tease her about her melodrama, but before I could even form the words, she vanished into the throng of students, leaving me standing there, feeling a little deflated.

And just like that, I was left alone with Elijah once more.

He shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans, the corners of his mouth twitching as if he were fighting off a grin. “So… lookout?” he asked, his tone light but teasing.

“Obviously,” I replied, though my heart was already racing, pounding against my ribs like it was trying to escape. “We’re not heading to class just yet.”

“Right,” he said, nudging me gently with his elbow, a playful glint in his eyes. “Lead the way before you start overthinking everything again.”

I chose to ignore his comment, letting it hang in the air between us.

We began our trek toward our usual refuge behind the library building, a serene spot where the breeze danced through the trees, and the sunlight filtered down in a way that felt almost magical. I was in the middle of rolling my eyes at one of Elijah’s jokes when Trey appeared in front of us, as if he had been lying in wait.

Of course he had.

With his arms crossed and an expression that radiated wounded pride, he confronted us. “So, you really went all out today, huh?”

I blinked at him, taken aback. “It was just a demo, Trey. Chill out.”

“I’m calm,” he insisted, though the tension in his voice suggested otherwise. “Just saying, you didn’t flop like I expected.”

“Should I be thanking you for that?” I shot back, my tone flat.

He shrugged, attempting to feign indifference but failing spectacularly. “The real relay will be different.”

“Different how?” I asked, tilting my head, genuinely curious.

Trey inhaled deeply, as if preparing for a grand revelation. “Because pressure makes people crack. You got lucky today.”

I couldn’t help it; I laughed. An actual laugh. “Focus on the main event and leave me alone. Talking like this won’t magically give you a win.”

Elijah snorted beside me, his amusement evident even in his quietness. Trey’s gaze flicked between us, irritation simmering beneath the surface.

“You think this is funny?” he asked Elijah, his voice dripping with disbelief.

“Not really,” Elijah replied, his lips curling into a barely concealed smile. “But if you want to be dramatic this early in the day, go for it.”

Trey opened his mouth, caught between indignation and the impulse to retreat. In the end, he scoffed, spun on his heel, and stormed off, leaving us in a bubble of shared amusement.

I watched him go, then turned to Elijah. “You didn’t even try to scare him off.”

Elijah raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “Was I supposed to?”

“Yes!” I insisted, my voice tinged with frustration.

“Sorry,” he said, though there was no hint of regret in his tone. “He’s not worth the energy.”

I lightly shoved him, a playful gesture. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet,” he replied, a teasing lilt in his voice, “you keep following me.”

I should have shot him a glare, but instead, I focused on the horizon, pretending I didn’t hear the smile that laced his words.

When we got home early, it felt unusual enough, but my sense of unease doubled when we pulled into the driveway and spotted Dr. Adrian standing at the front door, his expression far too animated for my liking.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, stepping out of the car, my curiosity piqued.

He lifted a tablet triumphantly, as if it were a trophy he had just won. “Claire! I have amazing news.”

Behind me, I could sense Elijah’s tension; he inhaled sharply, as if bracing himself for a storm. Their dynamic was always a mix of strange chemistry and friction, but today, Elijah stood a bit closer to me, as if seeking comfort.

“Let’s start with your medication,” Dr. Adrian said, already moving toward the house. “Bring them out.”

“My… drugs?” I echoed, bewildered.

“Yes,” he confirmed, half-walking, half-gesturing for me to hurry. “Quickly.”

“Come on,” Elijah murmured beside me, shooting a wary glance at the doctor that I pretended not to notice.

Inside, I dashed upstairs to retrieve the small box where I kept my medications, then hurried back down to hand it over to Dr. Adrian. He scrutinized each bottle as if they were ancient relics, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

“Perfect,” he finally declared. “Now we wait for Ethan.”

“Why?” I asked, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in my stomach.

“You’ll see,” he replied cryptically.

Fantastic. Just what I needed—more mysteries to unravel. As if my life wasn’t already overflowing with them.

After he left to find my mom, Elijah nudged me with his shoulder, concern etched across his features. “You okay?”

“Not really,” I admitted, feeling the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me.

He nodded, as if he had expected that answer. “Want to go outside for a bit? The pool area is empty.”

I did want that. So we made our way outside, settling at the far end of the pool deck, our legs dangling above the shimmering water that mirrored the late-afternoon sky. It was peaceful, that kind of tranquility that only home could provide, warm and familiar, even as my insides churned with unease.

“What do you think he’s planning?” I asked, breaking the silence.

“No idea,” Elijah replied, his brow furrowing. “But whatever it is, I don’t like how excited he looks.”

I cracked a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. “You never like how he looks.”

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