The classroom emptied in a hurry. Even Felicia also left when Theo decided not to leave early today while looking at Athena. The door clicked shut, sealing the silence. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Only Athena and Theodore remained.

She sat with her arms crossed, her silver-white strands brushing over her shoulder as she leaned back into her chair. Her eyes, sharp and unflinching, followed Theodore who was now standing straight, tall, broad-shouldered, his shadow cutting through the sunlight spilling from the window.

Athena tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a faint, defiant smirk. "You know," she started, her voice calm but edged like glass, "for someone who walks around like he owns the place, you sure do enjoy stirring messes that don’t belong to you."

Theodore’s jaw tightened, but his expression remained unreadable. He leaned forward, planting one hand on the desk in front of her, his gaze locking onto hers. That smirk he wore earlier had vanished, replaced with something darker.

Athena refused to flinch. "What was that back there, huh? Acting like my bodyguard? Or" her tone dropped, mocking, "are you trying to prove what the teacher said? That I’m your girlfriend?"

The words hung heavy between them.

Theodore’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t bite at the tease. Instead, his silence pressed down like gravity. His stare was unwavering, the kind that threatened to peel away every layer of composure she clung to.

Athena clicked her tongue and leaned closer, closing the distance, her glare slicing up at him. "Let me make one thing clear, Frost. I don’t need you speaking for me. Not here. Not anywhere."

The air snapped taut.

For a moment, it seemed like Theodore would say nothing at all. But then, his voice came out low, delibrate, slicing through the silence like a knife. "Maybe you should be more careful who you let speak to you, then."

What does that have to do with him?

Athena’s breath caught, just for a second. Her hands curled tighter against her arms. She hated the way his words sounded protective. And it was beginning to get on her nerves.

She leaned back, letting out a sharp laugh. "Tch. You’re unbelievable. Do you seriously think I asked for any of this? Or are you just that desperate to make yourself feel important?"

Theodore leaned closer slowly, his figure towering over her. His silence said more than words.

For the first time since class began, Athena felt her heartbeat race, hammering against her ribcage.

Athena’s smirk flattened, as she glared dagger at him so sharp that could cut through glass. She pushed back her chair just slightly as she stood, enough to uncross her arms and lean forward, her voice low but brimming with fire.

"You listen to me, Frost," she said, each word crisp, deliberate. "I don’t care who you are or what kind of fear you throw around here. You don’t speak for me. You don’t meddle in my business. Ever. Got it?"

Her silver-white hair fell forward, catching the light, making her look almost otherworldly against the dull classroom walls. Her chest rose and fell, her tone firm but not raised, quiet, but lethal.

"You think it’s noble? That you’re protecting me? No." Her eyes narrowed further. "All you’re doing is proving everyone right. That I’m just another girl in your shadow. And I refuse to be anyone’s shadow. Not anymore"

The words struck hard. For a moment, silence bled into the space, stretching long and heavy.

Then Theodore moved. He straightened up as he slide his hands in his trouser pocket.

The air between them burned each passing seconds.

Athena’s pulse spiked, but she refused to break eye contact. She wouldn’t give him that victory. Not when she had just put him in his place.

"You don’t get it, do you?" Theodore’s voice was low, rough, the kind that wrapped around her like a chain. His eyes locked onto hers with unnerving intensity. "You think I care what people say about me? Or about you?"

His other hand slid onto the back of her neck, the proximity forcing her to tilt her head up at him. His presence swallowed her whole.

Athena felt heat creeped up her face, when his finger made contact with her neck. His hand rough but undeniably soft across her neck. His face was so close to hers that she could feel his hot breath fanning her face.

"I don’t meddle, darling," he said, his lips brushing dangerously close to her ear. "I decide."

Athena’s breath hitched, her heart thundering wildly as she felt his breath on her neck and she felt a shiver run down her spine.

Finally, she let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "You’re delusional." Her voice trembled just slightly not from fear, but from the storm crashing inside her. "You don’t get to decide a damn thing about me. Not now, not ever."

Theodore’s eyes darkened, but the faintest ghost of a smirk tugged at his lips as if her defiance only fueled him further.

