That Girl
1009 Words
📖 Chapter 4: The Girl He Shouldn’t Want
The next morning, I told myself it was over.
Whatever happened last night—whatever he was—it had nothing to do with me anymore.
I was just a student.
I had classes, assignments, and a life that didn’t include dangerous men bleeding in dark alleys.
Or at least… that’s what I tried to believe.
“Liana, are you even listening?”
I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts.
Emily was staring at me from across the table, her brows furrowed in concern.
“You’ve been acting weird all morning,” she said. “Did something happen?”
I forced a small smile. “No, I’m fine. Just didn’t sleep well.”
That wasn’t a lie.
I hadn’t slept at all.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him.
Those cold, dark eyes.
That dangerous calm.
“Okay…” Emily said slowly, clearly not convinced. “Just don’t collapse before exams, please.”
“I won’t,” I muttered.
The lecture had barely started when the door opened.
And just like that—
Everything changed.
She walked in like she owned the place.
Chloe.
Perfect hair. Perfect makeup. Perfect attitude.
And right behind her, her usual group.
The entire class went quiet for a second.
Then whispers started.
I looked away, already knowing what was coming.
Chloe’s eyes landed on me almost instantly.
Of course they did.
They always did.
“Well, look who it is,” she said loudly, her heels clicking against the floor as she walked closer. “Still wearing the same cheap clothes, Liana?”
A few students laughed quietly.
I clenched my jaw but said nothing.
“Cat got your tongue?” she continued, tilting her head mockingly. “Or are you just too tired from whatever job you do at night?”
That did it.
“I go to school,” I said calmly, meeting her gaze. “Just like you.”
Her smile widened—but there was no warmth in it.
“Oh, I know,” she said. “I just don’t know how you manage it looking like… that.”
More laughter.
Emily shifted uncomfortably beside me.
“Leave her alone, Chloe,” she muttered.
Chloe didn’t even look at her.
“Or what?”
Silence.
Then Chloe leaned slightly closer to me.
“Know your place, Liana,” she whispered. “You don’t belong here.”
Something in me snapped.
Before I could stop myself, I said:
“At least I earned my place.”
The room went dead quiet.
Chloe’s expression changed instantly.
Cold.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
“Oh,” she said softly. “You really want to play that game?”
I didn’t respond.
But I didn’t look away either.
After a long moment, she straightened and smiled again—fake and sweet.
“We’ll see how long that confidence lasts.”
Then she walked away like nothing happened.
But I knew one thing for sure.
That wasn’t over.
Not even close.
By the time I got home, my head was pounding.
School drama.
No sleep.
And a certain dangerous man I couldn’t stop thinking about.
I unlocked my door and stepped inside.
Everything was quiet.
Empty.
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
“See?” I muttered to myself. “He’s gone. Back to your normal life.”
I dropped my bag and turned—
And froze.
He was there.
Leaning against the wall this time.
Watching me.
Like he had been waiting.
My heart skipped.
“You—”
My voice failed me.
Dante’s gaze didn’t move.
Not even for a second.
It was intense.
Focused.
Different.
“What are you doing here?” I finally managed.
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, his eyes moved slowly over me.
Taking everything in.
Like he was seeing me for the first time.
Really seeing me.
And something in his expression shifted.
Darkened.
Not with anger.
With something else.
Something that made my stomach tighten.
“You’re unharmed,” he said quietly.
I frowned. “What?”
“I told you not to walk alone,” he added.
“I was fine,” I replied, crossing my arms. “I don’t need—”
“You do.”
The way he said it made my breath catch.
I took a step back.
“You don’t get to decide that.”
Silence.
Then he pushed himself off the wall and walked toward me.
Slow.
Controlled.
My heart started racing.
“What happened today?” he asked.
The question surprised me.
“Nothing,” I said quickly.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“Don’t lie.”
I hesitated.
Then looked away.
“It’s just school stuff.”
“Someone bothered you.”
It wasn’t a question.
I swallowed.
“It’s nothing serious.”
His jaw tightened.
And for the first time—
I saw something dangerous flicker in his eyes.
“Name.”
The word was sharp.
Cold.
“No,” I said quickly. “It’s not a big deal—”
“It is to me.”
That stopped me.
Completely.
My heart skipped.
“Why?” I asked softly.
Big mistake.
Because the way he looked at me after that—
It changed everything.
“You helped me,” he said slowly.
But that wasn’t it.
I could feel it.
There was something deeper.
Something he wasn’t saying.
Something in the way his gaze lingered.
In the way he stood just a little too close.
In the way the air between us felt… different.
Heavy.
Charged.
Dangerous.
And then he said it.
Quiet.
But certain.
“I don’t let people touch what’s mine.”
My breath caught.
“I’m not yours,” I said, even though my voice wasn’t as strong as I wanted it to be.
His lips curved slightly.
Not a smile.
Something darker.
“Not yet.”
A shiver ran down my spine.
And in that moment…
I realized something terrifying.
Saving him wasn’t my biggest mistake.
Letting him stay—
Was.
- Writer
