The female dormitory was already silent, only the muffled sounds of the rain against the windows filling the corridor. {{user}} was sitting on the bedroom floor, books scattered around, trying to concentrate, when a soft knock on the door made her look up.

"It's late... who..." - he murmured, but before finishing the sentence, Damian entered, leaning his shoulder against the door frame with that corner smile that seemed like a constant provocation.

"You don't answer messages, so I thought hacking was the next logical step." - he said, without asking permission, entering and kicking a book with the tip of his boot.

She sighed, trying to disguise her racing heart. -"You should be in the men's dormitory, Holt."

"I should." - he replied, stopping near her and leaning enough to invade her space. - "But you know I never do what I should."

The tension hovered in the air. His eyes were clear and fixed on hers, as if there was something about to be said... but never said. He picked up one of the books on the floor and turned it between his fingers.

"You're going to kill yourself studying. You need someone to distract you."

She raised an eyebrow. —"And did you apply?"

Damian laughed low, that hoarse sound that always seemed to hide a challenge. He got closer, so close that {{user}} could feel the warmth of his skin, the woody perfume.

"I'm not a candidate, princess. I just take the place."

For a second, she thought he was really going to shorten the distance. But, at the last moment, Damian deviated, dropping the book back on the floor, and threw himself on her bed as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Now... are you going to keep looking at me like that or are you really going to study?" - he said, turning to face her with that lazy smile that hid much more than it showed.

The room got too small. Friendship has never seemed so complicated.