Lucas sat in the darkened room of the mansion, a slight tension in the air as he gazed out over the moonlit woods. He had just left Mr. Smith, who had been briefed about the strange circumstances surrounding Julie's arrival at the University of Florida. Mr. Smith was an ally to the supernatural world and a member of a secret organization that ensured the delicate balance between the human and supernatural realms. He had made it clear that the advertisement for the graduate program—an invitation meant only for supernatural beings—had somehow reached Julie's human hands.
Lucas' mind raced. How had Julie seen that ad? What did it mean that she was studying at the university? He had no answers yet, but he felt an undeniable pull toward her, one that could not be ignored.
---
### Scene: The Beginning of a New Week
The shrill sound of Misha's phone alarm echoed in the dorm room, jolting the three girls awake. Misha groggily reached for her phone, silencing the blaring reminder for the fifth time.
Julie groaned, her eyes squinting against the sunlight peeking through the curtains. "Misha, seriously, you need to turn that thing off," she muttered, throwing a pillow over her face.
Rebecca sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Ugh, tell me about it. This is worse than any alarm I've ever had. How many times does it go off before you get out of bed?"
Misha grinned sheepishly, adjusting her hair. "I'm not a morning person. It helps me wake up." She rolled out of bed and stretched. "You'll get used to it."
Julie and Rebecca exchanged a knowing glance, both rolling their eyes in unison before they got out of bed and started getting ready for their classes.
Today was important for Julie. She had her interview for the part-time job at the university library. As much as she loved the freedom that came with being at the university, the financial burden weighed heavily on her. This job could make all the difference in her life here.
---
### Walking to Class
As the girls made their way toward the main campus building, the brisk morning air did little to shake Julie's unease. She had the strangest sensation, like someone was watching her. She scanned the surroundings, but everything seemed normal. People were scattered around the campus, some in groups, others alone. Nothing stood out, yet the feeling lingered.
Julie's steps quickened, her heart beating faster. She glanced over her shoulder, but there was no one following her. Still, the sensation gnawed at her. She pressed forward, determined not to let it bother her.
"Julie, you alright?" Misha asked, noticing the distracted look on her face.
"Yeah... just... I feel like someone's watching me." Julie glanced over her shoulder again, but no one seemed out of place. "I'm probably just being paranoid."
Rebecca raised an eyebrow, looking around. "I don't see anything. Maybe you're just tired."
Julie nodded, though the feeling of being observed didn't leave her. It was as if someone was invisible, right there, just beyond her reach.
They arrived at their classroom early, finding empty seats near the back. Samuel and Nathan soon joined them, and Samuel, ever the concerned one, leaned in to ask, "How are you feeling, Julie? You sure you're okay after the accident?"
Julie smiled reassuringly, though her mind was elsewhere. "I'm fine. Really. No need to worry." But her thoughts were already drifting, lingering on something far more important.
**The blue eyes.** The eyes of the person who had saved her.
She had felt those eyes staring at her in the woods, the way they seemed to see her—*really* see her—in a way no one else ever had. But who was he? How could she thank someone whose identity she didn't even know?
Her train of thought was interrupted as the professor walked in, followed by a tall, imposing figure behind him. Julie's heart skipped a beat, and she froze when she saw him.
---
### The Stranger in Class
Lucas entered the room with the quiet authority of someone accustomed to being watched. His gaze swept over the class, his icy blue eyes scanning the room with quiet intensity. The moment they landed on Julie, something shifted inside him. His heart clenched, the bond calling to him as though the universe itself was pulling them together.
Julie's breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened, and her heart began to thud against her ribcage. She knew those eyes—*those exact eyes.* They were the same ones she had seen in her dreams, the same ones that had caught her just before she had fallen.
Her skin flushed as she tried to compose herself, but the warmth on her cheeks betrayed her. She could feel the weight of his gaze like a tangible presence, lingering on her every move. And when his eyes met hers, her pulse raced uncontrollably, a loud beat she was sure everyone could hear.
"Class," the professor said, turning toward the front, "we have a new student joining us today. Please welcome Lucas to the course. He'll be with us for the semester." The professor gestured to Lucas, who gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod.
Julie swallowed hard, her mind still reeling. *It's him. It's really him.*
Lucas stood tall, his expression unreadable, but something in his stance—his arrogance, the confidence that radiated off him—sent a shiver down Julie's spine. He wasn't just a student. He was someone… more.
Julie's eyes followed him as he made his way to the seat behind her. Her breath caught in her throat when he walked past, just inches away from her. Her heart fluttered, and for a moment, it felt like the room around her vanished.
---
### The Tension Between Them
Lucas settled into his seat, his eyes never leaving Julie. He could feel the pull between them, could feel how his presence seemed to make her uneasy, yet intrigued. *She knows,* he thought. *She must know. But how much does she understand?*
Julie could feel his gaze boring into her, even though she tried desperately to focus on the lecture. She couldn't concentrate, her thoughts tangled in the memory of the blue eyes that had saved her life. His gaze made her skin prickle, his presence overwhelming. She shifted in her seat, trying to push down the sudden heat rising in her chest. But it was impossible to ignore. He was there. *So close.*
Julie couldn't deny it any longer—he was the one. He was the person who had caught her before she fell. But why was he here, in this class? Why was he watching her so intently?
The professor began to lecture, but Julie's mind was elsewhere, trapped in a spiral of thoughts. Every time she tried to focus, Lucas' eyes were there, etched in her memory like an indelible mark. The room felt too small. The space between them felt like an eternity.
Lucas leaned back in his chair, his gaze still fixed on Julie, enjoying the way her body tensed whenever his eyes found hers. He could hear her heartbeat, faster now, as if it, too, was being pulled toward him. His smile tugged slightly at the corners of his mouth. She was *his.* He didn't know how yet, or why, but he was certain of it.
And for the first time, Lucas felt something he hadn't in a long time—**vulnerability**.
But he wasn't ready to face that yet. Not here. Not now.
---
The rest of the lecture passed in a blur for Julie. Every word felt distant as the weight of Lucas' stare pressed on her. Her heart still raced, and every time she looked down at her desk, she could feel his presence lingering just behind her.
But as the class ended, and the students began to pack up their things, Julie couldn't shake the feeling that her life had just changed. She didn't know how, or why, but she *felt* it—felt the magnetic pull that tethered her to Lucas, the person whose eyes had saved her life.
She only had one question left.
*What did all of this mean?*