chapter Three
551 Words
I didn’t shake the feeling all morning.
Even in class, sitting right next to Tessa, I felt… off. Like someone had stepped into my space without asking.
It didn’t make sense. Nothing had actually happened.
But I couldn’t relax.
“Jenna.”
I blinked and looked up.
Professor Hale was already halfway into the lecture, writing something on the board. I must’ve zoned out again.
“Try to stay with us,” he said, not unkindly.
“Sorry.”
Tessa nudged me lightly. “You’re really not okay today.”
“I’m fine,” I said automatically.
She gave me a look that clearly said you’re a terrible liar, but before she could say anything else, the door opened.
It wasn’t loud. Just a quiet push.
Still… the entire class seemed to notice.
I don’t know why.
Maybe it was the timing. Maybe it was just something about him.
He stepped inside like he didn’t care that everyone was staring. Tall, relaxed, like being late didn’t bother him in the slightest.
Dark hair, a little messy. Black shirt. Nothing flashy.
Normal.
Except… not really.
“Sorry,” he said simply.
Professor Hale turned. “You must be the transfer student.”
He nodded once.
“Name?”
A small pause. Barely noticeable.
“Kael.”
Something about the way he said it made the room feel quieter for a second.
“Alright, Kael. Take a seat.”
He turned, scanning the room.
And then his eyes landed on me.
I froze.
They were blue.
Not just blue—dark, deep, the kind that almost looked black unless the light caught them right.
For a second, it felt like he wasn’t just looking at me—like he was studying me.
I looked away first.
Of course I did.
He walked past a few empty seats and stopped.
Right behind me.
Tessa leaned in immediately. “Okay… new guy, kinda intense, and he sits behind you? I don’t like this already.”
“Stop,” I whispered, even though I kind of agreed.
I could feel him sit down.
Not hear—feel.
It was subtle. Just a shift in the air. But it made the back of my neck tingle.
The lecture continued, but I barely followed any of it.
Every time I tried to focus, I became aware of him again. The quiet behind me. The stillness.
At some point, I glanced back.
I told myself it was nothing. Just curiosity.
But when I turned—
He was already looking at me.
Like he’d been waiting for it.
This time, his eyes weren’t the same.
They were lighter.
Brown.
I frowned slightly.
That wasn’t right.
I was sure—completely sure—they were blue when he walked in.
Maybe it was the lighting. The classroom was brighter than the hallway. That had to be it.
Still…
Something about it didn’t sit well.
I turned back around slowly.
“Jenna,” Tessa whispered. “You’ve checked him out like three times.”
“I’m not checking him out,” I muttered.
“Mhm.”
I ignored her.
But I couldn’t ignore the feeling anymore.
It was back.
That same awareness from earlier.
That same quiet pressure in my chest.
Like someone had been looking for me…
…and just found me.
- Writer
