Chapter Text
My fingertips brushed softly against the ruffles of my blanket as I dragged it up over my face, trying to block out the sharp blare of my alarm. It felt like the sound was drilling straight into my skull, threatening to rip my ears off. Groaning, I rolled over and fumbled for my phone, slamming the alarm off as quickly as possible before it could do any more damage to my eardrums. Silence rushed in, heavy and comforting.
For about thirty seconds. Then Plan B went off.
The second alarm screamed to life, louder, more insistent—impossible to ignore. I flinched, letting out a tired groan as reality settled in. Morning. Again. Despite the grogginess clinging to my body, I forced myself out of bed and began getting ready for the day ahead.
At this point, everything was routine.Get to campus. Walk straight to my locker. Grab what I need before class. But lately… something had changed. Someone had been leaving things near my locker. Litter gifts, each one paired with a note addressed to me. No name. No explanation. As the days passed, the confusion in my stomach only grew heavier.
Seriously… at our big age, do people still have secret admirers?
The gifts were inconsistent, too. Some were cute and creative, others… a little too personal. Enough to make me hesitate. Enough to make me wonder how much they actually knew about me. Still, I usually left them where they were or stash it away. At least, I did—until someone approached me.
“[Reader], it’s so pleasant to see you!”
I turned at the familiar voice, immediately meeting warm eyes.
Crowe.
We fell into step beside each other, slipping into easy conversation like always. Talking to him was… effortless. Comforting. There was a slight rasp in his voice, something soft and grounding, paired with a kindness he gave to everyone without hesitation. It was admirable. Honestly, sometimes it felt like a fairytale cliché.. like some Prince Charming wandering the halls of a normal school. The way people looked at him, the way he carried himself…
Yeah. A prince, for sure.
“Tsk…”
The sound was barely a whisper, slipping between the noise of passing students. Neither of us noticed. The bell rang soon after, cutting our conversation short as we split off toward our classes.
My footsteps echoed softly against the concrete floor as I made my way to art class. The hallway smelled faintly of paint and dust—familiar, almost comforting. I reached for the door, my fingers curling around the cold metal handle before pushing it open. Inside, everything looked the same. Same desks. Same quiet atmosphere. Same people who acted like speaking was optional. I slipped into my usual seat, setting my bag down as the professor began speaking. After a few minutes of announcements, they dropped the news:
A group project.
A wave of anxiety settled deep in my stomach. In my other classes, I at least had someone—one familiar face. But here? No one talked. No one reached out. It was like everyone existed in their own silent bubble. One by one, people paired up with those closest to them. I glanced around, realizing most of the class sat toward the front. I was stuck somewhere in the middle, surrounded by people who had already found partners.
Great.
I turned slightly, scanning the back of the room—and froze. There was someone there. A tall figure, sitting alone. His style stood out immediately. It’s effortless, a little unconventional. My eyes lingered longer than they should have, tracing from head to toe before I caught myself.
Without really thinking, I stood and walked toward him.He didn’t look up. His attention was fixed on a book, completely uninterested in the chaos of partner selection around him.
I cleared my throat softly.
His amber eyes lifted to meet mine.
“Seems like you’re a bit lost,” he said smoothly.
I blinked, then asked, “Do you have a partner?”
He didn’t answer right away, and for a second I thought I’d misread everything—but I smiled anyway, trying to fill the silence. “Well… looks like we’re both out of luck,” I said, letting out a small breath. “Do you… want to be partners?”
A pause.
Then..
“Sure. Why not.”
Simple.
We exchanged names and the basics before turning our attention back to the front. We tried to get a head start on the project, but with the professor constantly talking, there wasn’t much we could actually do. Eventually, we agreed to continue tomorrow.
By the end of the day, my body felt heavy with the promise of future stress. I stretched slightly, letting out a quiet sigh as I grabbed my backpack and headed out. That’s when I remembered. The gift. Sitting near my locker was a box—bigger than usual. Noticeable.
I hesitated…
Then curiosity won.
I picked it up, slipping it into my bag and taking it home with me. From somewhere unseen, someone watched.
..And smiled.
——————————————————————————
As soon as I got home, I kicked off my shoes by the door and collapsed onto my bed. My bag fell beside me, and I immediately started digging through it, searching for the box.
The second my fingers found it, I pulled it out and tore it open without hesitation. I was too curious to wait.
Inside..
A stuffed animal?
My favorite color?
I blinked, staring at it in confusion. Then, slowly, a small smile formed on my lips. Whoever was leaving these… they were thoughtful. Careful. Almost sweet. But at the same time… It was unsettling. How did they know so much about me? My smile faded slightly as I placed the stuffed animal on my dresser.
Maybe I shouldn’t take any more of these home. I let out a quiet sigh.
And didn’t notice the small camera hidden deep inside the stitching.
Watching.
Always watching.
Sol was watching.