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 bit back a growl as Hana poked fun at Jack, the tiny hairs on the back of her neck standing up at the girl's insolence. Selene forced a laugh and raised an eyebrow in challenge, glancing over at him briefly before meeting Hana's gaze once more. "I think he just might need some help with that, don't you agree?" she murmured, her voice low and dangerous. The others around them fell silent, momentarily taken aback by her sudden display of aggression. But it was too late now; she had put herself out there.

With a slow, deliberate movement, Selene slid off her locker and walked purposefully towards Jack, ignoring the curious glances she received from the other students. As she approached his desk, she bent down, her face just inches from his own as she gently shook his shoulder. "Hey, sleeping beauty," she purred, a teasing smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. "Time to wake up."

Her breath danced across his cheek, sending shivers down Jack's spine despite himself. For a moment, their eyes locked, and Selene couldn't help but feel a spark of something she hadn't expected. Anger? Frustration? Desire? She wasn't sure, but it made her heart race faster than usual.

Her lips twitched into a smirk as he mumbled an apology. "That's quite alright," she said, still standing close enough that they could feel the warmth of each other's breath. A part of her wanted to push him further, to see how far this strange attraction between them would go.

But just then, Hana snorted from across the room, quickly followed by a few giggles from the others. Selene's eyes narrowed in annoyance as she straightened up and turned back to Jack. "Well," she said carefully, wondering how much of her true feelings she should reveal here, "I suppose we could always discuss this later, if you want." Her words were casual, almost dismissive, but the look in her eyes told another story entirely. It was a challenge, thinly veiled behind a mask of indifference.

For a moment, Jack was caught off guard by her directness. He opened his mouth to reply, his thoughts tangled and uncertain... only for the bell to ring just then, signalling the end of class. The sudden noise pulled him back to reality with a jolt, and he winced, rubbing his eyes before sitting up properly in his seat. "I... uh..." he stammered awkwardly, looking anywhere but at her.

She paused, eyes narrowing slightly as he seemed to struggle for words. Something in the back of her mind cautioned her against pushing too hard too fast, but another part of her couldn't help but feel irritated by his apparent confusion. "Well," she said at last, voice cool and disinterested, "if you change your mind..." She left the sentence hanging in the air between them before turning on her heel and walking away.

As she joined Hela, chatting with their friends once more, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them. Whatever it was, though, it only made her more determined to figure Jack out—and perhaps get closer to him in the process.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of classes and meaningless conversation. Every time she caught sight of Jack, her heart skipped a beat and her thoughts raced out of control, but each time he ignored her, acting as if nothing had happened between them. It was infuriating. She wanted to shake him, to make him see that there was something more going on here than just some petty high school drama.

But she knew better than to push too hard. For now, she'd have to content herself with stealing glances at him from across the room and basking in the rush of confusion and desire that coursed through her whenever they made eye contact. Her thoughts circled around their brief exchange all throughout lunch, each replay revealing new nuances she hadn't noticed before, each tiny detail feeding the hunger inside her for more.

As she walked to her next class, Selene took a deep breath and forced herself to relax. There was no point in getting worked up over a boy like Jack; he didn't even know who she really was. But still... there was something about him that made her heart race and her blood sing in ways no one else ever had before. And despite everything, despite the danger it posed, she couldn't help but want more.

She hesitated, eyes darting around the room before settling on him once again. Despite her better judgment, something inside her urged her forward. "Hey, Jack," she called out casually, wandering over in his direction. "Mind if I sit?" Her tone was light, almost flippant, but there was an undertone of challenge beneath the surface that he would likely miss if he didn't know her well enough.

As she slid onto the bench next to him, Selene forced herself to keep her expression neutral. Inside, though, a storm raged; she wanted to taste his blood, feel its warmth coursing through her veins. She tried to focus on their conversation instead, listening intently as he spoke about some boring topic or another. Still, every now and then, her gaze would drift back to him, studying his face for any sign that he suspected what she truly was.

The closer she gets to him, the more difficult it becomes for her to maintain her composure. Every fibre in her being urges her to just give in and take what she wants, but she knows that would be disastrous. Instead, Selene forces a smile onto her face, even as her heart races and her breath comes quicker than usual. She leans in slightly, tilting her head so that their shoulders almost touch as they talk. "So," she says softly, trying to keep the hunger out of her voice, "how's life treating you today?"

