Being his luna

4

The rest of the day passed in a blur of faces, voices, and new places. By the time I stepped out of my last class, the sky had shifted into a soft twilight, the campus buzzing with evening energy.

Harper had stuck to me like glue after lunch, insisting on walking me to a few of my classes and pointing out random landmarks I was too overwhelmed to remember. She was a whirlwind of stories and questions, but somehow, her endless chatter made me feel less alone.

As I crossed the quad toward the bus stop, my thoughts drifted back to Professor Black.

The way his gray eyes had locked onto mine in the dining hall…it had been unsettling. Not in a bad way, exactly, but it was intense, like he could see right through me. My stomach flipped at the memory, a mix of embarrassment and something I couldn’t quite name.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. He’s your professor, Ella. Get a grip.

The bus ride home was uneventful, and by the time I unlocked the door to my tiny off-campus apartment, I felt a wave of relief. Home was small but cozy—just a studio with a kitchenette, a worn couch, and a bed tucked into the corner. It wasn’t much, but it was mine.

I dropped my bag by the door and flopped onto the couch, letting out a deep sigh. The day had been exhausting, but it hadn’t been terrible. Harper had been a surprising bright spot, and while I wasn’t sure I’d fit in at Crestwood yet, it felt like a step in the right direction.

Still, the memory of those piercing gray eyes lingered.

What was it about him that unsettled me so much?

I shook the thought away and pulled out my notebook, deciding to go over my history notes. The class was interesting—Professor Black had a way of making even the driest topics come alive, his voice smooth and captivating. I could already tell he was the kind of teacher who made you want to learn, and I needed to focus on that, not…other things.

But as the night wore on, and the full moon rose outside my window, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was shifting.

Something I didn’t understand.