The corridor felt eerily quiet as I walked behind Samaira, my heart hammering in my chest. She hadn't been herself for days, and it was driving me insane. I couldn't just stand by and watch her fall apart without knowing what was going on.

I had already learned that she was with Aarav, the guy I couldn't stand, but I still couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. That's why I had to confront her.

"Samaira!" I called out, trying to keep my voice even, but there was a hint of desperation in it.

She didn't stop walking, and I caught up to her quickly, stepping in front of her to block her path. Her eyes flicked up to meet mine, cold and distant.

"What is it, Nott?" she asked, her voice barely more than a hiss.

Nott? What did I do to get her so pissed?

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to approach her. "You've been acting distant. You're not talking to anyone, and you're skipping classes. I... I just want to know what's going on. Are you okay?"

Her jaw clenched, and I could see the frustration building in her eyes, like she was fighting to keep her emotions in check.

"I'm fine," she muttered, but her eyes didn't match her words. "Stop pretending like you care."

My chest tightened. "I do care, Samaira. But I don't get it. You've been shutting everyone out. What's going on?"

Her expression darkened, and she took a step closer, her face twisted in anger. "What do you want from me, Nott? You think you can fix everything, don't you?"

"No," I said, my voice softer now, but still firm. "I'm just confused."

Her expression hardened, her chest rising and falling with quick breaths. She took a step forward, her face twisted with frustration. "You really want to know, Nott?" she said, her voice rising with each word. "I know you like me, okay? I know you think you can fix whatever's wrong with me, but the truth is—you stand no chance."

The words hit me like a physical blow, and I stumbled back, surprised by the force of her anger. But it wasn't just the anger that got to me—it was the bitterness in her voice, like she was pushing me away with everything she had.

"Wait..." I breathed, still trying to process. "Aarav? You're with him? Seriously?"

She didn't even flinch. "Yes. I'm with him," she said coldly, her eyes challenging me. "And I don't need you interfering with my life."

The words cut deeper than I expected. Of course, I knew about her and Aarav—he'd made it very clear just the night before that they were together. But hearing her say it like that, in that detached, almost dismissive way—it hurt more than I thought it would.

Before I could respond, she threw her hands up in frustration. "Just leave me alone, Nott!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the empty corridor. "I don't want your attention, your pity, or your stupid feelings! I don't want any of it! Just stop pretending like you can fix me!"

I stood frozen, my heart pounding in my chest. Her words rang in my ears, too loud to ignore, too painful to shake off. The hallway had gone deathly quiet, and I felt the stares of students on us as Samaira turned and stormed away, leaving me there, stunned.

I stood there, frozen in the hallway, as Samaira's words echoed in my mind. "Leave me alone." "I don't need your walks and stupid gifts." She didn't want me. And honestly, I couldn't blame her. I had pushed too hard. I'd tried too much, expecting her to change, to open up to me. But she was right. I had no place in her world.

With a heavy heart, I turned on my heel and walked away, my steps slow, each one feeling heavier than the last. As I made my way back to the Slytherin common room, I could still hear her voice in my head, sharp and angry. I didn't know if I had ever felt this defeated before.

I pushed open the door to the dorm and froze.

Aarav was sprawled on my bed, looking far too comfortable for someone who didn't belong there. He lifted his head when he saw me, a smirk forming on his lips as if he already knew everything. He didn't even bother to get up, instead lazily propping himself up on his elbows.

"Well, well," Aarav said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Look who's back."

I didn't say anything, just stared at him for a beat, my fists clenching involuntarily.

"I heard about your little... conversation with Samaira," he continued, his smirk widening. "She told you to leave her alone, didn't she? Must've been a real blow to your ego, huh?"

I took a deep breath, resisting the urge to launch myself at him. The last thing I needed was to stoop to his level. I could feel the heat rising in my chest, but I forced myself to stay calm, to not give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose control.

"You're pushing your luck, Aarav," I said coldly, my voice low but steady.

He chuckled, completely unfazed by my warning. "You really think you stand a chance with her? I know you're desperate, Nott, but you don't. She's mine. You don't even know what you're dealing with. I told you before—stay away from her."

My jaw tightened. He wasn't wrong, though. I had tried—tried to be there for her, to show her that I cared—but everything had backfired.

"I wasn't trying to steal her from you," I said, my voice breaking slightly despite my best efforts to sound composed. "But I know something's wrong."

Aarav's gaze darkened, his smirk turning into something colder. "It's none of your business. I've got everything under control. You just need to know your place and stay out of it. You never stood a chance with Samaira, Nott."

He said it like he'd won. Like Samaira was some sort of prize, and he had already claimed her. His words stung more than I wanted to admit, and I could feel the anger bubbling inside me again, but I didn't give in. I didn't give him the satisfaction of reacting.

Without saying another word, I turned and walked out of the room, the tension in my body palpable. The last thing I needed was to get into a confrontation with him, not after everything that had already happened.

I spent the rest of the evening pacing the common room, my mind racing. Samaira had shut me down, and Aarav had practically rubbed it in my face.

What was I doing?

I couldn't deny it anymore. This had never been just a stupid crush. From the moment I met Samaira, something had shifted inside me. It had started as a simple attraction, an infatuation that I thought would fade. But it hadn't. It had grown into something far more intense.

I cared about her—more than I ever expected to care about anyone. But she had made it clear that I wasn't the one for her. And no matter how hard I tried, she wasn't going to change her mind.

I stopped pacing and looked out the window, my reflection staring back at me. It was clear now. I was in deeper than I thought. But the time has arrived. I should give up.

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