She just… sat down.
Right beside me. No warning, no permission. Just… there.
I noticed her before she even reached the desk. Different footsteps. Too calm. Not a student, not a teacher.
I didn't look up.
My phone buzzed softly in my hand. Game loaded. I tapped through menus. Pretending nothing happened.
"You always sit here," she said.
I shrugged. "Seats are free."
She didn't leave.
The silence stretched. Long. Annoying. I hated silence like this. It made people expect things.
"I saw you the other night," she said quietly.
That made me snap my head up. Not because I was scared. Annoyed, maybe.
"I think you've got the wrong person," I said.
"I don't," she replied.
I stood up. Class hadn't started yet. Nobody cared. I grabbed my bag.
She followed.
"You don't look like someone who wants attention," she said behind me. "That's why you're interesting."
I stopped and turned.
"Listen," I said flatly. "I don't know what you think you saw, but I don't care. Heroes. Raiders. Any of it."
She studied my face. Calm, sharp. "You don't fear death."
I laughed once. Short. Empty.
"That's not special."
I walked away before she could respond.
But I knew something had changed.
People like her didn't sit beside strangers for no reason.
People like me… didn't get left alone once noticed.