The Villains Must Win-Chapter 145: Reid Graves 25

Reid stood just outside the school gates, his lanky frame shifting from foot to foot as he adjusted his glasses for the umpteenth time.

He ran a hand through his slightly disheveled hair, attempting to smooth it down, only to have the wind ruffle it up again. His shirt, though neatly tucked in that morning, now seemed to have developed a mind of its own, wrinkling in places he hadn’t noticed before.

He straightened his tie, then loosened it, then straightened it again. Waiting was not his forte, especially not when waiting for Tabitha, apparently.

A group of girls stood a few feet away, their eyes occasionally darting toward Reid as they whispered among themselves. Their giggles floated through the air, each one a tiny needle pricking his already fragile confidence.

"Look at him," one of the girls said, not bothering to lower her voice. "No matter how much he fixes himself up, it’s not like any girl would actually go for him."

Another snickered. "Maybe he’s waiting for his imaginary girlfriend."

Reid’s ears burned, and he adjusted his glasses again, wishing he could disappear into the pavement. He knew he wasn’t exactly a heartthrob. Tall, lanky, with sharp features that seemed more suited to a math competition than a romance novel, he had long accepted his place in the school’s social hierarchy.

But today was different. Today, he was waiting for Tabitha.

As if on cue, Tabitha appeared, her presence commanding attention. Her multicolored hair, now dyed a deep black, cascaded in waves down to her waist. Her makeup was bold, with lipstick a shade of red flappy skirt with dark leggings that could stop traffic and eyes lined to perfection, making them look even more alluring.

The girls’ laughter died down as they noticed her. Tabitha’s eyes locked onto them, and she didn’t hesitate. Striding over to Reid, she grabbed his arm with a possessive flair.

"Hey, babe," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness as she turned to face the girls. Without missing a beat, she leaned in and pressed a kiss to Reid’s lips, lingering just long enough to make her point. Then, pulling back slightly, she smirked at the stunned onlookers. "I’m his girlfriend. Got a problem with that?"

Reid’s brain short-circuited. Girlfriend? Kiss? Tabitha? His heart raced, and he felt his knees wobble. The girls gawked, their mouths opening and closing like fish out of water, before hastily retreating, their faces flushed with embarrassment and disgust.

"Eww . . ."

"A nerd and a dork. You two look good with each other."

As the girls scrambled away, Reid managed to find his voice, though it came out as a stammer. "T-Tabitha, d-does this mean we’re, um, official now?"

Tabitha chuckled, a melodic sound that sent shivers down his spine. "Well, we’ve already kissed and all. Or are you having second thoughts now because I’m fat?" ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

Reid’s eyes widened in horror. "No! No, it’s not that at all! Physical appearance isn’t an issue for me. I just . . . I mean, are you sure you want to choose me as your partner? I’m not exactly manly material or a first-pick boyfriend. Or second pick. Or any pick, really. Sure, I might have sharp features, but I look more like a tall, lanky nerd that no girl would want."

Tabitha stopped walking and turned to face him, her eyes searching his. "Reid," she said softly, placing a hand on his cheek. "Of course, no girls wouldn’t want you. They’re immature. But a real woman would definitely see your worth."

Reid felt his heart swell, a mixture of disbelief and joy washing over him. "You really mean that?"

She nodded, her eyes twinkling with sincerity. "Absolutely. Now, let’s get out of here before those girls recover and start plotting our demise."

As they walked away together, Reid couldn’t help but feel like the luckiest guy in the world. Not because he had a girlfriend for the first time, but because he had Tabitha—a woman who saw beyond the surface and valued him for who he truly was.

Tabitha thought she had finally won. Finally rewritten the painful script of her high school trauma.

She had Reid. Officially. Publicly. Boldly.

She had looked those mean girls in the eye and kissed her nerdy prince like a queen claiming her throne. For once, she wasn’t the girl people bullied. She was the girl they feared. Her heart fluttered with cautious optimism as she imagined what came next: college life with Reid by her side, morning coffees before class, studying under the library lights, maybe a tiny apartment with succulents neither of them would remember to water.

She smiled to herself—hopeful, even giddy.

But like any story with a rogue male lead, things couldn’t go that smoothly.

Because Roman—golden boy, campus heartthrob, her former tormentor—was acting strange.

He should’ve been off brooding over Gwendolyn. Or at least planning his next conquest. But instead, every time Tabitha was in the room, his gaze found her. Not Reid. Not anyone else. Her.

And it confused the hell out of him.

Roman knew—knew—that he liked Gwendolyn. She was beautiful, smart, challenging. The kind of girl who didn’t fawn over him and pushed back when he got cocky. She intrigued him. Excited him. She wasn’t predictable. And she had, admittedly, rocked his world that night.

So then why—why—was his attention always drifting toward Tabitha?

Why did his heart thud uncomfortably when he saw her holding hands with Reid?

Why did it feel like there was an invisible thread, some annoying magnetic pull, yanking his focus away from Gwendolyn and straight to the one girl who was never supposed to matter?

It didn’t help that Reid had the audacity to be good-looking underneath the nerd. Tall, sharp-jawed, glasses that now looked intentional rather than awkward. Tabitha clung to him like she’d known all along. Like she had been waiting for this moment her whole life. And maybe she had.

Roman hated how much it bothered him.

It should’ve been him.