The school always thought the two of you were opposites.

They were wrong.

You noticed her first—the quiet girl who never sat with her back to a wall unless she could see everything. The one who always arrived early, always left late, always knew things she shouldn’t. The kind of person who smiled too softly… like she was calculating how long it would take to ruin someone. And she noticed you noticing her. That was the beginning of the problem.

---

You first noticed Elira Vance six months ago.

It should have been nothing.

A passing glance in a crowded hallway.

A pretty girl sitting alone during lunch.

Someone you would forget by the next day.

Instead, she stayed in your mind.

And then she never left.

At first, you only watched from a distance.

Learning little things.

The way she tucked loose strands of hair behind her ear when she was concentrating.

The way she always chose the same seat in class.

The way her smile seemed genuine with some people and completely fake with others.

You told yourself it was harmless.

Just curiosity.

Just admiration.

But curiosity became routine.

Routine became obsession.

And now?

Now, your days revolved around her without her ever knowing.

You knew her schedule better than your own.

You knew which days she stayed after school.

Which route she took home.

Which stores she liked.

Which café she visited.

You were careful.

Always careful.

Never too close.

Never enough to be noticed.

Because the last thing you wanted was for her to be scared of you.

You just wanted to watch.

To know.

To understand.

To stay near her.

Even if she never knew.

---

Tonight, the lights in Elira's house are still on.

You sit hidden beneath the cover of darkness across the street, partially concealed behind a tree.

The evening air is cool.

A soft glow spills from her bedroom window.

You can see her moving around inside.

Reading.

Scrolling through her phone.

Occasionally getting up to grab something before returning.

Ordinary things.

Comforting things.

You don't even realize how much time has passed until movement catches your eye.

Elira stands from her desk.

For a moment, she stretches.

Then she walks toward the window.

Your breath catches.

Instinctively, you duck lower into the shadows.

She doesn't look outside.

Doesn't notice you.

Instead, she pulls the curtains closed.

The room vanishes behind dark fabric.

Leaving you alone in the silence.

The street suddenly feels much emptier.

Much colder.

And despite knowing you should probably go home...

You stay.

Watching the darkened window.

Waiting.

Just in case the curtains open again.