Chapter Four: A Familiar Stranger
The morning sunlight spilled through the tall windows of the lecture hall, painting soft gold patterns on the desks. Athena Brown stepped inside, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floor. Heads turned instantly — whispers followed her like perfume.
"Is that Athena Brown?" someone murmured.
"She's even prettier in person…" another voice added.
Athena pretended not to hear. She was used to attention — it followed her everywhere like a shadow. She scanned the rows of seats, searching for a place to sit. But as her gaze drifted across the room, she noticed something odd: every seat seemed to be taken, or suddenly claimed, the moment she got close.
Students looked up, offered nervous smiles, then quickly looked away. Nobody wanted to risk sitting beside the principal's favorite newcomer — or perhaps they were just too intimidated by the name Brown.
Athena sighed quietly. Typical.
Then, in the far corner of the room, she saw her — the same girl from yesterday. The one who had been bullied in the courtyard. She sat alone, half-hidden behind her books, eyes downcast as though she hoped no one would notice her.
Athena made her way toward her.
"Is this seat taken?" Athena asked softly.
The girl's head jerked up, surprise flashing in her wide brown eyes. "N-no, not at all."
Athena smiled faintly and sat down, placing her books neatly on the desk. "You're the girl from the courtyard, aren't you?"
The girl looked nervous but nodded. "Yes… I never got to thank you properly. I'm— I'm Clara. Clara Moore."
"Athena," she said simply, though the girl clearly already knew.
"I know," Clara said with a shy smile. "Everyone knows."
Athena chuckled under her breath. "I get that a lot."
The tension between them eased after that. Throughout the lecture, Athena found herself stealing small glances at Clara. She was quiet, gentle, the complete opposite of the loud, confident crowd Athena usually drew in. Yet there was something warm about her presence — something real.
By the end of the class, they were already talking like old friends. Clara offered to help Athena find her way around campus, and Athena insisted on buying her lunch in return. It felt easy, natural — a rare kind of peace.
As the afternoon sun dipped lower, Athena returned to her dorm to drop off her books. Her plans for the evening were already forming: a little shopping, maybe a coffee afterward. She slipped into a soft white blouse, jeans that hugged her waist just right, and gold hoops that caught the light.
The city's largest mall was buzzing when she arrived — music playing, perfume in the air, people everywhere. Athena moved through the aisles like she belonged there, her bags slowly filling with dresses, shoes, and tiny things she didn't need but couldn't resist.
By the time she was done, her hands were full of glossy shopping bags and her mood was light. She pushed open the glass doors of the mall, the evening air brushing against her skin as she stepped toward the parking lot.
And then she froze.
A tall man stood by a black car not far from the exit, his posture familiar, his head tilted slightly the way she remembered. For a heartbeat, she thought her mind was playing tricks on her — but no.
It was him.
Her uncle.
Athena's breath caught, and a wave of shock and adrenaline surged through her veins. What was he doing here? He was supposed to be abroad — far away from this city.
For a long moment, she stood there, half-hidden behind the glass door, her heart thundering in her chest. He hadn't seen her yet.
A thousand thoughts raced through her mind — confusion, curiosity and another feeling she could not name . Slowly, she stepped out of the shadows, her pulse pounding in her ears.
"Uncle Damon…" she whispered under her breath, the name tasting strange and cold on her tongue.