The news of Sam's impressive display in the training room spread like wildfire through the academy. The girls who had witnessed his skills firsthand couldn't stop talking about it, and soon, it seemed like the entire student body was buzzing with excitement. Everywhere Sam went, he found himself the center of attention.
It wasn't long before more girls started approaching him, each one trying to get closer, some more subtly than others.
One afternoon, Sam was on his way to the library when a group of girls from the advanced magic class intercepted him. They were all smiles and compliments, their eyes practically sparkling as they surrounded him.
"Sam! We've been hearing so much about you!" one of the girls exclaimed, her voice full of enthusiasm. "Would you mind showing us a few tricks? We'd love to see more of what you can do!"
Sam chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "I appreciate the interest, but I'm really just trying to get to the library. Maybe some other time?"
The girls exchanged glances, clearly not willing to take no for an answer. Another girl, with bright green eyes and a mischievous smile, stepped forward. "Oh, come on, Sam. We won't take up much of your time. Besides, we could really use your help with our training."
Before Sam could respond, Sara appeared, her expression anything but pleased. She placed herself between Sam and the girls, her eyes narrowing. "He's busy. Find someone else to bother."
The girls recoiled slightly, surprised by Sara's sudden appearance. One of them, trying to salvage the situation, smiled sweetly. "We're not bothering him. We just wanted to spend some time with our new school hero."
Sara crossed her arms, her tone sharp. "He doesn't need your company. If you really need help, go ask an instructor."
The tension between Sara and the girls was palpable, but before things could escalate, Sam stepped in, gently placing a hand on Sara's shoulder. "It's okay, Sara. They're just being friendly."
Sara looked up at him, her eyes flashing with a mix of frustration and concern. "Friendly? More like pushy."
One of the girls, sensing the growing tension, quickly backtracked. "We didn't mean any harm, really. We just… admire you, Sam. But we'll leave you alone if you want."
Sam smiled at the girl, trying to diffuse the situation. "I appreciate the admiration, really. But maybe some other time, alright?"
The girls nodded, albeit reluctantly, and slowly backed away, casting wary glances at Sara as they left.
Once they were out of earshot, Sara let out a frustrated sigh. "They're everywhere, Sam. You can't go five minutes without someone trying to throw themselves at you."
Sam chuckled, amused by her protective nature. "I guess it's the price of being popular."
Sara wasn't amused. She frowned, her voice tinged with irritation. "Well, I don't like it. And I don't trust them."
Sam grinned, leaning in closer to Sara. "You know, you're kind of cute when you're jealous."
Sara's eyes widened, and she quickly turned away, trying to hide the blush creeping up her cheeks. "I'm not jealous! I just… I don't want you getting distracted by a bunch of girls who only care about your status."
Sam's smile softened, and he gently tilted her chin so she was looking at him again. "Sara, you don't have to worry about that. I'm not interested in anyone else."
Sara blinked, her heart skipping a beat at his words. "Really?"
"Really," Sam confirmed, his voice sincere. "You're the only one who matters to me."
For a moment, they stood there, just looking at each other, the world around them fading away. It was as if everything else ceased to exist, leaving just the two of them in their own little bubble.
But their moment was abruptly interrupted by a loud voice from down the hall. "Hey, Sam! Are you going to keep flirting with your girlfriend all day, or are you going to join us for lunch?"
Sam and Sara turned to see Alan grinning at them, clearly enjoying the teasing opportunity. Behind him, Masha and Raven stood, both of them smiling knowingly.
Sara quickly stepped back, her face turning bright red. "We weren't flirting!"
Alan chuckled, walking over to them. "Sure, whatever you say. But if you're done, we should get going. The cafeteria's going to get crowded soon."
Sam gave Sara a playful wink before turning to join Alan. "Yeah, let's go. I'm starving."
Sara, still flustered, followed them, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. She couldn't help but glance at Sam every now and then, her heart still racing from their conversation. Maybe Alan was right—maybe there was something more between them than just friendship.
As they walked together, Sam couldn't resist one last tease. "So, Sara, about what you said earlier… does this mean I'm officially off the market?"
Sara paused for a moment, then took a deep breath, her face still slightly flushed. She looked Sam straight in the eye, her voice steady as she replied, "Yes."
Sam blinked, a bit taken aback by her sudden boldness. He hadn't expected her to respond so directly. A slow smile spread across his face, and he couldn't help but feel a warmth in his chest.
"Good," Sam said softly, his voice filled with genuine affection. "I'm glad to hear that."
Sara's lips curved into a small, shy smile, and she quickly looked away, trying to hide how flustered she was. But inside, she felt a sense of relief and happiness, knowing that she had finally said what she'd been feeling for a while now.
Alan, who had been listening in, raised an eyebrow in surprise, but wisely chose to stay quiet. Masha and Raven exchanged a knowing glance, both of them smiling as they continued walking beside their friends.
As they made their way to the cafeteria, the group fell into a comfortable silence, the air between Sam and Sara now filled with a newfound understanding. Though they didn't say anything more on the matter, the connection between them had clearly deepened, and it was something that everyone around them could sense.