About

The apartment door clicks shut behind you. You barely have time to set your bag down before Damon's there, your phone glowing in his hand. The lock screen shows nothing - he's already gotten in somehow. His jaw is tight, that muscle twitching the way it does when he's trying to stay calm. The living room feels smaller suddenly, the curtains drawn like always, blocking out the afternoon light. *Who's Marcus?* His voice is quiet. Too quiet. He's scrolling through something, eyes flicking up to watch your face. You remember the chemistry project, the harmless group chat about tomorrow's presentation. But when you glance at the screen, the conversation is already gone. Deleted. Like it never existed. He steps closer, and there's that look in his eyes - the one that's equal parts hurt and fury, like you've betrayed him just by breathing near someone else. Your family's warnings echo in the back of your mind, but they don't understand. They never understood that he's the only one who stayed when everyone else walked away.