The Goddess At My University

"With a sigh, Chase asked, 'So, are we finished changing our schedules, or can we go now?" He was tired of the entire ordeal, and his patience was running thin.

"Don't worry, leave it to me," Lila said cheerfully, practically bouncing in her chair. Her enthusiasm to help her newfound brother only made Chase more nervous.

Diana raised an eyebrow, still skeptical. "So we can leave now? Is it really that simple?" Her voice hinted at disbelief.

"Yeah. Did you think it would be hard?" Lila replied, her tone light but tinged with teasing. "I guess gods don't know everything."

Diana's face flushed with irritation at the comment. She didn't know what annoyed her more: the audacity of this mortal girl, or the fact that Chase was actually related to her.

Chase sighed again, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He could already feel a headache coming on. This bickering was exactly what he'd wanted to avoid. Deciding he'd had enough, he grabbed Diana's hand and began walking out, pulling her along behind him. He couldn't deal with another argument right now, not with everything else on his mind.

Diana froze for a moment at the unexpected contact. He'd grabbed her hand without asking, and something about that simple, assertive gesture made her heart flutter. Her face flushed with heat as she processed the feeling of his hand holding hers. She wanted to protest, to pull away, but instead, she found herself walking along with him, her mind caught in a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. What is this? she thought, bewildered. He's not even thinking about it. He probably doesn't even realize he's doing it.

As they walked, Diana tried to focus on other thoughts, but it was impossible to ignore the warmth spreading through her chest. It's not like I'm letting him do this, she reasoned. But even as the words echoed in her mind, she couldn't deny the comfort she felt. There was something about the calm control he exuded, the way he simply took charge of the situation without hesitation. She found herself oddly comforted by it.

It's not like I'm letting him, she reminded herself, even though a part of her didn't want him to let go. She felt a strange pull, a part of her wanting to stay in the moment even though she didn't fully understand why. Her thoughts raced, but they were overshadowed by the gentle pressure of his hand in hers. I should hate this, she thought, but it wasn't as simple as that. She didn't want to admit it, but a small part of her enjoyed it, even more than she was willing to admit.

"Hey—" Diana began, her voice faltering as the warmth in her chest deepened. He tugged her along gently, and for a moment, she didn't resist. The logical part of her brain told her she should, that it was ridiculous to let him drag her like this, but the other part—the one that never seemed to get a say—simply let herself be led. It's not like I'm letting him, she repeated in her mind, but even as she tried to convince herself, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was just a little bit okay with it.

Diana had always prided herself on her independence, on keeping control of her emotions—especially with men. She'd learned long ago to guard herself, to avoid letting anyone get too close. But this… this was different. I'm not supposed to like this she thought. The warmth creeping up her neck and the way her pulse quickened whenever he shifted his hand were undeniable. She wasn't supposed to feel this way about him.

Still, she couldn't help it. He was different from normal mortals. He didn't treat her like others did—he didn't try to impress her or expect anything from her. He hadn't tried to make her feel special or manipulate her attention. She'd thought he was just like the rest at first, but as they walked side by side, she realized he wasn't. She had only known him for two days, yet here she was, already feeling an attachment she couldn't explain. It unsettled her, made her feel vulnerable in a way she didn't like. It was scary, even for her. And what infuriated her the most was that it was a mortal—a male, no less—who had this much of an effect on her.

She stole a glance at his face, catching the frustration there, the faraway look in his eyes. He wasn't paying attention to her. He wasn't doing this on purpose. I'm just overthinking it, she told herself, willing her thoughts to calm down. He's just doing it without thinking. She didn't want to make it more than it was. It's not like he's trying to make me feel anything.

But despite her inner protests, the feeling lingered. The warmth of his hand, the way it gently guided her without force or demand—it was all so different from what she'd expected. Maybe it wasn't so bad. Maybe she liked it more than she wanted to admit. She wanted to pull her hand away, to stop the confusion, but her feet kept moving forward, her mind still grappling with the sensation.

Maybe I like it a little more than I should, she finally allowed herself to admit quietly, even as the words sent a ripple of unease through her. But it was the truth. She couldn't ignore the comfort his presence gave her, even if it meant confronting feelings she wasn't prepared to deal with as a maiden goddess.