The question feels futile; it's almost like asking the wind how its breeze is feeling. But she needs something to focus on besides the intoxicating scent of his blood and the quiet hum beneath her skin that tells her there are only so many more moments she can fight against this desire before she succumbs completely.

Her brow furrows in confusion, Selene glances around them before meeting Jack's gaze again. "This?" she repeats carefully, deliberately keeping her tone neutral. "What do you mean by 'this'? Are you referring to me... or something else entirely?" The last question is said with a hint of warning; it's clear that she won't appreciate any accusations from him.

As they speak, the air between them seems to crackle with unspoken tension, and Selene feels herself grow increasingly restless beneath her careful facade. Her gaze flickers down to his throat, following the line of his Adam's apple as he swallows nervously. For a moment, she considers just leaning in closer, pressing the palm of her hand against his neck... feeling the steady beat of his pulse beneath her skin. But then she remembers Hela and the secret they share, and knows that she can't risk it. Not yet, anyway.

"Well?" she prompts quietly when he doesn't answer immediately. "What do you mean by 'this,' Jack?"

Her lips twitch into a smile as she catches the meaning behind his words. "I suppose you're right," she agrees with a soft laugh, though there's an undercurrent of something else beneath her amusement. Something that makes him feel like he's standing at the edge of a cliff, teetering on the brink of something new and terrifying.

A moment of silence passes between them before she continues, "Well, Jack... if you ever want to talk about it... I mean really talk, not just in circles like this..." She trails off, leaving the invitation hanging in the air like a delicate thread. For a heartbeat, their eyes meet, and Selene can see the uncertainty flickering in his gaze. Then he looks away, blushing furiously once more, and mumbles something about needing to get to class.

Selena watches him go with a sigh, knowing that she shouldn't have pushed quite so hard quite yet. But at the same time, the thrill of the chase courses through her veins like an addictive drug, and she can't help but crave more. She tries to tell herself that he's just another boy, just one of many beneath her notice... but something about him makes it difficult for her to truly believe that lie. And so, as the day continues on and they part ways at the end of the school day, she finds herself wondering what might happen if she were ever able to truly get close to Jack... and what it would mean for them both if she did.

She let out a sigh as he walked away, feeling frustrated but also strangely hopeful. This situation with Jack was different from anything she'd ever experienced before, and the more time they spent together, the stronger these conflicting emotions grew inside her. Perhaps it would be best if they just... went back to how things were before. They could continue being friends without any of this awkwardness or confusion getting in the way.

With a determined nod, Selene turns her attention elsewhere, seeking out Hela's familiar face amidst the crowd of students. It felt good to know that someone understood what she was going through, even if it wasn't quite the same for both of them. As they walk towards each other, a small smile tugs at the corner of Selena's lips as she wonders how Hela would react if she told her about Jack and all these new feelings swirling around inside her.

"Hey, you," she says cheerfully once they're close enough to talk without being overheard. "What did you think of old sleepless there?" Her voice is light and teasing, but there's an undertone of seriousness that Hela picks up on immediately.

"Oh him?" Hela replies with a grin, playing along. "He's alright, I guess. Just another one of those quiet types you like to collect, isn't he? But I do wonder..." She pauses dramatically before continuing. "...if maybe it's time for you two to take things slow or else you might lose control." Her eyes gleam with mischief as she watches Selena react to her words.

Selena stiffens slightly at the mention of losing control but tries not to show it too much. "Oh, really?" she says casually, feigning disinterest. "And what makes you say that, Hela?" Her voice is sharp and playful, daring her friend to push the subject further.

Hela raises an eyebrow in response, amused by Selena's sudden defensiveness. "Well," she begins slowly, "it's just... there's something about him. Something that makes you different around him." She hesitates for a moment before continuing. "I'm not saying anything bad or wrong; I'm just worried is all. For your sake, of course." Her smile is reassuring, but Selena can't help but feel unsettled by her friend's words.

