I see the way Damien looks at her.
No — I feel it.
Like static in the air when a storm's about to hit.
Like glass right before it cracks.
He's not saying anything.
But his eyes say everything.
The subtle way he positions himself next to her.
The way he leans just slightly too close when he talks.
The quiet glares when he thinks no one's looking.
But I'm looking.
And I know what I'm doing.
---
"Ava, your hair's got a little paint in it," I said, reaching forward with a gentle smirk during art class.
She blinked. "Wait, really?"
"Yeah. Here." I brushed it away with my fingers. Lightly. Too lightly.
Damien was sitting on the other side of her. His hand paused mid-sketch.
I didn't look at him. I didn't have to.
I could practically hear his jaw clench.
---
At lunch, Ava was walking a bit behind Chloe. I slid up beside her casually, hands in my pockets.
"You know," I said, voice easy, "if I got in trouble for staring, it'd probably be your fault."
She turned, blinking. "What?"
I grinned. "You walk like you own the whole school. Kind of impossible to ignore."
She laughed, biting her lip. "That's not even flirting at this point, that's poetry."
"Oh, there's more where that came from," I winked.
And there it was.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Damien freezing in place with his lunch tray.
He looked right at me. Dead silent.
His expression? A mix of thunderclouds and restraint.
Ava waved at him. "Damien! Over here!"
He walked over slowly. Calm. Controlled.
But his eyes met mine.
And they said one thing: Back. Off.
I smiled politely and sat down anyway.
Let the game begin.
---
After school, Ezra caught up to me near the lockers. Weirdly.
"You're playing with fire," he said.
"What do you mean?" I asked, completely innocent.
He snorted. "Don't give me that. You know exactly what you're doing."
"Hey, I like her," I said with a shrug. "Not my fault she laughs harder at my jokes."
Ezra stared at me. "You're brave. Or stupid. Or both."
I just smiled.
Because he was right.
It was dangerous.
But she was worth it.