The taste of Ellie's lips lingers on mine like a promise as we stand in the crowded hallway of Empire State University, her powerful frame pressing me against the wall outside my Home Economics classroom. My golden mask is safely tucked in my backpack, but I might as well be wearing it, the way every passing student stares at us makes me feel like I'm on display.
"I really don't want to go," I murmur against her mouth as she pulls back slightly, a delicate string of saliva still connecting us. My first day back to classes since everything with Norma, and all I can think about is dragging Ellie back to my dorm room.
She smiles down at me, those blue eyes softening in a way they only do when we're alone. "Neither do I," she admits, her thumb tracing my jawline with surprising gentleness for someone who can tear through concrete walls. "But it'll be good to finally have things go back to normal."
"I guess," I reply, not quite convinced. What even counts as normal anymore? A few months ago, I was just a regular guy trying to pass my classes. Now I'm half-demon, dating a woman bonded with an alien symbiote.
Ellie tucks a strand of her short blonde hair behind her ear, the movement drawing my attention to the subtle ripple of the symbiote beneath her skin. Always there, always watching, always protecting us both.
"Text me between classes," she says, her voice dropping to that husky register that makes my heart skip.
"I will," I promise, reaching up to pull her face back down to mine. Her lips meet mine eagerly, hungrily, like she's memorizing the taste of me to carry through her day.
When we finally break apart, she gives me one last lingering look before turning away, her confident stride parting the crowd of students. I watch her go, admiring the way her shoulders fill out her leather jacket, until she disappears around the corner.
With a resigned sigh, I drag myself into the Home Economics classroom, feeling the weight of several gazes from the front row. A cluster of women turn in their seats to watch me enter, their expressions ranging from curious to judgmental.
I slide into a seat at the back, figuring I can at least fade into obscurity here. This will probably end up as a blow-off class anyway, something to balance out super heroing.
A guy with perfectly tousled blonde hair drops into the empty seat beside me. He flashes a bright smile that seems practiced but genuine.
"Hey there," he says, his voice cheerful but not overbearing.
"Hi," I respond, trying to sound friendlier than I feel. Social interaction with someone who isn't Ellie or Masters feels weirdly foreign now.
He extends a hand toward me, his movements deliberate and graceful. "I'm Aaron."
"Shane," I reply, accepting his handshake. His grip is firm but not aggressive, his hand surprisingly soft.
"I just transferred here for this semester," he explains, arranging his notebook and pens with meticulous precision on the desk.
"Oh, cool." I nod, not really knowing what else to say.
Aaron leans slightly closer, lowering his voice. "So, I saw you out there in the hallway." His blue eyes glint with something between amusement and fascination. "You were really going at it with that girl, huh?"
I puff up my chest a little, pride swelling as Aaron asks about Ellie. "Yeah, that's my girlfriend. She's absolutely amazing."
Aaron's lips curl into an amused smile. "She's got this whole intimidating vibe going on. Like someone who definitely collected lunch money by force in high school."
A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. "You know what? That's probably not far from the truth." I can perfectly imagine teenage Ellie cornering some poor kid by the lockers, that dangerous gleam in her eye.
"So how does she treat you?" Aaron asks, leaning forward slightly, genuine curiosity in his expression. "She seems... intense."
I can't help the stupid grin that spreads across my face. "I'd get in trouble if she heard me saying this, but she's actually a total softie with me. Completely head over heels."
Aaron raises an eyebrow, his expression playful. "Oh? Better hope I don't tell her you're spilling her secrets."
"Nah, go ahead," I wave dismissively, still smiling. "I actually kind of love when I'm in trouble with her."
My eyes drift over Aaron's perfect hair, his symmetrical features, the way his shirt hugs his obviously gym-toned body. Something uncomfortable twists in my stomach.
"Wait, no," I blurt out, suddenly alarmed. "Don't go anywhere near her. You're way too good-looking."
Aaron's eyes widen for a second before he bursts into laughter. "Dude, relax! I'm not trying to steal your girlfriend." He holds up his hands in mock surrender. "Besides, I'm not looking to date until after college."
"Oh, cool," I say with a nod. "That's probably smart. College is chaotic enough without relationship drama."
Aaron's lips curve into an easy smile. "Exactly. Though it looks like you're managing just fine."
"I got lucky," I admit, feeling a familiar warmth spread through my chest whenever I think about Ellie. "She's pretty special."
"Hey," Aaron says, his tone shifting to something more casual, "you want to grab boba after class? There's this great spot just off campus."
I blink, momentarily confused. "What's that?"
"Tea," he explains with a light chuckle.
I consider the offer for a moment. I haven't really made any friends since arriving at Empire State, unless you count Heroes and Villains. It'd be nice to have friends outside of that.
"Yeah, fuck it, why not?" I reply with a shrug.
Just as Aaron opens his mouth to respond, the door swings open again. My eyes widen as Piper Parker slips into the classroom, her hazel eyes scanning the seats behind thick-rimmed glasses. When she spots me, recognition flashes across her face, and she makes a beeline for the empty seat on my other side.
"Hey, Shane," she says, dropping her worn backpack beside the desk.
"Oh hey," I reply, genuinely surprised. "You're taking this class too?"
Piper nods. "Yeah. Needed an elective that wouldn't interfere with my lab schedule." She adjusts her glasses.
"Cool," I say, then gesture toward Aaron. "This is Aaron. He just transferred here. We're going to grab boba after class. You want to come?"
Piper's gaze shifts to Aaron, and I watch as her eyes narrow. She gives him a long, appraising look that borders on suspicious, like she's trying to x-ray his skull with her eyes alone. Aaron smiles back with perfect politeness, but I notice his posture straighten under her scrutiny.
After what feels like an uncomfortably long moment, Piper looks back at me. "Yeah, sure," she says, her tone casual but her eyes still holding that edge of wariness. "I've got an hour before my lab."
"Awesome."