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.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she watched the others laugh and talk about Jack. Something inside her chest tightened uncomfortably, an emotion she couldn't quite identify but that felt foreign to her nonetheless. Before she knew what she was doing, Selene pushed herself away from her locker and strolled over to where he sat, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

"What's up, sleepyhead?" She asked with a casual air, resting her hip against his desk. The movement brought them mere inches apart, but she didn't seem to notice or care. "Bored out of your mind without me around to entertain you?"

A knowing smirk tugged at the corners of her lips as he asked who she was. "The name's Selene," she drawled, glancing over him briefly before returning her attention to his face. There was something about this boy that she couldn't quite place; it made her uneasy in a way she didn't like. Something about the scent of him, maybe. "And what you're doing is looking awfully familiar," she added with a wink, as if they shared some secret understanding.

She shifted slightly closer still, leaning in just enough to whisper, "Wanna talk about it?" Her breath fanned across his cheek, sending shivers down his spine despite himself. There was an undercurrent of something else in her words, a barely concealed curiosity that unnerved him even more than the physical closeness.

Her lips twitched at his sleepy reply, amusement dancing in her eyes as she studied his face. "Well, I'm not sorry to hear it," she mused under her breath. "Getting some rest before the homework piles up?" Selene paused for a moment, considering him. There was something about Jack that made her want to... push buttons, maybe? Or see how far he'd bend before snapping back? She couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"Maybe we should exchange numbers," she suggested with a sudden burst of mock sincerity, "so if one of us feels the need to ditch class or pull an all-nighter, they can just call the other and... I don't know, commiserate?" Her eyes danced with mischief as she held out her hand expectantly, offering him a chance to play along or admit defeat. Either way, it seemed likely to be entertaining.

Selene laughed lightly, the sound musical and inviting. "Oh, I don't know," she drawled, resting her chin on one hand as she studied him from beneath lowered lashes. "Let me guess... you're just some quiet, brooding type who likes to keep to himself. You think nobody understands the burdens you bear." Her voice was low and teasing, a taunt designed to bait him into responding.

"Or maybe," she added with a glint in her eye, "you're just hoping I'm as lonely and pathetic as everyone else seems to think I am." Selene smiled sweetly at the surprised look on his face before leaning in even closer, her voice dropping to a husky whisper. "But what if..." she paused for dramatic effect, "...I wasn't?"

Her nearness was intoxicating; it made the air around them crackle with an electric energy that left Jack feeling off-balance and oddly vulnerable. His heart raced as he struggled to think of something witty or clever to say in response, but all that came out was a stuttered, "What... what if you weren't?"

She smiled then, the expression both warm and enigmatic. "Well," she murmured softly, resting her other hand on top of his, palm upward so he could feel the heat radiating from her skin, "what if I just wanted someone to talk to? Someone who didn't make me feel like I had to impress them all the time." The words hung in the air between them, heavy with an unspoken meaning that seemed to lull both of them into a dreamlike state.

Selene stared at him for what felt like an eternity, searching his eyes

Her lips curved into a small smile as he replied. "Oh, I don't know about that," she said lightly. "You seem like you could keep up just fine." There was something about the way she said it, an undertone of challenge in her voice that made him wonder if she was actually interested in talking to someone like him or if this whole exchange had been nothing more than a game for her.

But then again, maybe there was no harm in playing along. He was used to being underestimated by others; perhaps the anonymity of being "Jack" allowed him a freedom he didn't normally have with his other classmates.

Selene leaned closer still, her breath warming his cheek once more as she murmured into his ear, "So, Jack... what do you say? Interested in finding out just how much I could take from you?" Her words sent a shiver down his spine despite himself. There was something predatory about the way she said them, like she knew exactly which buttons to push and wasn't afraid to press them as hard as possible.

He swallowed hard, feeling the heat of her breath on his neck and unable to formulate a response that didn't sound too eager or too wary. Maybe it was because he had nothing left to lose; perhaps she was right when she suggested he wasn't all that different from her after all. Or maybe... maybe there really was something about this strange, enigmatic girl that made him want to explore their connection further, even though every instinct in his body screamed for him to run while he still could.

Her lips curled into a small smile as she caught the playfulness in his tone. "Oh, I see plenty," she whispered back, her voice low and husky enough to send shivers down his spine. "You're mysterious, quiet... unlike anyone else I've ever met. And you have this way of making me feel things I thought were long gone."

She leaned in closer still, brushing a lock of hair behind his ear with the pad of her index finger. The touch sent a jolt of heat racing through him, making his heart beat faster. "And," she added, her voice almost inaudible as she breathed the words into his ear, "I've always had this... curiosity about what it would be like to find out just how far I could push someone like you."