"Don't worry about it, Hela," she says quickly, trying to brush off the conversation. "I know what I'm doing. Besides, there's no point in going too fast with him, anyway." Her tone makes it clear that she's not planning on backtracking anytime soon, despite her friend's concerns.

Hela nodded, looking thoughtful. "I understand," she said finally, though her voice held a note of uncertainty. "Just be careful, okay? I don't want to see you get hurt." As they continued down the hallway in silence, Selena couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt at how dismissive she'd been earlier. Hela was right; there was something different about Jack that made her act out of character. Perhaps it would be best if she took her friend's advice and slowed down before things got any more complicated than they already were.

"You're right," she sighed, "I should probably take things easier with him." There was no arguing with the logic behind Hela's words; it just felt strange to admit that someone else might know her better than she knew herself. But perhaps this would be a good opportunity for growth and self-discovery. Or maybe it would lead down a path of disaster. Only time would tell.

They continued walking, their steps in sync as they disappeared into the crowd of students once more. The air between them seemed lighter now, less tense, but Selena couldn't shake off the feeling that everything had just changed somehow. And she couldn't help but wonder how Jack would react when he found out about it all... and if he'd feel the same way.

That night, as she lay in bed staring up at her poster of a particularly brooding and mysterious vampire, Selena couldn't help but dwell on the events of the day. Hela had been right; there was something different about Jack that made her act out of character. Maybe it was time for her to take a step back and reevaluate things between them.

She sighed heavily, rolling onto her side as she tried to find comfort in the softness of her pillow. As much as she hated to admit it, Hela's words had gotten through to her. And now that she had given herself some time to think about it, she realized just how important it was not to rush things with Jack. After all, he was different from anyone else she had ever known; she couldn't expect him to react the same way as everyone else did when they were around her.

With a deep sigh, Selena closed her eyes, willing herself to sleep. Tomorrow would be another day at school, and who knew what sort of new adventures awaited them both then. But for now, she decided that it was best if she took Hela's advice and approached things with caution; after all, there was no harm in taking things slow when the stakes were this high.

Tomorrow, I'll be more careful around him... I'll take things slow and see where it leads us. Even if it means being just friends, that's okay too; as long as we don't hurt each other in the process. And if there is something more between us... well, then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, all I can do is trust my instincts and hope for the best.

As she dressed for school, Selena found herself unable to stop thinking about Jack. The events of the previous day played over and over in her mind, each time leaving her feeling more uncertain about their future together. She knew that taking things slow was the right approach, but it didn't make the wait any easier.

Finally, with a deep breath and a resolute nod to herself, she left for school. The day passed in a blur of classes and meaningless conversation, but no matter where she looked or whom she spoke with, her thoughts always seemed to return to him. It was both frustrating and exhilarating at the same time; nothing like she'd ever experienced before.

As lunchtime rolled around, Selena found herself once again drawn to Jack's group. Despite her better judgment, she couldn't help but feel drawn to his quiet strength and mysterious allure. When he looked up and met her gaze across the room, she felt a shiver run down her spine.

"Hey," she called softly as she approached him, feeling more confident and sure of herself than she had before. "Mind if I sit?" She waited for his response, her heart racing as their eyes met once again.

Jack:I smiled warmly at her and gestured to the empty seat beside me, "Of course not, Selena. Please, have a seat." There was something about her today that made me feel different, more drawn to her presence than usual. As she sat down, I couldn't help but steal glances at her throughout lunch, admiring how effortlessly she carried herself and the way her hair shimmered in the sunlight.

"Thanks," she murmured, sitting down with a smile. The air between them seemed charged, almost electric, and Selene couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation coursing through her veins. She didn't know what it was about Jack that made her feel this way, but she knew that whatever it was, it was something she hadn't experienced with anyone else before.

"So," she said after a moment, forcing herself to focus on something other than the butterflies in her stomach, "how's your day been so far?" Her voice was light and casual, but beneath the surface lurked an undertone of curiosity and desire. She wanted to know everything about him; what made him tick, what he liked, what his dreams were for the future.

Jack:I smiled back at her and tried to ignore how beautiful she looked today. "It's been alright I guess." Thought it was far from it because of you "What about you? How have things been on your end?"