𝙁𝙊𝙍𝘽𝙄𝘿𝘿𝙀𝙉 [𝟭𝟴+]

Nine

Walking over to my usual classes I run into Sinn and he scratches the back of his head giving me a sheepish smile.

"Where were you, dimwit?"

Without hesitation, I rush over to him and throw my arms around his neck, inhaling the strong, overpowering scent of his cologne. It's almost too much, but somehow, it's comforting in its own way.

He shrugs casually and keeps walking toward Math, slipping his hand into mine. From the corner of my eye, I catch Damon watching us from the doorway of the staff lounge.

Sinn must notice too, because suddenly his hand slips from mine and wraps around my waist, pulling me closer to him.

The way Damon's eyes are locked on us—cold, calculating—makes me want to pull away from Sinn's tight grip. But instead, I force myself to focus on whatever nonsense Sinn is talking about and try to act interested.

"You're really starting to show some interest in math now, huh?" Sinn teases, his breath warm against my ear as his arm stays firmly wrapped around me, possessive. His fingers are gentle against my waist, but there's a pressure there, a slight tightness that hints at something more protective. Territorial, even.

I shoot him a side-eye, trying to suppress the smile that's threatening to tug at my lips. "Shut up, Sinn. You know I hate this class."

He laughs, low and soothing, and it's impossible to stay annoyed with him. We fall into step together, our rhythm in sync as we walk toward the math classroom. But it's not the sound of our footsteps that makes my pulse quicken—it's the icy, electrifying sensation that creeps down my spine when I glance over my shoulder.

Damon's still watching.

From the doorway of the staff lounge, his dark eyes are locked on us, sharp and unblinking, like a hawk eyeing its prey. His stance is casual, but I know that look. It's the kind of gaze that sends a chill through me, the kind that makes my heart skip a beat.

Sinn must feel the change in the air, because his arm tightens around me a fraction more, pulling me closer until I'm pressed into his side. I resist the urge to look back at Damon, but it's like an invisible force is pulling me toward him. That stare—it feels like it's burning into my back.

"Don't let him get to you," Sinn mutters, his voice muffled as he leans down, whispering in my ear. His words are meant to distract me, to keep my focus on him, but my thoughts are consumed by Damon's piercing gaze.

I can almost feel the weight of Damon's stare, even without turning to look again. It's like an invisible pressure on my chest, suffocating. Sinn's hand is warm around my waist, his grip tightening like he's trying to keep me anchored, but it doesn't quite shake the feeling that Damon's presence is hanging over me like a shadow.

Sinn's right. I shouldn't let Damon get to me. But Damon—he has this way of making everything else disappear. He's impossible to ignore. Even when I try. Especially when I try.

We step into the math classroom, and I take a deep breath, trying to clear my mind of Damon's gaze. But it lingers, like a stain I can't scrub away. I settle into my seat next to Sinn, but my eyes keep flicking to the door, half-expecting Damon to walk in at any second.

Of course, he's not here yet. Not that I'm disappointed. The longer he stays away, the easier it is to pretend I'm not completely fixated on him. But even that's a lie, because my thoughts keep drifting back to that conversation we had earlier.

"Don't start something you won't last through, love."

I can't stop replaying those words in my head. It's as if he's daring me to take this further, challenging me to see how much I can handle. I'm not sure if he's testing me or warning me. Either way, I'm not backing down.

"You're really starting to show some interest in math now, huh?"

Sinn's voice pulls me out of my spiral of thoughts. I glance over at him and give him a half-smile, trying to focus on him instead of the mess of thoughts in my head.

"Shut up, Sinn," I mutter, my tone playful but forced. I try to look at the board, to pay attention to the lesson, but all I can think about is the weight of Damon's gaze, still lingering somewhere in the back of my mind.

Sinn doesn't notice the shift in my mood. He's too busy being his usual oblivious self, scribbling notes in front of him. His arm is still draped around me, a comforting weight, but it's not enough to distract me. It never is when Damon's around.

The door to the classroom opens, and I don't even have to look to know who's walking in. I turn my head, hoping, praying, that it's him. And it is.

Damon strides into the room, his presence so powerful that it fills the space with an electric charge. Every step he takes makes the room feel sharper, more focused. His eyes sweep the room briefly, but it's only when they settle on me that everything else disappears.

For a moment, I forget about Sinn, forget about the math I'm supposed to be paying attention to. There's only Damon, standing at the front of the room, his eyes fixed on mine. It's like he's daring me to make the first move, to break the silence.

I try to look away, to force myself to focus on the lecture, but I can't. Not when he's staring at me like that. There's a challenge in his gaze—a dangerous, thrilling spark that makes my heart race. It's a silent conversation between us, one that doesn't need words. He's still waiting. Still watching. And I can't help but wonder just how far he'll let me push things before he makes his move.

Sinn, of course, remains oblivious. He's scribbling away, completely unaware of the tension crackling between Damon and me. But I'm not sure how much longer I can pretend this is all just harmless flirting. I'm already in too deep.

I glance back at Damon, and this time, he doesn't look away. His lips twitch, the barest hint of a smile—like he's amused by my silent challenge. And that's all it takes.

Something inside me shifts. The game has changed. And I'm not going to back down.