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The classroom was quiet now, the usual hum of conversations fading as Julie's friends trickled out one by one, heading toward the cafeteria. Misha and Rebecca gave her a quick wave before disappearing through the door.
"Join us soon, Julie! Breakfast is waiting!" Misha called, her voice still full of the bubbly energy she always had.
"Yeah, don't keep us waiting too long," Rebecca added with a smile, then followed Misha down the hallway.
Julie offered them a tired smile, nodding in agreement. She still had some notes to finish. Her mind had been so scattered earlier during the lecture, her thoughts a whirlwind. Now, with the room empty, she could focus. Or so she thought.
As soon as the last of her friends had left, a strange stillness settled over her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something—or rather, someone—was still in the room. She glanced around, her pulse quickening when she saw that Lucas was the only one left.
His presence was overwhelming. Julie tried to ignore the unsettling sensation that crawled under her skin. She had been so absorbed in her notes before, but now the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.
She tried to focus, jotting down the last few bits of information from the board, but something was different. The air felt heavier. *Why do I feel like I'm being watched?*
Her pen trembled slightly in her hand. And then, without warning, she felt it.
A delicate graze—a fingertip brushing across the back of her exposed neck.
Julie froze.
Her breath caught in her throat, her entire body stiffening. The room seemed to close in on her, her heartbeat echoing in her ears. She turned her head slightly, eyes wide, but she didn't need to see him to know who it was.
Lucas.
---
### Lucas' Perspective
Lucas leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the exit as the last of the students shuffled out of the room. His eyes tracked Julie as she continued to scribble away in her notebook, completely unaware of his presence.
She had been so engrossed in her work earlier, so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even realize they were alone now.
Lucas found himself watching her, an almost magnetic pull drawing him toward her. The air between them was thick, full of unspoken tension. It was almost too easy. She was sitting there, so close, yet so unaware. He wanted to close that distance, to finally get her attention.
His gaze dropped to the long braid that hung over her right shoulder. It was tempting. So tempting. Without thinking, he leaned forward and lightly grazed the back of her neck with his fingertip, following the curve of her skin down to her shoulder.
Julie's breath hitched. He could feel the tension in her body, the sudden stiffness in her posture. A small smile crept onto his lips, amused by her reaction. She was so predictable. So *human*.
---
### Julie's Reaction
Julie's grip on her pen faltered, the pen slipping from her hand and clattering to the floor. She couldn't breathe. *What just happened?*
The sensation of his finger trailing along her neck left a lingering warmth. Her heart raced, her pulse pounding in her ears. She could still feel the heat of his touch as if it were branded into her skin.
She whipped around, eyes wide, but before she could speak, she heard his voice—low, teasing, almost mocking.
"Did you miss me?"
His voice sent a shiver down her spine, and her mouth went dry. She couldn't form a coherent thought, let alone a response.
His breath was warm against her skin, a whisper so close that it made her skin tingle. "Don't tell me you don't recognize me now."
Julie's mind was a blur. She couldn't stop herself from standing up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor, sending her belongings tumbling to the ground. She barely registered the sound of her bag and papers falling before she faced him, her finger trembling as she pointed at him.
"W-what the hell are you doing here?" Her throat was dry, her voice barely a whisper of its usual strength. "Was it you? Were you the one who saved me in the woods?"
Her words came out in a rush, as if she couldn't stop them. "How did you do it? Why didn't you stay? Why did you leave me?!" The questions tumbled out, desperate, unfiltered.
Lucas couldn't help but find her flustered state amusing. He stood up from his chair, his height towering over her. She instinctively took a small step back, and he raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her reaction.
He took one step closer. She instinctively took another step back, as if trying to put more distance between them. Lucas smirked at her attempt to retreat.
"Don't back away," he said softly, his voice low and commanding, "It's a little too late for that."
Julie froze. His presence was overwhelming, and she felt cornered, both physically and mentally. She hadn't expected this encounter to feel so... intense.
---
### The Confrontation
Lucas moved closer, forcing Julie to tilt her head back to look up at him. Her breath caught in her throat again as he loomed over her, his dark gaze piercing.
He wasn't going to let her run now. Not after everything.
"Ask me one question at a time," Lucas said, his tone colder now, more measured. "And I will not answer everything today."
Julie opened her mouth to protest, but before she could speak, he held up a hand. "One question. You may ask it next time."
Confusion clouded Julie's face. "Next time?" she repeated, almost incredulously. "Why—"
"Are you going to ask me the same thing every time we meet?" Lucas interrupted, his voice tinged with an edge. "You're not in control here. *I* decide what we talk about."
Julie's stomach tightened. She didn't understand why, but she couldn't find the words to protest. Something about him—his presence, his confidence—held her in place, paralyzed her.
Lucas leaned in closer, stopping just inches from her face, his intense blue eyes locking onto hers. The air between them thickened. Julie's heart fluttered erratically in her chest.
She decided to ask the question bothering her so much. "Was it you in the woods who saved me from the fall?
"Yes" Lucas answer her without much resistance. Then leaned in to her.
"You belong to me," Lucas murmured, his voice dark and possessive, sending a shiver through Julie. "I never wanted this—never wanted to meet you—but fate has other plans. And now that I've found you, I will not let you go."
Julie's mind reeled, her confusion escalating. She opened her mouth to say something, to demand an explanation, but before she could, Lucas reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
His fingers brushed against her skin, and she shuddered. His touch felt like fire, like an electric shock that ran straight to her heart.
He smiled, pleased with her reaction, before straightening up to his full height. He didn't wait for her to say anything.
"Go ahead," Lucas said coolly. "Your friends are waiting. I'm sure they'll be thrilled to hear you're alive and well."
Julie stood there, stunned, her mind racing. Her body moved on instinct, gathering her scattered belongings from the floor, her hands shaking. She didn't look at Lucas again as she shoved everything into her bag, barely registering the weight of her things as she hurried out of the classroom.
---
### Lucas' Perspective
Lucas watched her, a small, almost predatory smile tugging at his lips. He knew she wouldn't be able to resist him for long. Her attempt to escape had amused him, but he wasn't about to let her get away that easily.
As she gathered her things and bolted toward the door, Lucas unlatch the classroom door quietly, giving her a final, knowing look as she rushed past him.
"She'll be back," he whispered to himself with a chuckle, watching her disappear down the hallway. "She can't stay away."