"Arwen, we're joining you for lunch. Josh invited us," Brigit said as she stood beside Rhyian.

"Of course, I'll just gather my things," I replied with a smile. As I packed up, I overheard Roisin and Finn teasing each other about the game they had played last night. Diarmid sat at the table nearby, silently observing his two friends.

I swallowed, trying to calm myself. His presence alone made my heart race uncontrollably.

"Are you ready?" Diarmid's deep voice cut through my thoughts. I looked up, meeting his gaze. His hand was extended toward me, offering to carry my bag.

"Oh, it's fine. I can manage," I said with a smile. He held my gaze for a moment before gently taking the books from my hands, leaving me with only my bag. Without a word, he guided me toward the door, his touch light but reassuring, while his group walked ahead of us, heading to the pantry.

At the pantry, I spotted Josh and Leroy waiting for us. When Josh saw me arrive with Diarmid and his group, his smile widened.

"Hey guys! I'm glad you joined us for lunch," Josh exclaimed, as Diarmid's group exchanged greetings and started chatting. I took my usual seat beside Leroy, and across from me was Diarmid, watching me intently. I swallowed hard, trying to ignore his gaze.

In my mind, I thought, This is too much. I'm not ready for this kind of feeling. I tried to dismiss the effect Diarmid was having on me, but his presence lingered, his eyes still fixed on me.

"Babe, what do you want to eat?" Leroy asked, breaking the silence.

"Uh... just a sandwich and water," I replied quietly, still avoiding Diarmid's intense stare.

"You sure? We still have five classes later," Leroy reminded me with a raised brow. I simply nodded, unable to speak.

I sensed Diarmid's confusion as he watched my sudden change in mood. His gaze felt probing, as though he was trying to figure out what had shifted. I forced a small smile in his direction, hoping to pacify him. I probably looked foolish, but I had to get control of these emotions.

I can handle this, I told myself, trying to suppress the panic creeping in. Yet, a shadow from my past lingered—Jaimes. The way Diarmid made me feel was disturbingly similar to what Jaimes had once stirred in me. And that... that terrified me.

After that lunch, I did my best to avoid being alone with Diarmid, even though he made a point of always being nearby. He didn't force conversations; instead, he would just sit beside me in class, speaking only when necessary. At lunch, he and his friends joined us, but we barely exchanged words. Part of me felt a pang of sadness, but I was grateful for the space—it gave me room to breathe.

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One afternoon, when a professor didn't show up for class, I seized the opportunity to escape to the library, craving solitude. I noticed Diarmid's gaze following me out of the classroom, but I ignored him.

I found a quiet spot in the far corner of the library, the same spot where Jaimes and I used to sit. Shaking my head, I tried to push those memories away. I pulled out a book and some notes to review, attempting to focus. The corner was dimly lit, and with only a few students scattered around during the break, the library felt eerily quiet.

Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. The air around me felt icy, unnaturally cold. I looked up, blinking to clear my vision after staring at my notes for so long.

At the far end of the room, between the shelves, I saw a figure. Its clothes were a dingy white, the fabric swaying unnaturally, as though the person wearing them was gliding. My heart raced as I leaned back in my chair, staring at the figure. Slowly, it turned to face me, but its face was hidden beneath a dark hooded cloak.

I swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the table. The figure's right hand, which had been concealed by the shelves, came into view. It was holding a scythe.

I exhaled shakily, my breath catching in my throat. I couldn't move. I was frozen in my seat as the figure began to walk toward me.

It stopped in front of my table, so close that its looming presence made me tremble with fear. My eyes filled with tears, and my heart pounded so loudly it drowned out the world around me. A screeching noise came from the figure, starting low and growing louder, until it pierced my ears.

Desperately, I covered my face with my hands, as if they could somehow shield me. But then, something unexpected happened. A tingling warmth spread through me, starting from my left arm and slowly enveloping my entire body. The warmth felt protective, like an invisible barrier.

The screeching continued to grow louder, but when I peeked through my fingers, I saw the figure recoiling. It retreated into the shadows, dissolving into the darkness until it was completely gone.

As soon as it vanished, I hurriedly gathered my things, nearly running out of the library. My heart was still pounding when I reached the exit, but before I could open the door, I collided with something solid.

Looking up, I saw Diarmid's face, etched with concern. Sweat dotted his forehead, and I let out a breath of relief.

"God, Diarmid! You nearly gave me a heart attack," I hissed, still trying to calm myself.

He didn't say anything right away. Instead, he gently placed his hands on my shoulders, his eyes searching my face. "Are you okay? You were running," he said softly, his voice filled with worry. His expression softened as if he'd been just as scared when I bumped into him.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, trying to steady my voice. "What are you doing here?" I asked, needing to deflect from my near-panic.

"I was just heading to the library. I needed to check on something," he said, his gaze shifting away from mine.

"Uh, okay," I muttered, stepping back and quickly adjusting my clothes.

"Are you headed back to the room?" Diarmid asked gently. I nodded, still too shaken to speak.

"Come on, let's go," he said, gesturing toward the hallway. Even though he didn't touch me, his presence alone wrapped me in a comforting warmth, grounding me as we walked side by side.