Chase, however, was deep in thought as they walked. Three people at school now know about me: Diana, her roommate Alice, and my newly discovered sister. He frowned, his mind circling back to the fact that his carefully constructed anonymity was falling apart faster than he'd expected. He didn't want attention. He hadn't planned on people noticing him, especially not like this. He couldn't decide whether to be angry or resigned. Maybe I should just move again, he thought with a sigh, but he quickly dismissed the idea. He had to stay for the semester at least. It wasn't like he could just keep running from everything.

Meanwhile, Diana was still focused on the warmth in her chest, the strange comfort she felt holding his hand. She'd never wanted to admit it, but part of her didn't want him to let go. Even if she could understand that she should probably feel uncomfortable, maybe even resentful, it felt… nice. What is wrong with me? she wondered, trying to shake off the feelings. Why do I feel so drawn to him?

Lila, back in the counselor's office, was still caught up in her teasing and the excitement of finding out about her new brother. She had no idea the internal storm she'd set off between the two of them as they walked down the hallway.

All Diana could focus on now was how simple the moment felt, yet how complicated it made her feel. She had never been so conflicted. She hated to admit it, but she enjoyed the way it made her heart race. The sensation was more thrilling than anything she'd felt during hunts or battles. It was like a challenge, one she had no idea how to navigate, and it was risky—too risky for someone like her. But still, the feeling lingered, and she couldn't deny how it had completely thrown her off balance.

Chase stared off into the distance, his steps slowing as his thoughts spiraled. Maybe he could just move again. It wasn't like he hadn't done it before. Starting over somewhere else, far from all the attention, seemed like the simplest solution. The idea lingered for a moment before he sighed. He couldn't just leave—not now. Crestfield was supposed to be his chance to live quietly, not to mention he'd already paid for his semester. Besides, moving again would just mean running away, and he hated the idea of giving his mother or anyone else that kind of power over him.

He glanced down at his hand, realizing he was still holding Diana's. She hadn't pulled away, but her grip was loose, as if she were lost in her own thoughts. Her face was a little flushed, and he frowned slightly, wondering if she was feeling unwell. Though, considering her sharp tongue earlier, he doubted anything could actually knock her off her feet.

Unconsciously, he adjusted his grip to make sure she was steady as they walked. He didn't notice how the small action made Diana's cheeks burn even more.

"Are you alright?" Chase asked, his voice quiet but sincere, his gaze flickering toward her.

Diana blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. She cleared her throat, her voice a little too sharp as she answered, "I'm fine." She wanted to pull her hand away, but it felt… strange to do so, like she'd be pulling away from something she hadn't even realized she needed. Her mind raced as she tried to piece together why she felt so off-balance.

Chase raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. He could sense she wasn't being entirely truthful, but he wasn't about to push her. Instead, he kept walking, a small frown still creasing his brow as he mulled over everything swirling in his mind. The weight of the situation, the lingering uncertainty about his new sister, the strange connection to Diana—it was all too much to process in the moment.

After a few moments of silence, Diana finally broke it, her voice steady but guarded. "I'm going to meet Alice," she said, her words quiet, almost as if she were trying to convince herself more than him.

She tugged her hand free, though it wasn't forceful—just enough to give her space to think.

Chase blinked, taken off guard by the sudden change of direction. "Alice?" He asked, glancing over at her. "Your roommate?"

"Yeah," Diana replied, her gaze focused ahead, though her hand still tingled from where he'd held it.

Chase lingered in front of the library, his gaze following Diana as she walked away. Her silhouette disappeared into the distance, leaving him with a strange mix of relief and curiosity. Shaking the thought away, he turned back toward the library's entrance, the glass doors reflecting the faint glow of campus lights. He stepped inside, the cool air greeting him with a quiet stillness.

Chase stood in the library, his thoughts still jumbled from the events of the day. Diana's emotions had been all over the place, and he found himself trying to make sense of it.

The rows of books and scattered students offered a calm escape. Finding a seat near one of the large windows, Chase pulled out his phone and tapped on the screen, playing a video to just pass the time, Although it did nothing to hinder his thoughts.

Since this morning, she had seemed irritated, but it only escalated when he agreed to take the selfie she had suggested. She'd seemed fine with it at first, even a little pleased, but then she became distant again when she mentioned going back to her dorm.

