Hidden Emotions

Victoria had never been this happy before. College was everything she had hoped for and more. Days were filled with laughter, adventures, and an overwhelming sense of freedom that she had never experienced back in California.

Her time was divided between different pockets of her life.

There were the late-night study sessions and casual hangouts with Grayson, the ever-reliable trip planner and occasional voice of reason (when he wasn't convincing them to run away for the weekend). Then there were the cherished girl nights with Aria, Kimber, and Aspen, where they'd sit in their dorms, gossiping over takeout, doing face masks, and dancing around to their favorite songs.

And then there was Damon.

Ever since their first meeting, their connection had deepened. He was confident, charming, and had this effortless way of making her feel like the only person in the room. They spent hours together in class, sitting beside each other during lectures, exchanging whispered jokes, and discussing literature over coffee in between lectures.

It was easy. Natural. And when he finally asked her out on a date, her heart had leaped in excitement.

"You and me," Damon had said one afternoon, flashing that signature smirk of his. "This Friday. A proper date."

Victoria had smiled, tilting her head slightly. "A proper date?"

"I'll even pick you up," he had teased. "Come on, Sunshine. Say yes."

And, of course, she did.

Victoria's first instinct was to tell Grayson.

He had quickly become one of her closest friends, and she didn't want to keep something like this from him. She found him in the library later that evening, nose buried in his laptop, working on some coding assignment.

"Hey, got a minute?" she asked, slipping into the seat across from him.

He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and looked up. "For you? Always."

She hesitated, suddenly unsure of how to bring it up. But it was Grayson. If anyone would understand, it was him.

"So… Damon asked me out," she started carefully. "And I said yes."

For a brief moment, she swore she saw something flicker across his face—something unreadable, something quick—but it was gone before she could place it.

Grayson leaned back in his chair, nodding slowly. "That's… great. I mean, yeah. Damon's a cool guy."

Victoria narrowed her eyes at him. "You sure about that? Because it kind of seems like you're saying one thing but thinking another."

He let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "No, seriously. I'm happy for you."

But there was something off. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes, and while his voice held warmth, it also carried a slight strain.

"You're not mad, are you?" she asked hesitantly.

"Why would I be mad?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "I just—"

Grayson reached across the table, giving her hand a light squeeze. "Tori, you like him. He obviously likes you. So go, have fun. Just… be careful, okay?"

She frowned. "Be careful?"

He shrugged. "Damon's smooth. Guys like that usually know what they're doing."

Victoria studied him, unsure of what to make of his words. Was he warning her? Or was this just his way of being a protective friend?

Either way, she let it slide.

"Thanks, Gray," she said softly.

He smiled, but she still couldn't shake the feeling that something was left unsaid.

Friday came faster than Victoria had expected.

She stood in front of the mirror, running a hand down the fabric of her dress. It was a deep red, fitted just enough to highlight her curves but still comfortable. She had curled her hair slightly, letting the loose waves cascade over her shoulders.

Aria whistled from the bed. "Damn, girl. If he doesn't fall in love with you tonight, he's blind."

Victoria rolled her eyes but grinned. "It's just a date."

"Yeah, yeah. Now go before I cry over how pretty you look."

A knock on the door interrupted them, and Victoria's stomach flipped.

When she opened the door, Damon stood there, leaning against the frame, hands in his pockets. His usual confident smirk softened as his eyes trailed over her.

"Wow," he murmured. "You look… incredible."

Victoria felt warmth rush to her cheeks. "You don't look too bad yourself."

And he didn't. Dressed in a well-fitted maroon button-down and dark jeans, he looked effortlessly handsome.

He offered his arm. "Shall we?"

She laughed, taking it. "We shall."

Damon took her to a quiet, upscale restaurant, one that overlooked the city skyline. Soft music played in the background, and the dim lighting gave everything a warm, golden hue.

"This is beautiful!" Victoria admitted as they took their seats by the window.

"Only the best for you," he said smoothly.

She chuckled. "Do you always flirt this much?"

"Only when I mean it."

Their conversation flowed effortlessly. They talked about everything—their childhoods, their dreams, their love for literature.

"I always knew I wanted to study English," Victoria said, twirling her fork. "Books have always been my escape."

Damon nodded, sipping his wine. "Same. There's something about getting lost in someone else's world, you know? Maybe that's why I like you."

Victoria raised an eyebrow. "Because I'm a book?"

He grinned. "Because you feel like a story—one I'd like to keep reading."

She rolled her eyes, but her heart fluttered.

After dinner, instead of heading straight back, Damon suggested a walk.

New York at night was breathtaking. The streets glowed with neon lights, the air buzzing with energy. They strolled side by side, Victoria hugging her coat closer as a breeze passed through.

"You cold?" Damon asked.

"A little."

Without hesitation, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

"Chivalry isn't dead, huh?" she teased.

"Not when it comes to you."

She looked up at him then, really looked. In the past few weeks, he had become someone important to her. But there was still a part of her that wondered—was this real? Or was he just as smooth with every girl he met?

As if sensing her thoughts, Damon stopped walking and turned to her. "You know," he said, "I wasn't expecting this."

"Expecting what?"

"To like you this much."

Victoria felt her breath catch. "Damon…"

"I'm not saying this to rush you," he added quickly. "I just… I want you to know that I'm serious about you."

She swallowed, unsure of how to respond.

He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "No pressure, okay?"

She nodded slowly, offering a small smile. "Okay."

They continued walking, this time in comfortable silence.

When they finally reached her dorm, Damon lingered.

"This was fun," Victoria said softly.

"It was."

For a moment, it felt like the world had shrunk, leaving only the two of them in the dimly lit hallway.

Damon hesitated before leaning in, pressing a light kiss to her cheek. "Goodnight, Sunshine."

And with that, he was gone.

Victoria stood there for a moment, her fingers brushing over the spot where his lips had been.

She wasn't sure what this was turning into, but one thing was clear—her life was changing in ways she never expected.

And she wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a terrifying one.