Marcus didn't stop.
If anything—
He got worse.
At the café, he leaned over the counter again.
Same place.
Same angle.
Like it belonged to him.
"You're avoiding eye contact today."
Tess didn't look up.
"I'm working."
"Mm."
He leaned a little closer.
Not touching.
Never touching.
But close enough that she felt it.
"You usually glare at me at least once per minute. I'm starting to feel neglected."
Her hand stilled on the cloth.
Then resumed.
"You'll survive."
Jake snorted from the table.
Bruce didn't look up from his drink. "Marcus."
A warning.
Simple.
Marcus smirked—
—but he leaned back slightly.
Just enough.
He listened.
He always did.
Tess noticed that.
She always did.
And somehow—
That made it worse.
School
He took the seat next to her.
Of course he did.
No hesitation.
No question.
Just sat down like it was already decided.
Tess didn't even look at him.
"You're in my space."
"You have a lot of space."
"Not for you."
"Harsh."
A pause.
Then—
"Cute, though."
Her pencil snapped.
Jake turned around immediately, grinning."Oh, he's not even trying to hide it anymore."
"Marcus," Bruce said flatly, "behave."
Marcus leaned back in his chair.
Smiling.
"Am I not?"
Bruce didn't respond.
He just watched him.
And Marcus—
Still smirking—
Let it go.
For now.
But his gaze?
Didn't leave Tess.
Not once.
Hallway
"Marcus~"
Tess didn't even need to look.
She knew that tone.
She knew those girls.
The kind that giggled too easily.
Too loudly.
Too comfortably.
"You should just give up already," one of them said, leaning closer to him. "She's clearly not interested."
"Yeah," another added, smiling sweetly, "you could do so much better."
Tess kept walking.
Didn't slow down.
Didn't turn around.
Didn't react.
She didn't care.
Obviously.
Behind her—
Marcus hummed.
Thoughtful.
Like he was actually considering it.
Her steps faltered.
Just slightly.
"Maybe you're right," he said.
Casual.
Easy.
Something twisted in her chest.
Sharp.
Annoying.
Unwanted.
Fine.
Good.
He should.
Tess turned the corner.
Faster now.
Footsteps followed.
Of course they did.
Marcus caught up easily.
Slipped back into place beside her like nothing had happened.
Like he hadn't just—
"You're walking faster."
"I have somewhere to be."
"Do you?"
She stopped.
Turned sharply.
"What do you want?"
He tilted his head slightly.
Smiling.
"I already told you."
Her face heated.
Immediate.
Frustrating.
"Stop playing games."
"I'm not."
That—
That sounded too honest.
She looked away first.
Of course she did.
Behind them, the girls called out—
"Marcus?"
He didn't even turn around.
"Not interested."
Flat.
Final.
And just like that—
It was over.
Tess's chest tightened again.
Different this time.
Worse.
After School
The city glowed softly under the fading light.
The group moved together, familiar and loud.
Jake was talking about something no one was fully listening to.
Logan had one earbud in again.
Ava walked beside him, close.
Raxian hovered near Sable.
Bruce kept a quiet eye on everything.
Marcus walked next to Tess.
Of course.
"Still mad?"
"I'm not mad."
"You left."
"I had somewhere to be."
"Mm."
A pause.
Then—
"You're cute when you lie."
Jake laughed out loud.
"You're never giving up, are you?"
Marcus didn't even glance at him.
Didn't react.
Didn't respond.
His gaze stayed on Tess.
Steady.
Unmoving.
Certain.
Tess felt it.
And the worst part?
She knew.
He won't stop.
The Next Day — Marcus's House
His basement was too comfortable.
Too big.
Too… him.
Soft lighting. Large couch. A massive monitor glowing faintly in the background. Snacks scattered across the table like they'd been expected.
This wasn't just a study place.
It was a space people stayed in.
Jake sprawled across the couch. "I'm not studying."
"Then don't talk," Bruce replied calmly.
Ava and Logan were already focused.
Ethan sat quietly, flipping through his notes.
Raxian—
Wasn't really studying.
His attention kept drifting back to Sable.
She looked tired.
Still trying.
Still pushing.
Marcus noticed.
But he didn't comment.
Time passed.
Work half-done.
Snacks gone.
Something playing quietly on the monitor between breaks.
Eventually—
People started leaving.
One by one.
Jake first.
Then Ethan.
Ava and Logan together.
Raxian didn't leave immediately—he lingered, just slightly, making sure Sable was okay before guiding her out.
And Bruce—
Bruce stayed the longest.
He stood near the doorway.
Watching.
Not obvious.
But intentional.
His gaze moved between Tess—
And Marcus.
Tess noticed.
A small pause.
A flicker of understanding.
Bruce stepped closer.
Quiet.
"Text if you need anything."
Simple.
Direct.
Tess nodded.
"Yeah."
Marcus watched the exchange.
Said nothing.
But he noticed.
The door closed.
Silence settled.
Marcus moved first.
Sitting down beside her on the couch.
Not too close.
Not too far.
He glanced at her worksheet.
"How's it going?"
That same tone.
That same smirk.
Tess immediately flipped the page away from him.
"I'm fine."
She shifted slightly.
Creating space.
Marcus didn't follow.
Didn't close it.
Just stayed where he was.
Respecting it.
But—
He leaned just a little closer.
Enough to be felt.
"You seem distracted."
"I'm not."
"Mm."
A pause.
"Those girls earlier—"
Her head snapped toward him.
"I don't care."
Too fast.
Too sharp.
Marcus's smile softened.
Just a little.
"I didn't say anything yet."
Heat flooded her face.
Again.
She looked away.
Again.
"I said I don't care."
"Of course you don't."
His voice dropped slightly.
Gentler.
Still teasing.
But—
Different.
"You only walked away faster."
Tess stood up.
Immediately.
"No. I didn't."
"You did."
"I didn't."
"You did."
"Marcus."
Her voice cracked.
Just slightly.
That—
That was new.
Marcus stilled.
For the first time—
He hesitated.
She grabbed her bag.
"I'm leaving."
"Already?"
A small pause.
Then, softer—
"I was hoping for a private study session."
Her heart skipped.
Annoyingly.
"Just the two of us."
She turned toward the door.
Fast.
Too fast.
"You're insufferable."
But her voice—
Wasn't steady anymore.
Marcus watched her go.
Didn't stop her.
Didn't follow.
Just sat there.
Still.
It didn't feel like a game.
His gaze dropped slightly.
Thoughtful.
Uncertain.
"…Huh."
Because something had shifted.
Not just in her.
In him too.
And Tess?
She stepped outside into the cool air—
Heart racing.
Thoughts tangled.
He's just playing.
She clenched her jaw.
Kept walking.
He has to be.
But the feeling in her chest—
Warm.
Unsteady.
Addictive—
Didn't feel like a game at all.