I couldn't concentrate at all in my next class.
Not after what happened in the hallway.
My brain was still stuck on the way Damien had caught me — the way his hands had felt, warm and secure, the way he held mine like it meant something. Like I meant something.
And the way he didn't let go.
Even now, I could still feel the phantom warmth of his fingers tangled with mine. I wasn't sure if I was walking or floating the rest of the way through the day. Everything felt... lighter. Brighter.
By the time lunch arrived, I found Chloe at our usual spot in the cafeteria and sat down across from her, still dazed.
She looked up from her sandwich and narrowed her eyes. "Okay. What happened?"
I blinked. "What?"
"You're smiling like you just kissed someone under a waterfall in a movie," she said, raising an eyebrow. "So? Spill."
I burst into laughter, then quickly covered my mouth. "Okay… fine. But I didn't kiss anyone."
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Then what happened?"
I leaned in closer and whispered, "Okay, so after class, Damien asked if I knew where Room 312 was, and when I said I didn't, he offered to walk me there."
Her brows shot up. "He offered?"
I nodded. "Yeah. And then while we were walking, I tripped over this box in the hallway and almost fell. Like, actually fell."
Chloe gasped. "Oh my God. Are you okay?"
"Better than okay," I whispered, my cheeks flushing. "He caught me. Like — literally caught me before I hit the ground."
Her jaw dropped. "Wait. Hold on. Damien caught you like some knight in shining armor?"
"Yes," I said, grinning like an idiot. "And then — here's the crazy part — he didn't let go of my hand. The entire way to class."
Chloe's expression shifted from surprise to full-on shock. "You're kidding."
"I'm not."
She blinked. "Okay, Ava… that's a big deal."
I tilted my head. "Why?"
She leaned across the table, lowering her voice. "Damien doesn't do that. He's nice, yeah, but he's never — ever — like that with girls."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean," she said, eyes wide, "he's super popular. Half the girls in school have a crush on him. He gets attention all the time. But he's always distant. Polite, sure. But cold. Like… not interested."
I blinked, heart starting to pound again — but this time from something else.
Hope.
"You're saying he's never walked a girl to class before?"
Chloe shook her head. "Never. And he definitely doesn't hold hands. Trust me. People have tried. He shuts it down every time."
I stared at her, my heartbeat now echoing in my ears.
"But with you…" she said slowly, her voice gentle now, "he's different."
"Different how?" I asked, barely above a whisper.
"He looks at you like you're someone he's been waiting to meet," Chloe said softly. "Like he actually sees you."
My breath caught in my throat.
I glanced down at my tray of untouched food, suddenly too distracted to eat.
Was it possible?
Could Damien actually like me?
---
As Chloe went back to her sandwich, I stared out the cafeteria window, thoughts spinning.
I didn't have answers yet. But I had a feeling something was happening.
Something real.
Something beautiful.
And maybe…
Just maybe…
I was the girl who caught Damien's heart.