YouDon'tGetToDisappear
Hazel Vale didn't go back to the courtyard.
She didn't go to the cafeteria.
She didn't even follow her usual routine.
Instead—
She disappeared.
The library was the only place that ever felt… safe.
Quiet.
Forgotten.
Unnoticed.
Hazel slipped into a far corner between tall shelves lined with old books, her fingers brushing lightly over their worn spines as she moved deeper inside. The scent of paper and dust wrapped around her, grounding her in a way nothing else could.
No whispers.
No eyes.
No him.
She exhaled slowly and sat down, placing her bag gently beside her.
Her hands were still trembling.
Why was he there?
That question had been circling her mind like a storm she couldn't escape.
Lucian Black.
Standing outside her lecture hall.
Watching her.
Not passing by.
Not distracted.
Watching.
Hazel pressed her fingers lightly against her temples.
"No," she whispered under her breath. "You're overthinking it."
She had to be.
Men like him didn't fixate on girls like her.
It didn't make sense.
It wasn't logical.
And Hazel had learned to trust logic—
Because feelings had only ever led to pain.
Still…
Her chest tightened.
Because deep down—
It hadn't felt random.
"Found you."
Hazel froze.
The voice shattered the quiet like glass.
Slowly—
She looked up.
And her heart sank.
Ivy Clarke.
She wasn't alone.
Of course she wasn't.
Two girls stood behind her, arms crossed, eyes already scanning Hazel like they had found something mildly entertaining.
Hazel's fingers curled slightly against the edge of the table.
"I just want to study," she said softly.
Ivy smiled.
That same sharp, cutting smile.
"Oh, I know," she said, stepping closer. "You always want to be left alone."
Her gaze dropped briefly to Hazel's books.
"Studying hard won't change where you come from, you know."
The words landed quietly.
But they hit hard.
Hazel swallowed.
"I didn't do anything to you."
Ivy's eyebrow lifted slightly.
"No," she agreed. "You didn't."
A pause.
Then her smile sharpened.
"But you did something very interesting yesterday."
Hazel's stomach tightened.
"I told you—it was an accident."
Ivy let out a soft laugh.
"Do you really think that matters?"
She leaned slightly forward, lowering her voice just enough to make it feel more personal.
"Do you have any idea who you embarrassed?"
Hazel's breath caught.
"I didn't—"
"You crashed into Lucian Black," Ivy said, her tone now edged with something darker. "In front of half the university."
The girls behind her snickered.
"And now," Ivy continued, straightening, "people are talking."
Hazel's pulse quickened.
She could feel it again—
The attention.
The pressure.
The trap closing in.
"I don't want attention," she said quietly.
Ivy tilted her head.
"Then you should've stayed invisible."
The silence stretched.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Then—
Ivy reached forward suddenly and flicked Hazel's notebook closed.
The sharp sound echoed through the quiet library.
Heads turned.
Eyes lifted.
"There," Ivy said lightly. "Now you have everyone's attention again."
Heat rushed to Hazel's face.
Her chest tightened painfully.
"Ivy, please…"
The word slipped out before she could stop it.
A mistake.
Because Ivy's expression changed instantly.
Not softer.
Worse.
"Oh," she said quietly. "You're begging now?"
A few students nearby began to watch more openly.
Whispers started again.
Hazel felt it—every single gaze like weight pressing down on her.
"I'm not begging," she said, her voice barely steady.
"Good," Ivy replied. "Because it wouldn't help."
Then—
Without warning—
She grabbed Hazel's notebook and let it drop to the floor.
Hard.
A soft gasp rippled through the room.
Hazel's breath caught.
For a moment—
She didn't move.
Because it wasn't just the notebook.
It was everything.
The humiliation.
The attention.
The reminder of exactly where she stood in a world like this.
"Pick it up," Ivy said lightly.
Hazel stared at the floor.
Her vision blurred slightly.
Her chest burned.
But slowly—
She bent down.
And that's when it happened.
"Enough."
The voice wasn't loud.
It didn't need to be.
The entire library went still.
Hazel froze.
Her fingers hovering just above her fallen notebook.
Because she knew that voice.
She didn't want to look.
Didn't want to confirm it.
But her body betrayed her.
Slowly—
She lifted her gaze.
And there he was.
Lucian Black.
Standing at the entrance of the aisle.
Still.
Immovable.
Terrifyingly calm.
The air shifted instantly.
Students went silent.
Even Ivy—
Went still.
For the first time—
Hazel saw it.
The difference.
Ivy Clarke ruled the university.
But Lucian Black—
He ruled worlds.
His gaze moved once.
From Ivy.
To Hazel.
To the notebook on the floor.
Then back to Hazel.
"Pick it up," he said.
Hazel blinked.
Her heart racing.
The words were the same.
But the tone—
Completely different.
Not mocking.
Not cruel.
Commanding.
But not for her humiliation.
For her dignity.
Her fingers moved.
Slowly.
She picked up the notebook.
Her hands still slightly shaking.
Silence filled the space.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
Lucian's gaze shifted to Ivy.
And for the first time—
There was no calm in it.
Only warning.
"I don't repeat myself," he said quietly.
Ivy swallowed.
For a brief moment—
Her confidence cracked.
"I didn't—" she started.
"You created a scene," Lucian cut in smoothly.
Her words died instantly.
"And I don't like unnecessary noise."
The message was clear.
This ends now.
Ivy forced a smile.
Tight.
Controlled.
"I apologize if—"
"You're apologizing to the wrong person."
The words landed like a blade.
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Slowly—
Reluctantly—
Ivy turned.
Her eyes met Hazel's.
For a split second—
Hatred flashed.
Sharp.
Unhidden.
"I'm sorry," she said.
The words were soft.
But they meant nothing.
Hazel nodded faintly.
She didn't trust her voice.
"Good," Lucian said.
And just like that—
It was over.
Ivy stepped back.
Her group followed quickly.
The tension broke.
But not completely.
Because something else remained.
Hazel stood there.
Still.
Frozen.
Her heart racing for an entirely different reason now.
Slowly—
She turned toward him.
Lucian Black was already looking at her.
And this time—
There was no distance.
No glass wall.
No crowd between them.
Just him.
And her.
"Why were you hiding?"
The question caught her off guard.
Hazel blinked.
"I wasn't—"
"You were."
His voice was calm.
Certain.
Hazel hesitated.
"I just wanted to be alone."
A pause.
Then—
He stepped closer.
Not rushed.
Not aggressive.
But deliberate.
Hazel's breath caught.
Again.
"You don't get to disappear," he said quietly.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
"What?"
His gaze didn't waver.
"Not after drawing attention."
Something about the words—
The way he said them—
Made her pulse quicken.
"I didn't try to," she said.
"I know."
That surprised her.
"But intention doesn't change outcome," he continued.
Silence stretched.
Hazel swallowed.
"I don't belong in your world," she said softly.
For a moment—
Something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
"Then why," he said, his voice dropping slightly, "do you keep ending up in it?"
Her breath caught.
Because she didn't have an answer.
And that—
Was the problem.
Lucian watched her for a second longer.
Then—
He straightened.
"Be careful, Hazel Vale," he said.
Again.
But this time—
It didn't sound like a warning.
It sounded like a claim.
And that was far more dangerous.
Without another word—
He turned.
And walked away.
Leaving behind silence.
Confusion.
And something Hazel couldn't quite name.
But she felt it.
Deep in her chest.
Something had shifted again.
And this time—
There was no pretending it hadn't.
Because Lucian Black had made one thing very clear—
She had been seen.
And in his world—
Being seen…
Meant you didn't get to walk away.