Zodiac Academy

Virgo pov

Virgo's POV

The music thumped in my chest, making everything feel a little hazy. The air was thick with chatter and laughter, and the warmth of the party clung to me like a heavy blanket. I was nursing my drink, trying to forget the argument with Capricorn, but it wasn't helping. I knew the fight was small, but it always felt bigger than it was when we clashed. I needed to escape for a while, even if just for a few minutes.

I wandered towards the bar, feeling the weight of my thoughts pressing down on me. The noise and the crowd felt like too much. I reached for my drink, but the next thing I knew, I was tipping it over. The glass wobbled in my hand and, before I could catch it, the liquid splashed out, drenching the person standing next to me.

"Ah! I'm so sorry!" I gasped, my face flushing with embarrassment. I reached for the napkin to start wiping it off, but the stranger just laughed-a warm, easy sound that made my heart skip a beat.

"No harm done," he said, his voice rich and calming. I looked up to apologize again, but something about his gaze stopped me.

His eyes were deep and knowing, like I should've recognized him from somewhere. But I couldn't place it. He had dark, unruly hair and a relaxed posture, as though nothing ever fazed him. It made me feel like I could let my guard down around him, which I normally didn't do with anyone.

I tried to play it cool, laughing off my embarrassment. "I really didn't mean to spill it all over you." I offered him the napkin, but he waved it away with a chuckle.

"It's really not a big deal," he said, his voice still light but somehow sincere. "I've had worse spills. Consider this one of those things that makes the night more memorable."

I smiled at his easygoing nature. For a moment, it felt like the tension of the party disappeared. It was just him and me, talking like old friends. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt this comfortable with a stranger, but there was something oddly familiar about him.

Before I could let my thoughts wander, I felt a presence behind me. My body went stiff, and I instinctively knew who it was before I even turned around.

"Virgo," Capricorn's voice cut through the air, colder than usual. I could feel the weight of his gaze on me as I turned, and it sent a chill down my spine. "What's going on here?"

I glanced at the stranger beside me, who remained unfazed, and then back at Capricorn. His posture was tense, like a coiled spring, ready to snap at the slightest provocation. I could almost see the irritation flashing in his eyes.

I stood my ground, refusing to let Capricorn's energy affect me. "It's nothing, Capricorn. Just a little accident. He's fine with it," I said, waving my hand dismissively. I could feel the stranger's calm presence beside me, like a protective shield.

Capricorn's eyes narrowed. "I don't like this," he muttered, his tone sharp. He looked from me to the stranger, trying to read the situation. There was that familiar protective edge in his voice, the one I could never ignore.

I could feel the tension between them, Capricorn's concern for me radiating off him, but I wasn't going to let it spiral into a fight. Not tonight. Not over something so insignificant.

I turned to the stranger, trying to convey my appreciation for his understanding. "Really, thank you for being so chill about it. I-I don't know what I would've done if you had gotten upset."

He smiled, a little amusement dancing in his eyes. "It's no problem. Honestly, I've been through worse. Plus, it's not every day I get to meet someone who's willing to spill their drink on me and then apologize so earnestly."

I laughed softly, grateful for his laid-back attitude. It made everything feel less tense, less like I was walking on eggshells with Capricorn. "I really didn't mean to..."

Before I could finish, Capricorn stepped closer, his voice firm. "I don't care how nice this guy is, Virgo. You're not just going to let some stranger-"

I cut him off, stepping in front of the stranger, a protective instinct I didn't know I had kicking in. "Capricorn, stop," I said, my tone steady but firm. "He didn't do anything wrong. You don't need to act like I'm in danger just because I'm talking to someone else."

Capricorn stared at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of frustration and concern. For a moment, there was a long, charged silence between us. The music felt distant, the crowd muffled as I held my ground, standing in front of Ophiuchus-strangely, protectively.

Capricorn's jaw tightened, but instead of arguing further, he took a deep breath. "Fine," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the music. "But don't forget, Virgo. I'm just trying to look out for you."

"I know you are," I said softly, my gaze never leaving his. "But I can handle myself. I've got this."

The moment hung in the air, thick with unspoken words, before Capricorn finally stepped back, but I could still feel his eyes on me as he walked away. I turned back to the stranger, who seemed unfazed by the tension that had just unfolded.

"Thank you," I said again, genuinely grateful for his understanding.

"You don't need to keep thanking me," he said with a grin. "But I appreciate it."

I smiled. As I went to go check up on Scorpio so he doesn't kill anyone