Julie hurried down the hallway, her steps quick and purposeful, trying to shake off the lingering thoughts of Lucas. She could still feel the warmth of his touch on the back of her neck, the way his voice had sent a shiver down her spine. She could feel his words echoing in her mind. *You belong to me.*
*No. No, I don't belong to him.*
The idea of how easily he had touched her, of how she hadn't pulled away immediately, frustrated her. She should have recoiled. Should have felt disgusted. Yet, something inside her stirred, a reaction she didn't want to admit, a feeling that made her skin flush with confusion.
*Focus, Julie. Focus on what matters.* She reminded herself. She had an interview today, and she needed the part-time job. That's what mattered right now—not the strange, unsettling encounter with Lucas.
Shaking her head, she quickened her pace as she neared the cafeteria. She could already hear the hum of voices, the buzz of laughter and chatter from the students who had already gathered around their tables.
As she entered, she spotted her friends immediately. Misha and Rebecca were sitting at their usual spot, with Samuel already there, looking intently at the menu. Julie's stomach gave a small growl as she approached the table, her mind still a little clouded, but she quickly pushed the distractions aside and sat down.
"Hey, Julie! You alright?" Misha asked with a raised eyebrow, noticing the slightly distracted look on Julie's face.
Julie gave a small smile, nodding quickly. "Yeah, just tired. It's been a long morning."
"Tell me about it," Rebecca chimed in, grinning. "The lecture was so boring. I was literally about to fall asleep."
Misha laughed. "Same here. You missed our amazing plan to hit up the coffee shop after school?"
Julie shook her head, feeling her mood lighten a little. "I can't. I've got that interview for the library job this afternoon."
"Right!" Misha said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You'll nail it! I'm sure of it."
"Thanks," Julie smiled, grateful for her friend's encouragement. "I hope so. I really need the job."
They all fell into casual chatter about random things—schoolwork, upcoming events, and even silly gossip. As Julie spoke with them, she was unaware of Samuel's steady gaze fixed on her. His eyes rarely left her face, drinking in every little detail. The way she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The way her lips curled into a soft, easy smile when she was talking. Every movement, every expression seemed to captivate him more than the last.
---
### Samuel's Thoughts
Samuel had never felt like this before. He had dated a fair number of girls in the past, each relationship casual, nothing that ever made his heart race or his mind wander. But Julie... she was different. There was something about her that made him feel drawn to her, like an invisible thread pulling him closer.
At first, he thought it was just a deep friendship—after all, they had been friends for a while. But when he thought back to that terrifying moment on the cliff, the fear that had gripped his chest when her hand had slipped from his, he realized just how deeply his feelings for her had grown.
The fear of losing her had been real. And when he saw her, bruised and battered, lying in the woods, his heart had broken for her. He'd been so relieved when they discharged her from the hospital, but something had shifted in him. Since then, his thoughts were consumed by her.
Now, sitting here at the table with her, his gaze constantly returning to her, it was hard to ignore the tug in his chest. He wanted to protect her. Wanted to be there for her in ways he hadn't realized until recently.
He watched her as she laughed, her voice ringing in his ears like music. He noticed the small things—the way she looked at him when she spoke, how her lips parted slightly as she was about to make a joke, how she subtly tucked her hair behind her ear, something that always made his heart skip a beat.
---
### Julie's Unawareness
Julie didn't notice Samuel's intense gaze. She was too busy keeping her thoughts from wandering, especially to the unwanted memory of Lucas' touch. *Don't think about him. Don't think about him. Focus.*
She took a deep breath, shifting her attention back to her friends. "I'll be fine," she said, her voice steady. "I've just got to focus on this job. I really need to make sure everything's perfect."
Rebecca smiled encouragingly. "You've got this. You've always been a hard worker. Plus, the library is the best place to work. Quiet, peaceful… and *no* annoying students."
Julie chuckled, feeling the warmth of her friends' support. It made the heavy thoughts she'd been carrying feel a little lighter. "Thanks, guys," she said, giving them a grateful smile.
As they finished their meal, Julie glanced over at her phone and checked the time. Her interview was in an hour, and she needed to head to the library soon.
"Well, I'd better go get ready," she said, pushing her empty plate aside. "Thanks for the breakfast, guys."
"No problem!" Misha said. "Go crush that interview!"
---
### The Interview
Julie arrived at the library with a mixture of excitement and nervousness swirling inside her. The library was quiet, as always, the familiar smell of books and paper greeting her as she stepped inside. She went straight to the front desk where the librarian, Mrs. Harper, was waiting.
"Julie! So glad you could make it. How are you today?" Mrs. Harper asked, giving her a warm smile.
"I'm good, thanks!" Julie replied, offering a smile of her own. "I'm excited for the interview."
Mrs. Harper led her to a small table near the back of the library. "Well, we're happy to have you here. Let's just chat for a bit. Tell me a little about yourself and why you're interested in this position."
Julie sat up straight, mentally preparing herself. This was important. She needed this job. "Well, I've always loved being around books. I've volunteered at a few local events, helping with reading programs for kids. I love organizing, and I think I'd be a good fit for a library assistant position."
Mrs. Harper nodded, impressed. "That's wonderful to hear. It's clear you've got the right passion for this. Let's talk about availability and schedule. When would you be able to start?"
Julie went over her schedule and the days she would be available, making sure to emphasize her flexibility. They chatted for a few more minutes about the responsibilities of the position, and by the end of it, Julie felt confident that she had done well.
"I'll let you know by Friday," Mrs. Harper said, giving her a kind smile. "Thank you for coming in, Julie. It was a pleasure talking to you."
"Thank you for the opportunity!" Julie said, standing up and shaking Mrs. Harper's hand before leaving the library.
As she stepped outside, she let out a deep breath. *I think I did okay,* she thought. *Now, I just have to wait.*