There was a brief pause before she asked, almost hesitantly, "Will you let me try?" Her breath fanned across his neck once more as she waited for him to respond. It felt like an eternity passed before he finally managed to croak out a hoarse reply.

Her lips twitched at his words as they caressed her ear, and she resisted the urge to lean in closer still. Was he playing along? Or was this all just a big game to him? For a moment, uncertainty clouded her mind, unsettling her composure in ways she hadn't expected.

But then he pulled back, giving her space once more, and she found herself returning to their earlier dynamic: the playful, confident Selene who was never one to let anyone get close enough to see past the mask she wore so effortlessly. With a soft laugh that was equal parts amusement and irritation, she tipped his chin up with one finger, gazing into his eyes. "Don't worry," she murmured teasingly, her voice low and husky, "I'm sure I'll figure you out sooner or later."

And then, before he could say anything else, she released him, stepping back from the desk with a fluid grace that belied her heightened heart rate. "See you around, Jack," she said brightly, shooting him one last mischievous smile before turning and walking away. Her heart raced as she left his presence, but there was an undeniable thrill coursing through her veins that made the feeling almost exhilarating. She glanced over her shoulder at him one final time, wondering what he might be thinking.

Was he as conflicted and unsettled as she felt? Or was this all just a game to him too? The uncertainty only served to heighten her curiosity, leaving her craving more... even as part of her wondered if that was such a good idea.

As the days passed, Selene found herself unable to forget their brief exchange by the lockers. Something about Jack's quiet determination and willingness to play along with her taunts set him apart from anyone else she'd ever met. It was both infuriating and exhilarating in equal measure.

She avoided him whenever possible, wanting to maintain the sense of control and dominance that had always defined her interactions with others. But every time their paths crossed, that connection between them seemed to spark anew, leaving her feeling disoriented and off-balance. It was as if he knew exactly how to push her buttons, forcing her to confront aspects of herself she'd long since buried beneath layers of confidence and bravado.

One day in the hallway, she found herself alone with him for a moment before a group of their classmates came over to chat. As they approached, Selene debated whether or not to engage in her usual banter or continue staring at Jack as if he were some kind of mystery she needed to solve. In the end, curiosity got the better of her.

"Hey," she said casually, leaning against his locker beside him. "What's up with you and your buddy Hela? You two always flirting behind my back?" Her voice was light, teasing, but there was an undercurrent of something else there as well: a hint of genuine curiosity that made Jack wonder if she was actually interested in knowing the truth.

Her lips twitched at his words as she considered them, taking in the casual way he spoke and the slightly cocky tilt to his head. There was something about him that made her want to push back against his seemingly calm exterior, to see if she could ruffle those perfectly feathered wings just a little. "Maybe I am jealous," she admitted with a carefree shrug, hoping he'd mistake it for playfulness rather than the truth hidden beneath. "Or maybe I'm just wondering why you're being so nice to her all of a sudden."

There was an unspoken challenge in her words, one that invited him to take their banter further if he dared. But even as she said it, Selene couldn't shake the feeling that there was more at stake here than just another round of verbal sparring; the air between them felt charged, electric with an energy that made her heart race and her skin tingle with anticipation.

"Hmm," she mused, tilting her head to the side as she studied him. "I suppose it's hard to tell with me," she replied with a coy little smile that sent a shiver down his spine. "After all, we both know I'm used to getting whatever I want from people." Her voice was low and husky, filled with the confidence of someone who knew how to use her charm effectively.

With each word, she inched closer still, until their bodies were barely inches apart. Selene could feel the heat radiating off of him, making her heart race faster, and wondered if he felt it too. A slow smile spread across her face as she added, "Or maybe I'm just curious about what makes you different from everyone else."

There was a beat of silence before she leaned in closer still, her lips brushing against his ear before whispering, "Maybe I should find out more about you, Jack... the real you. What do you think?" The words hung in the air between them, heavy with an undercurrent of desire and curiosity that left him feeling both exposed and eager for more.

Her lips curved into a slow, teasing smile as he replied. "Oh, really?" she breathed against his ear, her voice husky with amusement and desire. "And what makes you think that? I'm starting to wonder if there might be something special about me after all..." As she spoke, she shifted her weight ever so slightly closer, pressing the length of her body against him in a way that left no doubt as to her intentions.

The air between them seemed to crackle with electricity, each breath they took mingling with the other's, creating an intoxicating mix of heat and desire. "Maybe," she continued, her voice almost a whisper, "maybe I should just find out for myself." With that, she leaned in even closer, pressing their lips together in a soft, lingering kiss that left him reeling with emotion.