It was strange, he thought. He had no idea why she'd acted the way she did. Was she irritated because he had been too eager to help her? Or maybe it was something else entirely—he couldn't pinpoint what had caused the shift. She had definitely seemed different after he took her hand, though. But that didn't help him understand what had happened or why it affected her so much.

With a frustrated sigh, he glanced at the video on his phone, but he couldn't focus on it. His mind kept wandering back to Diana. She was a mystery, and no matter how much he tried to understand her, there were too many contradictions. Maybe it wasn't his place to try and figure it out. He wasn't used to dealing with these kinds of emotional shifts, especially not with someone like her.

Maybe he just needed to let things settle and stop overthinking it, but that didn't seem like it would be easy.

Diana stepped into the dorm, the soft click of the door announcing her arrival. She tried to make her movements as subtle as possible, hoping Alice wouldn't notice her slipping in. But as soon as the door closed, a familiar voice rang out.

"Oh no, you don't."

Diana froze mid-step. Alice was lounging on the couch, her sharp eyes locked onto her like a hawk spotting its prey. "You thought you'd just waltz in here without answering a single one of my questions?"

Diana sighed and continued walking, pretending she hadn't heard her. "I am busy."

"Yeah, no, you're not," Alice said, jumping up and cutting her off before she could escape to her room. "You've been missing for two days, Diana. Two. And you just happen to come back with a phone? A working phone? I know for a fact you've never had one before, so explain that."

"It is none of your concern," Diana said, her tone cool but avoiding Alice's gaze.

"Oh, it's absolutely my concern," Alice shot back, hands on her hips. "Because the last time I tried to get you to buy a phone, you called them 'useless pieces of mortal nonsense.' And now, suddenly, you have one? What changed?"

Diana pressed her lips into a thin line, clearly not in the mood for this conversation. "I bought it. That is all."

Alice's eyes narrowed. "You bought it? Where? How? You don't even know how to shop for groceries without help, let alone navigate a phone store. And don't even get me started on setting it up. Did you suddenly become a tech genius while you were gone?"

Diana hesitated, which only made Alice grin wider.

"Oh, wait," Alice said, snapping her fingers. "Let me guess. Someone helped you." Her grin turned sly. "Someone tall, dark-haired, and named Chase?"

Diana's face betrayed the faintest flicker of irritation. "He is irrelevant to this discussion."

"Uh-huh. Irrelevant," Alice repeated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "So, you're telling me he didn't help you figure out how to use it? Because last I checked, you didn't even know what a text was."

Diana's cheeks turned faintly pink, but her expression remained stony. "He might have helped me a bit"

Alice gasped dramatically, stepping back as if the revelation had physically struck her. "Oh my gods, he did help you! And here I thought you'd never let a guy within ten feet of your personal life. What is going on with you?"

Diana tried to step around her. "Move."

"Not until you tell me everything," Alice said, and before Diana could react, she grabbed her by the arm and pulled her onto the couch, pinning her down with surprising determination. "No escaping."

Diana stared at her in shock, her voice rising in protest. "Alice! Get off of me!"

"Not happening," Alice said, grinning triumphantly as she sat on Diana's legs to keep her in place. "You've been acting weird ever since you got back. First, you disappear without a word. Then, you come back with a phone. And now, you're trying to act like nothing happened? Nope. Not buying it. Spill."

Diana sighed heavily, a rare flicker of genuine irritation crossing her face. "There is nothing to spill."

"Lies," Alice said cheerfully. "You don't just do a 180 on something you hated without a reason, you literally get disgusted at the sight of boys. You also thought phones were useless, Diana. Useless. What happened to change your mind? And don't you dare say it was your idea."

Diana looked away, her cheeks flushing faintly. "… I discovered anime."

Alice froze, blinking at her. "… Anime?"

"Yes," Diana said stiffly, clearly unamused.

Alice burst out laughing, leaning back slightly but still keeping Diana pinned. "Oh my god, you bought a phone so you could watch anime?"

Diana's lips twitched into a faint scowl. "It is a reasonable justification."

Alice wiped a tear from her eye, still laughing. "I mean, yeah, sure, but… wait. Who showed you anime in the first place? Because I know for a fact you didn't stumble onto it yourself."

Diana hesitated, her silence giving Alice all the answer she needed.

"Oh, this just gets better and better," Alice said, grinning like the Cheshire cat. "So, Chase introduced you to anime, helped you buy a phone, taught you how to use it, and you've been spending all this time with him? Diana… is he your secret boyfriend?"