With that, Athena stormed out of the classroom, the door of the room swing shut behind her, daring to leave great Alpha of the west hanging.

~~~

A knock echoed in the quiet of the office. Mr. Meadow’s pen scratched across neat stacks of papers. He paused mid-sentence, as his eyes flicking toward the door. His voice, broke the silence, calm as ever, like someone who didn’t have a thing to woryy about.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Athena stepped in, her shoes clicking softly against the polished floor. The office smelled faintly of old books and ink, lined with tall shelves of journals and glass cases holding models of chemical structures. A small clock ticked steadily on the wall.

Athena hesitated by the door, shoulders straight, masking the nervous twist in her stomach. She didn’t like the way whispers had followed her all morning rumors about the chemistry professor and certain female students. She didn’t want to believe them, not without proof. But still... she wasn’t naïve. If he thought he could treat her like some other girl, he’d learn quickly she wasn’t easy prey.

"Good afternoon, sir," she greeted, her tone polite but cool.

Mr. Meadow looked up at her, eyes sharp behind his glasses, his expression unreadable. Slowly, he capped his pen and leaned back in his chair.

"Athena, isn’t it?" he said, his voice smooth, almost too calm. "Please, take a seat."

She nodded, stepping forward to the chair opposite his desk. She lowered herself into it carefully, back straight, chin slightly raised. He noticed it, her composure, the way she carried herself like someone used to staring down at storms and his lips curved faintly, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"How are you settling into the Academy?" he asked, tone professional, hands folded over the papers on his desk.

Athena tucked a strand of her white braid behind her ear. "It’s fine. Just... a lot of new faces. A lot to take in."

"Understandable," he said with a small nod. "Adjusting to a new environment can be overwhelming. Especially for someone like you."

Her brows pinched faintly. "Someone like me?"

His eyes flicked briefly to her hair, lingering a little too long before returning to her face. "Unique. Distinct. You stand out whether you intend to or not."

Athena shifted slightly in her chair, her instincts prickling. She kept her voice steady. "Standing out isn’t something I’m aiming for, sir. I just want to study."

Mr. Meadow chuckled low, not mocking, but the sound made her fingers curl against her knee. "A wise focus. But sometimes, Miss Athena, you don’t get to choose whether you draw attention. Sometimes... it chooses you."

The silence that followed seemed to thicken, broken only by the ticking of the clock. Athena’s heart gave one uneasy beat in her chest, but she met his eyes without flinching.

"Was that all you wanted to ask me, sir?" she said evenly, keeping her words polite but her tone edged.

Mr. Meadow or whatever his name is better start talking. She didn’t want to believe that he called her here, to open his mouth and allowed unguarded words fly out.

Mr. Meadow tilted his head slightly, studying her as though she were some experiment under a lens. Then he smiled, the kind of smile that could only come with evil deeds.

"Not quite, Miss Athena." His voice was smooth, deliberate. He rose from his chair, the leather creaking softly as he circled the desk with measured steps until he was standing closer, hands tucked behind his back. "I called you here because I like to understand the kind of students I’m teaching. Especially those who... disrupt the balance."

Her brows furrowed. "Disrupt?"

He gave a low hum, stopping just in front of her desk. "You walk into a room and suddenly the air shifts." He was talking about the cafeteria issue, he wasn’t there but rumors do fly around. "Students watch you, talk about you. It’s the same effect certain others have..." His eyes slid sideways, almost knowingly, before settling back on her. "Like Mr. Argentis."

The name hit the air like a spark. Athena felt her pulse skip once. Meadow leaned down slightly, his gaze flicking to her braid, and before she could stop him, his hand lifted fingers brushing the end of a loose strand of her white hair.

"Your hair," he murmured. "So rare. So striking. You and Frost... you almost look like reflections. Tell me, are you two... close?"

Athena stiffened, jerking her head back to break his touch. Her voice came sharper now, steel laced beneath the politeness. "No. And with respect, sir, my hair has nothing to do with your class."

For a moment, silence stretched. Then, instead of backing down, Mr. Meadow’s lips curved into a faint smile, though his eyes had a glint in them that unsettled her.

"Ah, forgive me," he said smoothly, straightening again. "I didn’t mean to imply anything improper. It’s just... unusual. Students talk, rumors fly. As a teacher, it’s my responsibility to be... informed."

Athena’s jaw tightened. She didn’t like the way he said it, didn’t like the weight behind those words. Still, she lifted her chin. "With all due respect, sir, rumors aren’t facts. And I’d appreciate if we keep the focus on chemistry, not... me."

Mr. Meadow regarded her for a moment, then gave a low chuckle, turning back toward his desk as though satisfied with her fire. "Of course. Straight to the point. Very well, Miss Athena."

He sank back into his chair, folding his hands neatly once more. "You may go for now. But I’d like you to remember visibility is both a gift and a curse. Learn how to use it before it uses you."

The clock ticked again, filling the silence as Athena stood, her chair scraping lightly against the floor. She gave him one last look sharp, distrustful, before turning for the door.