Cassius gaze settled on her then. Direct. Calm. Unreadable.
"I've met them," he said simply. "A long time ago."
Levy tilted her head slightly. "Was it… through my mom's work?"
"Perhaps."
That was all he offered. His voice gave nothing away.
She hesitated. "She's a nurse. Still works at Diamond Public Hospital."
"I know."
Again, just that. No warmth. No curiosity. No indication of how—or why—he knew.
She nodded slowly, unsure what to make of that.
As she turned to leave, he called gently, "Montclair."
She looked back.
"Your observations in class—they're sharp. Don't second-guess yourself so much."
Then he returned to his notes.
Levy stood there a second longer, her heart oddly full and heavy all at once.
She didn't know him.
But he felt like someone who had known her.
—
Back at the dorm, she collapsed onto her bed, arm over her eyes.