Diana's eyes widened, and she immediately tried to sit up, but Alice held her down. "He is not my boyfriend!" she exclaimed, her voice sharp and indignant.

"Sure, sure," Alice said, nodding dramatically. "Because it's totally normal for a guy to go out of his way for a girl he's not interested in. And for the girl to, oh, I don't know, not immediately push him away."

He is…" Diana hesitated, searching for the right word. "…a distraction."

Alice raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching into an amused smile. "A distraction? Diana, you don't get distracted. You're the most focused person I know. So, what makes him different?"

Diana's expression remained calm, though her grip on the back of the chair tightened ever so slightly. "He is not different," she said evenly. "You are imagining things."

Alice tilted her head, clearly unconvinced. "Oh, am I? Because you've been weirdly touchy about him all this morning. And don't think I forgot you called him 'yours' earlier."

Diana's head snapped toward her, her silver eyes sharp with alarm. "I did not say that."

Alice grinned, leaning back on the couch. "Oh, but you did. You said—and I quote—'He's mine, and you are not to touch him.'" She mimed air quotes as she spoke, her smile widening. "Sounds pretty possessive, don't you think?"

"That is not what I meant," Diana said firmly, though her tone lacked the usual conviction.

"Uh-huh," Alice replied, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "You don't say that about someone unless they're your boyfriend. And don't even try to deny it, because I've got another question for you."

Diana stiffened, her gaze narrowing. "What question?"

"Why'd you change all your classes to match his?" Alice asked, sitting up straighter. "You never cared about schedules before. You've told me more than once that 'mortal education is inefficient."

Diana's posture became rigid, and her lips parted, but no sound came out. Finally, she said, "I had my reasons."

"Oh, I bet you did," Alice shot back, her smirk growing.

Diana clenched her fists, biting her lip, searching for a solid excuse. "It's… it's practical," she said finally, but the explanation felt hollow.

"Practical?" Alice raised both eyebrows now, clearly unconvinced. "Come on, Diana, stop lying to yourself. Just admit it—you like him."

Diana stiffened, her pride kicking in. "I don't," she said sharply, though her voice lacked the usual conviction.

Alice shook her head with a smirk. "Whatever you say, Diana. But just so you know, it's totally okay to like someone. Even if that someone's a boy. Even if he's your boy."

Diana's face heated up, her calm façade crumbling. "He is not my boy!" she snapped, her voice louder than she intended.

Alice leaned back with a raised hand in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. If you say so. But your face is telling a whole different story."

Diana's blush deepened, and she hesitated just a moment too long.

"Let me guess—next you're going to say youre protecting him, aren't you?"

Diana's expression faltered, but she quickly schooled her features into an icy mask. "…Yes."

Alice blinked, clearly not expecting it to be that. "Wait, seriously? Protecting him from what? Something like girls?" She had guessed

Diana's gaze sharpened. "That is not your concern."

"Oh, I'm right, aren't I?" Alice teased, leaning forward with a sly grin. "You think his looks are a problem, don't you? Though, to be fair, there isn't much to go off of. He hides his face with that hair and hoodie. But I did notice those perfect teeth of his when he smiled earlier. I'm sure there's more you're not telling me."

Diana said nothing, her silence speaking volumes.

Alice gasped dramatically, pointing a finger at her. "I knew it! Because you stayed at his place, didn't you? You've seen the whole package."

"That is irrelevant," Diana said sharply, though a faint pink hue had crept into her cheeks.

"Oh, it's very relevant," Alice teased, leaning forward. "You like him."

"I do not," Diana replied immediately, her voice icy but a little too quick.

Alice smirked. "Sure, you don't. But let's recap—you're protecting him, you've seen more of him than anyone else has, and you're weirdly possessive of him. Sounds like a crush to me."

Diana's eyes flashed, and for a moment, it seemed like she might lash out. Instead, she turned abruptly and began walking toward her room. "This conversation is over," she said curtly.

Alice chuckled, leaning back on the couch. "Alright, alright. But just so you know, Diana, you're not fooling anyone. Least of all yourself."

The door to Diana's room closed with a sharp click, leaving Alice shaking her head in amusement. "Protecting him, huh?" she murmured to herself, smirking. "You're in deep, Diana."