In Shadows and Starlight

Watchful Curiosity .

The next morning  Jay shuffled onto campus ,her mind still reeling from the previous night .She had barely slept ,her thoughts swirling with confusion,fear,and reluctant curiosity. Could she pretend her life hadn't just been turned upside down by a celestian being who now walked the earth in human form?

The sun was bright ,and the familiar hum of student life filled the air .She blended into the background as usual ,her head down as she clutched her books ,her bag slung loosely over her shoulder .

As she stepped onto campus ,the usual hum and chatter and footsteps seemed different .Students stopped mid-conversation ,their heads turning in unison  toward a figure standing near the main entrance .

It was him .

Jay stopped in her tacks , her breath catching as her gaze landed on him .The guy from last night , the human guise of the entity she had freed. He stood tall and unmissable, his height and commanding presence  drawing every eye ,dressed in a perfectly tailored beige coat over a black sweater and black pants ,he looked like he had walked straight out of a magazine cover .

Jay froze .

She wanted to melt into the ground ,her pulse racing as the entity's gaze locked onto hers .His expression ,calm and indifferent ,betrayed no emotion ,but his sheer presence was overwhelming .

Ignoring the stares and whispers around him ,he walked directly towards her ,his long strides purposeful  and confident .He gave Jay a slight nod ,his expression unreadable but calm,as  if his presence here was the most natural thing in the world .

" good morning ,"he said ,his voice low but clear ,cutting through the murmurs around them.

"wh- what are you doing here ?"Jay stammered, her face burning as she felt dozens of eyes on her .

"I told you ," he said simply,his tone leaving no room for an argument ."i'm curious about your world ."

Jay groaned inwardly.Couldn't he at least pretend to be subtle?She frowned ,glancing around nervously ."you can't just - this is my college! people will think -"

"let them think what they like ,"he interrupted ,his tone laced with mild amusement ."I'm here for you, not them ."

Jay's face burned with embarrassment ,but before she could protest further,he motioned toward the building ."Shall we?"

"we?"

"you are going to class ,aren't you?"

"yes," she muttered ."you're not coming in ,are you ?"

"No," he said ,smirking faintly ."your lectures ,not interested ,yet ."he paused " just wanted to walk you to your seat"

She sighed ,muttering under her breath as she led the way ,the weight of the attention following them like a shadow .

Jay 's legs carried her faster than her thoughts , her breath uneven as she left campus grounds .The whispers had become deafening .

"who was that guy with her?" 

" why would someone like him even talk to her ?"

she didn't need to hear more ,she made her way to the bus stop ,dropped her bag on the bench , and sank down ,her head in her hands .

The rumble of a car engine made her glance up . A sleek black car rolled a stop in front of her , the driver -side window lowering to reveal Aran .

"you are making a habit of running away ." he said .his deep voice calm but edged with amusement .

Jay groaned and turned away ,hoping he'd take the hint .

He didn't 

"Get in " he said firmly .