HIM

20.

Leila had barely taken a few steps before Jesci caught up to her, his arm draping over her shoulders with an ease that sent warmth creeping up her neck."How'd the rest of your night go?" he asked, his voice low, smooth—like he already knew the answer but wanted to hear her say it anyway.

Leila hesitated, adjusting the strap of her bag. "It was good. My dad was fine when I got home."
Jesci gave a small nod, satisfied. He had been curious about that—whether her dad had given her a hard time. The last thing he wanted was for her to catch heat because of him.

As they walked, Leila started shrugging off the leather jacket, her fingers gripping the sleeves as if preparing to return it. Jesci immediately reached out, stopping her. "Keep it on," he said. "Just for the day. Give it back before you head home."
She looked up at him, uncertain, as if debating whether it was okay. Whether she should.
Jesci raised an eyebrow. "You wore it here. What's a few more hours?"
Leila exhaled, then gave in, letting the jacket settle back onto her shoulders.

Jesci smirked, satisfied. Then, without thinking, the words left his mouth. "Want me to carry anything for you?"
Leila blinked, thrown off by the offer. Jesci wasn't exactly known for... gestures like that.
Even he didn't know where that had come from. He never asked people if they needed help carrying things—he barely carried his own things sometimes. But with Leila, it was different. The words had just... fallen out, as natural as breathing.
Leila hesitated before shaking her head. "I got it. Thanks."

Jesci just nodded, stuffing his hands into his pockets as they continued walking, pretending like he hadn't just done something completely out of character.
Jesci tilted his head toward the main building. "C'mon, I'll walk you to your first class."
Leila hesitated but nodded, adjusting his leather jacket around her shoulders.
Jesci knew exactly what he was doing when he told her to keep it on. It wasn't just a jacket—it was a statement. A silent warning. His need to claim, to mark what was his, was overpowering, even if he knew it was wrong. He wanted people to see. To understand. To stay away. And judging by the looks they were getting, the message was received loud and clear. Conversations died as they passed, heads turned, whispers spread like wildfire. Some people looked confused, others intrigued, but most were just outright staring.

Leila felt the weight of it all pressing down on her. She wasn't used to this kind of attention. She swallowed, keeping her expression neutral, but Jesci could feel the slight shift in her.
"You good?" he asked, his voice low, just for her.
She forced a small smile. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Liar.

He didn't believe her, but he let it slide.
As they walked, Jesci couldn't help but smirk to himself. His leather jacket on her, his presence at her side—it was enough to drive the message home. But Leila? She was making a mental note to talk to Grace. If anyone could help her make sense of this new, unwanted attention, it was her.

**************

As Jesci walked down the hallway, back towards the field he could still feel the weight of people's stares lingering on his back. Whispers trailed behind him, but he ignored them. Let them talk.
He ran his tongue over his teeth, exhaling through his nose. The image of Leila in his jacket stuck in his head—how small she looked, how she still smelled like her floral perfume despite being wrapped in him.

He wasn't sure why, but the sight of her wearing something of his flipped a switch inside him. It settled something primal in his chest while also igniting a new kind of hunger. A hunger he wasn't sure how to control.
By the time he reached his usual spot outside, he pulled out a cigarette and lit it, leaning against the brick wall as he inhaled deeply. The nicotine did nothing to take the edge off.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.