Aria couldn't escape the suffocating presence of Damien Carter. He was everywhere. In the hallways, in her thoughts, and now in her fears. She hadn't seen him much since their hallway encounter, but the tension lingered, a storm waiting to unleash itself.
She spent most of the next day avoiding places he frequented—his usual corner in the cafeteria, the parking lot where he and his friends hung out, and even the library, her safe haven. But no matter where she went, she couldn't shake the feeling that his eyes were on her, watching her every move.
By lunchtime, she was exhausted, both physically and mentally. Emma sat beside her, talking about some drama involving their classmates, but Aria barely heard her. Her focus was on the note she had found in her locker earlier that morning.
"You can run, but you can't hide."
The words echoed in her mind, each one a reminder that Damien wasn't done with her.
"Aria, are you even listening to me?" Emma's voice broke through her thoughts.
She blinked, looking up at her friend. "Sorry, I just… I've got a lot on my mind."
Emma frowned. "Is it Damien? Has he done something else?"
Aria hesitated. She wanted to tell Emma about the notes, the texts, everything, but part of her didn't want to drag her friend into this mess.
"It's nothing," she said finally. "I can handle it."
Emma didn't look convinced, but she let it go.
---
Across the cafeteria, Damien sat with Ryan and a few others, his gaze fixed on Aria. She looked pale, like she hadn't slept in days. He wondered if it was his doing.
"Man, you've been staring at her all week," Ryan said, nudging him. "What's your deal?"
Damien ignored him, his thoughts tangled in a web of conflicting emotions. He wanted to scare her, to make her understand that no one messed with him. But at the same time, he was drawn to her in a way he couldn't explain.
There was something about her quiet strength, the way she tried to stand her ground even when she was clearly terrified. It was infuriating and fascinating all at once.
"Leave it, Ryan," Damien said finally, his tone sharper than he intended.
Ryan raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. But seriously, what's your plan here? You gonna keep messing with her, or is this something else?"
Damien didn't answer. He wasn't sure himself.
---
That evening, Aria sat at her desk, trying to finish her math homework. But her mind kept drifting back to Damien.
Why was he doing this? What did he want from her?
Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. She hesitated before picking it up, her heart sinking when she saw the message.
"Miss me?"
Aria's hands trembled as she stared at the screen. She didn't reply, but another message appeared moments later.
"Come to the library after school tomorrow. We need to talk."
She bit her lip, debating whether to ignore him or confront him. Part of her wanted to stand her ground, to show him that he couldn't control her. But another part of her, the part that remembered his piercing gaze and the way he seemed to see right through her, was terrified.
---
The next day, Aria spent every class dreading the end of the day. She kept glancing at the clock, her stomach twisting into knots as the final bell rang.
She made her way to the library, her heart pounding. She didn't know what she was expecting, but when she walked in, Damien was already there, leaning casually against a table as if he owned the place.
"You're late," he said, his voice calm but edged with something darker.
"I didn't agree to meet you," she replied, forcing herself to sound braver than she felt.
Damien smirked, pushing off the table and closing the distance between them. "And yet, here you are."
Aria took a step back, but he followed, his presence overwhelming.
"What do you want, Damien?" she demanded.
He tilted his head, studying her. "You intrigue me, Bennett. Most people would've run crying to the principal by now. But not you. Why is that?"
She swallowed hard, refusing to look away. "Because I'm not afraid of you."
His smirk faltered for a moment, replaced by something softer, almost vulnerable. But it was gone as quickly as it came.
"Liar," he said, his voice low. "You're terrified. I can see it in your eyes."
Aria's breath hitched, but she didn't respond.
Damien leaned in closer, his voice a whisper. "You should be."
The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. But before either of them could say anything else, the sound of the librarian's footsteps broke the tension.
Damien stepped back, his smirk returning. "This isn't over, Bennett."
He walked away, leaving her standing there, her heart racing and her mind spinning.
---
Later that night, Damien sat in his room, staring at the ceiling. He couldn't stop thinking about Aria—her defiance, her fear, the way she tried to stand up to him even when she was clearly outmatched.
She was different, and it was driving him insane.
His phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. A text from Ryan.
"You sure you're okay? You've been weird lately."
Damien ignored it, his thoughts consumed by the quiet, stubborn girl who had somehow gotten under his skin.
For the first time in years, Damien Carter felt something he couldn't control.
And he didn't know if that terrified him or thrilled him.