Celestial: Fallen

Chapter 29-Shifting Tides

I have most of my classes with Diarmid and Finn-actually, almost all of them. Leroy managed to arrange his schedule so that he could be with Joshua, leaving me to navigate the awkwardness of being surrounded by new faces. It was strange at first, but I was slowly getting used to it, settling into this new dynamic.

In our last class of the day, Diarmid sat beside me, as usual, but today he looked particularly annoyed. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of him with that brooding expression, his brow furrowed as if he was trying to block out the noise around him. It seemed like half the cheerleading team had decided to take this class, and they weren't exactly quiet. My smile faltered when I suddenly remembered something-something unsettling-and I bit my lip, turning to look out the window.

"Are you okay?" Diarmid's voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to find him leaning closer, his expression now more concerned than annoyed.

"I should be the one asking you that," I replied softly, trying to shift the focus away from myself. Diarmid let out a deep sigh and then turned to Finn, who was sitting a few seats away.

"Bro, why don't you take my spot, please?" Diarmid asked, giving Finn a pat on the shoulder.

Finn smiled good-naturedly and stood up without hesitation. Diarmid gestured for me to move closer to the window so he could take my seat. Without a word of protest, I slid over to make room for him.

"Finally," Diarmid muttered, scratching the back of his neck as he settled in beside me. "My head is about to explode from their noise and constant questions I don't even know how to answer." He glanced at me with a look of playful frustration, his voice low enough so only I could hear.

I couldn't help but smile again, this time more genuinely. "Sounds like you've had a rough day," I said, my tone light.

"Rough doesn't even begin to cover it," he replied, rolling his eyes dramatically before returning my smile.

I was honestly awed at Diarmid. I never imagined him interacting with me like this, especially after our first meeting when he looked at me like he was ready to bite my head off. Sure, he had smiled at first, but that smile quickly disappeared, replaced by his usual brooding aura. Today, though, it was different-lighter, more relaxed, and I couldn't help but be surprised by it.

Suddenly, I felt my phone vibrating inside my bag. "Excuse me," I said softly to Diarmid, who had been looking at me. He nodded and shifted slightly away, giving me some space and privacy for the call.

It was Nick.

"Hi," I chirped as I answered.

"Arwen, it's your last class, right?" Nick's familiar voice came through the other end.

"Yeah, why?" I asked, glancing at Diarmid, who was still watching me closely, though his expression remained unreadable.

"I'll pick you up. What building and room are you in?" Nick asked, sounding casual but focused.

"Why do you need to pick me up? Is everything okay?" I asked, a bit of nervousness creeping into my voice. It wasn't like Nick to suddenly offer to pick me up unless something was going on.

"Nah, nothing's wrong. We're just going to grab food somewhere Michael suggested," he replied, his tone easygoing.

I relaxed a little. "Ah, okay. My class ends at five. I'm in St. Claire Building, room 3091," I said, just as I noticed our professor entering the room. "I've got to go, Nick. I'll wait for you here," I added quickly before hanging up.

When I turned my attention back to Diarmid, I noticed a subtle change in him. His jaw clenched slightly, and he sat up straighter, his easy demeanor from earlier hardening in an instant. It wasn't difficult to tell he had overheard at least part of my conversation. His posture mirrored mine as we both watched the professor settle in at the front of the room, but the shift in his mood was unmistakable. The relaxed vibe between us had been replaced by the brooding energy I'd come to expect from him.

I couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with the phone call or if it was simply the weight of the day catching up to him. Either way, the atmosphere between us felt charged, thick with unspoken tension.

I settled back quietly into my seat, bracing myself for the final stretch of class, while my thoughts kept drifting back to Diarmid and the look in his eyes that lingered just a little too long.

As the class neared its end, the professor's voice cut through the low hum of conversation. "Alright, before you leave, I'm assigning your next project. Group yourselves-four per team."

My heart sank a little as I heard the instructions. Group work had never been my strong suit, and the idea of navigating the dynamics of a group, especially with Diarmid in his current mood, wasn't something I looked forward to. Still, I made no move, waiting to see where I would fall in the mix.

Within moments, Finn, had gravitated toward me. "Let's group up," he said casually, his smile easy and inviting. Britany joined us with a quick wave, her eyes immediately darting to Finn and Diarmid, who remained silent beside me. It didn't take long to notice how Britany's attention lingered on the two guys, her voice becoming a little more animated, her laughter a bit louder as she tried to engage either of them.

Diarmid didn't seem to notice. His posture remained stiff, his hands clenched into tight fists on the desk, his jaw ticking with a tension that hadn't left him since the phone call earlier. He was a million miles away, and I couldn't help but wonder where.

Finn, always the organized one, broke the awkwardness. "Alright, I'll arrange for us to meet before the next class. We'll finish the report together, no worries." He gave a reassuring nod, his gaze drifting to Diarmid as if to check in on him. He patted Diarmid lightly on the shoulder, his touch both casual and supportive, but it seemed to do little to ease the tension.

I watched as Diarmid's knuckles tightened, his hands still balled into fists. Finn glanced at me, catching the concern on my face. He smiled softly, as if to say everything was fine, but I could tell from the look in his eyes that even he wasn't convinced.

He pulled out his phone, tapping away as he began coordinating our schedules, but my focus remained on Diarmid. The air between us felt thick, weighted down by whatever was on his mind. I could feel the question on the tip of my tongue, but it hung there, unspoken.

Finally, I cleared my throat, the sound breaking through the tension like a crack in ice. Diarmid's head snapped toward me, his expression shifting in an instant. The hardness in his features softened as his eyes met mine.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and a little rough. "Do you need water?"

His sudden concern threw me for a moment, his rigid demeanor melting into something almost tender. The shift was so quick, I wasn't sure how to respond. "No, I'm fine," I said quietly, trying to match his tone.

Diarmid's eyes lingered on mine, searching, as if he were waiting for something more. Then, after a long pause, he exhaled, his tension easing just a fraction. "Good."

It wasn't much, but it was enough to tell me that beneath all the walls he was putting up, something deeper was eating at him. But for now, whatever it was would remain buried. Finn's voice broke through again, confirming our plans for the next meeting. The moment between Diarmid and me faded, but the feeling lingered, leaving me more curious-and worried-than ever before.