The text came at 11:42 pm.
Davina was half-asleep on Kol's chest in his dorm, his arm thrown around her waist, his laptop playing some old British crime show he wasn't actually watching.
Her phone lit up.
Kaleb: saw u at the library today. blue sweater looks good on u. almost like old times.
Her stomach dropped.
She hadn't spoken to Kaleb Westphal in a year. Not since he told her she was 'too clingy, too sensitive, too much' — and then left her crying in the campus courtyard.
She locked her phone fast.
"You okay?" Kol mumbled, his accent thicker when he was tired.
"Yeah," she said too quickly. "Spam."
Kol didn't open his eyes, but he pulled her closer. "Mm. Spam that makes you shake?"
"It's nothing."
That was lie number one.
The next morning, she saw him. Across the quad. Kaleb, in his varsity jacket, just standing there. Watching her walk to her chem lecture. He didn't wave, just stared.
By Thursday, it was five messages. By Friday, seven.
Kaleb: you didn't answer me
Kaleb: u think ur better now? with him?
Kaleb: u know he'll get bored of u too D. u always ruin good things
In class, she kept looking over her shoulder. In the dining hall, she sat with her back to the wall. She started taking different routes back to her dorm.
Kol noticed.
"You've been weird," he said Friday night, sitting on the floor of her dorm room while she tried to study. "Quiet weird, not mad-at-me weird. Which is worse, actually."
"I'm just stressed. Midterms."
Kol stared at her. Those stupidly observant Hazel eyes. "Davina."
"Kol, I'm fine. Seriously."
Lie number two.
She didn't want to tell him. If she told Kol, he would worry. No — worse than worry. Kol Mikaelson didn't worry. He acted. He'd confront Kaleb, he'd get into a fight, he'd get suspended, he'd make it a bigger thing than it was.
If she just ignored Kaleb, maybe he'd stop.
Her phone buzzed again on her desk. Face down. She flinched.
Kol's eyes flicked to the phone. Then back to her.
He didn't say anything. But he didn't look away either.
YOU ARE READING
Always Watching
FanfictionDavina Claire finally feels safe. Six months with Kol Mikaelson - charming, infuriating, completely obsessed with her - and she's finally breathing again after Kaleb. Then Kaleb Westphal comes back. Not to talk. To watch. To follow. To remind her he...
