A TWIST OF FATE

CHAPTER 8 : GLANCES AND GLARE

The days rolled on, each one a mix of routine and the electric undercurrent of my feelings for Nex. Every time I thought I could ignore him, something would pull me back into the orbit of his presence. It started innocently enough—casual glances across the room during lectures, but soon, those fleeting moments transformed into something deeper, more charged.
One Tuesday afternoon in art class, we were working on our final projects, and I sat at my easel, focused intently on blending colors. The room buzzed with the sound of brushes against canvas and the occasional laugh from my classmates. I could feel Nex nearby, the warmth of his presence radiating through the air.

I glanced up, and there he was—Nex, leaning over his own canvas, deep in concentration. But then I caught him looking at me. His eyes were bright, almost curious, as if he were trying to read my thoughts through the strokes of my brush. For a split second, time froze. I felt my heart race, and I quickly looked down, pretending to focus on my work."Nice colors," he said, breaking the tension. I could hear the smile in his voice even without looking up."Thanks," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. I could feel my cheeks burning, and I cursed myself for letting him see my flustered state.

As I tried to concentrate on my painting, I could sense Nex's gaze lingering on me. My stomach fluttered with nerves, and I fought the urge to look up again. The more I tried to ignore him, the more I felt drawn to the warmth of his attention. It was infuriating and exhilarating all at once.Later that week, in the bustling cafeteria, I found myself seated with Joe and a few other friends. I was trying to immerse myself in conversation, but my eyes kept drifting over to Nex's table. He was laughing with his friends, his smile infectious, and I couldn't help but be captivated."Earth to Clare." Joe said, waving a hand in front of my face. "You're drooling over there.""I'm not drooling!" I retorted, a little too defensively. "I was just... looking.""Right. Looking at Nex like he's the last slice of pizza," he teased, grinning.I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Can you blame me? He's just... charismatic.""Charismatic? That's one way to put it," Joe replied, leaning back with a knowing smirk. "You're practically glowing. Just go talk to him!""No way! What would I even say?" I protested, shaking my head. But even as I said it, I felt a familiar pull toward him.Just then, I caught Nex glancing our way. He smiled at me, and my breath caught in my throat. I quickly looked down at my plate, my heart racing. "See? He's looking at you!" Joe said, nudging me playfully. "Go on, wave or something!""Stop it!" I hissed, my cheeks heating up as I fought the urge to look back. "I can't just wave at him like a dork.""Why not? You're practically a dork already," Joe joked, but I could see genuine concern in his eyes. "You need to do something. Otherwise, you're going to regret it."

As the days turned into an almost predictable cycle of glances and glares, I couldn't shake the feeling of being caught in a whirlwind. In the library, studying for an upcoming exam, I felt that familiar gaze again. I looked up to see Nex sitting at a table, his brow furrowed in concentration but glancing my way every few moments. I tried to focus on my notes, but the tension between us was palpable. Each time our eyes met, I felt a jolt of electricity, followed by an overwhelming urge to look away. The more I tried to ignore him, the more I felt like a moth drawn to a flame.

"Hey, you're staring again," Joe whispered, breaking my concentration. "Just go say hi!""Why is it so easy for you?" I shot back, frustration bubbling over. "What if I make it awkward?""Awkward is your middle name," Joe replied with a laugh. "You're going to drive yourself crazy if you keep this up."One afternoon, after yet another long day of classes, I found myself sitting on the steps of the student union, sketchbook in hand. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden hue over the campus. I was trying to draw, but my mind was elsewhere—focused on Nex and the countless moments we had shared.

Suddenly, I felt a presence beside me. I looked up to see Nex, casually leaning against the railing, his expression relaxed. "What are you drawing?" he asked, peering at my sketchbook."Just some ideas for my project," I replied, trying to suppress the flutter in my chest."Looks cool. You've got a real talent," he said, his eyes sparkling with genuine interest.For a moment, I felt like everything else faded away. Here we were, standing so close, the world around us a blur. But then, like a switch flipped, I felt the weight of my fears crash over me. This was dangerous territory. I was crossing boundaries I had fought so hard to maintain.

"Thanks," I managed, forcing a smile as I turned my attention back to my sketchbook, avoiding his gaze."Hey, are you okay?" he asked, his tone shifting slightly. "You seem... distant."I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. "I'm fine," I said quickly, but I could see the concern in his eyes."Right. Just checking," he replied, but I could tell he wasn't convinced.That night, I lay in bed, replaying the day in my mind. Each glance from Nex felt like a thread pulling at the fabric of my resolve. I wanted to reach out, to explore the connection that was so tangible between us, but the fear of what that meant paralyzed me.

Every time I caught him looking my way, it sent my heart racing, but it also made me feel more trapped. I was caught in a cycle of longing and fear, wanting to break free but terrified of the consequences. It was exhausting, and I knew I couldn't keep this up much longer.I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. The glances and glares were only moments in time, but they were becoming monumental in my mind. I had to decide soon—whether to embrace this connection or continue to retreat into the safety of my carefully constructed boundaries. The choice loomed over me like a dark cloud, heavy and inevitable.