Chapter 41 Settling in

Chapter 41 Settling in
The drive back to campus felt longer than it should have.

Daphne rested her forehead against the cool window, watching the highway blur past. Michael kept one hand on the wheel, the other drumming lightly against his thigh, like a restless being, trying not to look like he was watching her.

He’d been like that since the hospital.

He's gentler, soft-spoken, and carefree.

Like she might break if he breathed too loudly.

When they pulled into the campus parking lot, the world felt too normal for what she’d just lived through. Students rushed between buildings, backpacks slung low, laughter echoing across the courtyard. For a moment Daphne wondered how many of them had ever been chased out of their own home. How many had ever had to go through what she went through as a child?

Michael killed the engine.

“You okay?” His voice was quiet, meant only for her.

“Yeah.” She pushed the door open before she could see the worry tighten his eyes. “I’m okay.”

He didn’t believe her. She knew he didn’t.

But Michael didn’t argue. He just fell into step beside her, close enough that their arms almost brushed.

Lila spotted them first, practically jogging across the courtyard. “You’re back! Finally, you didn’t reply to any of my texts, Daph. What happened? You look like you…”

“Long story,” Daphne cut gently, forcing a smile. “Later I Promise.”

Lila nodded, but her eyes lingered on the shadows beneath Daphne’s eyes. So she didn’t push.

Michael carried Daphne’s duffel bag without asking. He didn’t comment when she tried to take it. He just kept walking, Daphne hated that.

Hated that he blamed himself for something he couldn’t have controlled.

They reached the Business Management building first, her new department, her new start, the place she’d begged her grandfather not to let her attend. The air inside smelled faintly of fresh paint and paper. Bulletin boards lined the hallway, crowded with club flyers and internship notices. Students parted around them, glancing once, twice, whispering under their breath.

“There she is.”

“Is that the girl from the illegal race scandal?”

“Someone said she ran away. Someone else said she stole something.”

“Princess,” another voice laughed.

Daphne kept walking.

Michael’s steps slowed. His jaw clenched hard enough that she could hear his teeth grind.

She touched his wrist lightly, “I’m fine,” she murmured without looking at him. “Let it go.”

He didn’t answer, but his hand turned slightly, like he wanted to catch hers and squeeze.

Lila walked a little closer to Daphne’s other side, shoulders squared. “Ignore them. Their lives are boring.”

“Yeah,” Daphne whispered. “I know.”

But she felt every word. Every stare. Every reminder that she was a headline before she was a person.

Her new advisor introduced himself at the office door, Professor Haines, tall, tired-looking, genuinely kind. He walked her through the course structure, the schedule, and the expectations. Daphne listened, nodded, even took notes, though her head felt heavier by the minute.

When she stepped back out into the hallway, Michael was leaning against the wall, arms folded. He straightened immediately, eyes scanning her face.

“How’d it go?”

“Good,” she said.

Michael didn’t push. He just nodded slowly, the tension easing from his shoulders like he’d been holding his breath the entire time she was inside.

They crossed back to the central courtyard. Lila peeled off toward the library, waving at them over her shoulder.

They walked toward the dorms, the late-afternoon light stretching long and gold across the pavement. Daphne kept her eyes on the ground. The stone path. The cracks between tiles. Anything that wasn’t the stares following her.

“Daph.”

Michael slowed again. “Talk to me.”

She stopped walking. The breeze lifted a strand of hair against her cheek.

“I don’t want to talk,” she said softly. “I just want today to… end.”

Michael looked at her for a long moment, really taking in her appearance. His gaze wasn’t sharp, or demanding, or frustrated. It was soft. Worried. And so careful it made her chest ache.

“Okay,” he said quietly. “Then I’ll walk you back.”

They reached her dorm hallway, and the noise changed instantly, loud voices, laughter, music leaking from cracked doors. A group of girls paused as Daphne passed. Their whispers weren’t even subtle.

“Is that her?”

“God, she doesn’t even look rich.”

“Maybe that’s why the old man replaced her.”

Daphne kept her expression still. Colder. If she let it hurt, it would show.

Michael, though,

He stopped walking.

She turned quickly and grabbed his wrist before he could whirl around.

“No.”

“Daph…”

“No.” Her voice was firmer this time. “Please.”

He exhaled slowly through his nose, fighting the urge to snap. Fighting himself.

Then he nodded.

They kept walking.

When they reached her door, Daphne paused. Her throat tightened around words she didn’t know how to say.

Michael waited, one hand shoved into his pocket, like he didn’t trust himself to reach for her.

“Today was a lot,” she said quietly.

“I know.”

“And you… You don’t have to hover.”

His brow lifted. “Hover?”

“You’re being gentle,” she whispered. “Too gentle. Like I’m a glass, I'm not fragile .”

“You’re fragile.”

She looked up. “You don’t know that.”

Michael stepped closer before he seemed to realize he’d moved.

“I’m just trying to help,” he said, voice low. “I don’t want to push you.”

“I know. But I don’t want you to change around me.”

His lips lifted and he smiled at her, he raised his hands and cupped her cheeks

He nodded once.

“I’ll try,” he said softly.

She didn’t step inside yet. She just stood there, breathing him in, letting the silence settle around them. It was… safer than anything had felt lately.

“I’m glad you’re here,” she said.

Michael blinked slowly, almost startled.

“Yeah,” he murmured. “Me too.”

Daphne reached for her doorknob.

Then,

A quiet stir at the far end of the hallway.

A girl stood beneath the fluorescent lights. She looked small, delicate, and pretty in a soft, harmless sort of way. Long black hair, straight and glossy. Round glasses. A sketchbook pressed to her chest like a shield.

She wasn’t looking at Daphne.

Her eyes were locked on Michael.

Not shy. Not scared.

Interested.

She held his gaze a second too long before lowering her eyes and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“She's pretty”

“Ohh so innocent”

“She's an angel” students whispered in awe

Michael didn’t notice.

But Daphne did.

Her stomach dipped.

The girl whispered something to the friend beside her, and they exchanged a look, one Daphne had seen before, many times.

That look wasn’t about Daphne.

It was about him.

Michael turned back to Daphne, oblivious. “Text me if you need anything.”

She nodded and forced a small smile.

“Goodnight.”

She stepped inside and closed the door softly

But her heart was still beating from that last gl

ance in the hallway.

\~~~

At the very end of the hallway, the new girl looked once more toward Michael’s retreating figure, eyes lingering with a quiet, unmistakable interest.

.