Hela, ever perceptive, noticed the way Selene’s gaze lingered on {{user}} a second too long and leaned in with a teasing whisper. “Why don’t you just go talk to him?” She asked, eyebrow arched. “I’ve never seen you hesitate before.”

Selene smirked, leaning back against her locker “Talk to him? Please, Hela, I don’t ‘talk’ to boys like him,” she replied, feigning indifference. But even as she spoke, a small part of her tugged, craving something more. She couldn’t let Hela see that.

As if reading her mind, Hela chuckled. “Whatever you say, Selene. Just remember, he’s not one of your little admirers.”

Selene scoffed, though her gaze drifted back to {{user}}. Days turned into weeks, each passing glance stirring something within her she couldn’t ignore.

When the cool kids gather around them later, Hana pointed at {{user}} asleep at his desk and snickered. The others joined in, trading jokes about his quiet nature. Selene giggled softly, playing along, but a flicker of irritation burned in her chest. She brushed it off quickly, keeping her cool facade, yet she couldn’t help the pang of annoyance that lingered, simmering just beneath the surface.

She glanced at Hana, her expression unreadable. Then she slowly turned away, nonchalantly tossing her hair over her shoulder as she made her way towards him, ignoring the whispers that trailed in her wake. Her steps were confident and deliberate as she approached his desk, a small smirk curling at the corners of her lips. He didn't seem to notice her at first, still fast asleep despite the growing commotion around them. With a quiet sigh, she leaned down, gently shaking his shoulder.

"Hey," she said softly, her voice low enough not to disturb anyone else. When he didn't stir, she raised an eyebrow and repeated herself, this time with more force. His eyes fluttered open, meeting hers for the briefest of moments before darting away again in embarrassment.

"Yeah?" he muttered,

She raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "Hmm...let's just say I could use someone to talk to." There was a pause as she studied his face, the fleeting glance back at her almost hidden behind his lashes. He didn't look like he wanted to be here any more than she did. The thought made something warm flutter in her chest. "Come on," she added with a small smile, "maybe you could help me out with that."

Slowly, he pushed himself up onto his elbows, looking at her uncertainly. She gestured for him to follow her with a jerk of her head, the motion casual and easy. As they walked away from the crowd, Selene found herself actually enjoying the chance to spend some time with him alone. For once, it felt like she wasn't the center of attention.

"So," she began as they settled

She paused, glancing at him sideways. The light caught her hair just right, making it seem almost to glow in the dim hallway. "I don't know," she said with a shrug. "Maybe we could just talk, or...or maybe I could show you something?" Her words seemed to hang in the air between them, thick with an undercurrent of meaning that neither of them quite dared to grasp.

He blinked, searching her face for any hint of what she might be thinking. There was a challenge there, he realized--a challenge he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to take on. And yet...and yet something deep inside him pushed him forward, urging him not to back down now. "What do you mean?" he asked carefully, his voice little more than a whisper.

Selene smirked again, this time with more confidence. She leaned in closer, her breath tickling the

She smirked, leaning in closer, her voice even softer as she answered. "I mean...let's just say there are things about me that most people don't know." Her words sent a shiver down his spine, and he couldn't help but wonder what sort of secrets she was hiding beneath the surface. "And I think it's time someone learned the truth," she added with a mischievous glint in her eye.

He swallowed hard, feeling a mixture of fear and excitement coursing through him. The thought of learning more about this enigmatic girl--the one that had captured his attention despite himself--filled him with an intensity he hadn't experienced before. "Wh-what does that mean?" he stammered out.

She smiled, her lips curving into a predatory smirk as she stepped even closer, until their faces were barely inches apart. The sc

She smiled, her lips curving into a predatory smirk as she stepped even closer, until their faces were barely inches apart. The scent of his blood was thick in the air, driving her instincts wild with need. "It means," she purred, "that it's time I showed you what I really am."

With those words, she leaned forward and bit down on his neck, hard enough to draw blood. His cry of surprise muffled against her lips as she savored the feel of his life flowing through her mouth. Around them, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them and the thrill of the hunt. She drank deeply, reveling in the power that surged through her veins with every swallow.

Her eyes fluttered closed as she savored his taste, letting herself get lost in the moment for a brief, fleeting instant. Then, with a

Selene's eyes snap open, golden irises meeting his wide with guilt and shock. Blood trickles down his neck as she pulls away, reluctantly releasing her grip from around him. She forces herself to take a step back, her chest heaving as she fights for air. Her face is flushed with exertion and a burning need that she can no longer control. The taste of his blood courses through her veins, leaving a trail of desire in its wake.

She swallows hard, struggling to find words. "I-I'm sorry," she manages to stammer out. "That wasn't...it wasn't supposed to happen." Her eyes dart around nervously, as if searching for an escape. This was all wrong; she shouldn't have done that. But the need, the hunger...it overwhelmed her, and now she's left

She didn't want to scare him off, but she couldn't stop herself from asking. "You saw...what I did? You know?" The words were out before she could even process them fully. A strange mix of fear and relief coursed through her at the admission. Maybe he understood more than she thought.

She forced herself to meet his gaze, searching his eyes for any sign of what he was thinking, but they only seemed to deepen with confusion. She took a step closer, wanting desperately to explain, to help him understand why this had happened. "I-I'm not...not like most people," she stammered out, her voice barely above a whisper. "I have this...thing. This need."

She paused, unsure if she should say any more. The words felt foreign on her tongue, almost as if they belonged to someone else entirely. But then again, maybe it was better

She nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving his face. "Yes," she finally said, her voice barely more than a breath. "I am...a vampire." The words seemed to echo in the silence that fell between them like stones thrown into a still pond. She watched as understanding dawned on his features, saw the fear and revulsion war with curiosity and fascination.

Taking another step closer, she placed a gentle hand against his cheek. "I don't want to hurt you," she said softly, her voice tight with emotion. "I wish I didn't have this...this need." The words spilled from her lips in a rush, the confession making her feel exposed and vulnerable in ways she hadn't expected.

"Please," she continued, searching his eyes for any sign of what he was thinking, "believe me when I say that it wasn't easy...to meet

Her eyes widened, hope and gratitude flaring brightly within her chest. "R-really?" she managed to stammer out. "You'd...you'd help me with that?"

He nodded, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "Of course," he said softly, his voice steady despite the fear she could see lurking just beneath the surface. Something about him--his courage and compassion in the face of such adversity--made her want to believe that maybe, just maybe, things wouldn't be so bad after all.

With a tentative smile, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, their first kiss gentle but full of promise. As they stood there in the hallway, surrounded by shadows and secrets, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her--a relief so profound it almost felt like being fre

She let out a soft sigh of relief, feeling safer in his embrace than she had expected. "That would be...nice," she replied quietly, unable to keep the hint of longing from her voice. As he held her close, she couldn't help but wonder how this night had gone from one of her worst fears coming true to something so unexpectedly beautiful. Perhaps there was hope for them yet; perhaps they could find a way to make their strange relationship work.

For now though, she would enjoy this moment of closeness and security, letting herself be held by the boy who had become more than just another admirer--he'd become her ally, her partner in keeping her secret safe. And maybe, just maybe, he could help her find a way to keep control...to hold onto her humanity as she navigated this strange new world of hers.