Signed In Ink, Sealed In Love

Aria noticed the change before anyone said a word.

It was subtle at first.

Whispers that stopped when she walked past.

Eyes that lingered a little too long.

Girls who laughed too loudly when Leo walked by-as if trying to remind the world that he belonged to them.

She didn't react.

She never did.

She didn't have to.

Aria Bennett had learned early in life that reacting gave people power. Silence, on the other hand, unsettled them.

She took her seat in the lecture hall, opened her notebook, and focused on the board.

Behind her, Vanessa Hartwell sat stiffly beside Leo, her manicured fingers drumming against the desk.

Leo didn't notice.

He was watching Aria.

Again.

Vanessa followed his gaze.

Her jaw tightened.

Why always the new girl,she thought.

-

After class, Aria walked out alone, just as she always did.

She was halfway down the corridor when a sharp heel clicked behind her.

"Hey."

Aria stopped.

She turned slowly.

Vanessa stood there, arms crossed, lips curled into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Two girls hovered behind her like shadows.

Aria took her in calmly.

"Yes,How may I help you?" she said.

Vanessa laughed lightly. "You're new, right?"

"Yes, obviously."

"That explains it," Vanessa said, stepping closer. "You probably don't understand how things work here yet."

Aria tilted her head slightly. "Then feel free to explain."

The girls behind Vanessa exchanged glances.

Vanessa hadn't expected that because nobody talks to her in that manner.

She recovered quickly.

"Leo," Vanessa said smoothly, "is not the kind of man you look at. You're not his type,okay?"

Aria blinked once.

"Who said I look at him?. Who said I'm Interested in him?,you don't even know if he's my own type,do you?."

Vanessa's smile twitched.

The girls behind her shocked.

"Don't play innocent," she snapped softly. "I saw him staring at you,and I know you're aware of those looks,you sure know what they mean. And I don't appreciate girls who pretend they don't know what they're doing."

Aria's voice remained calm. "With all due respect, I'm here to study. Nothing else. And your Leo.... he's none of my business, he's not the reason I'm in school. So I'd appreciate you leave me alone."

Vanessa scoffed. "Please. Every girl here wants him. Don't think you're special."

Aria met her gaze steadily. "Well,I am special and I don't want him. Okay?!!"

Silence stretched.

Vanessa leaned closer, lowering her voice.

"Do yourself a favor," she said. "If you love yourself even a little, stay far away from my man."

Aria didn't raise her voice.

She didn't insult her.

She didn't even frown.

She simply said, "We're done here. I'm done having this conversation with you girl"

And walked away.

That was it.

No argument.

No fight.

No fear.

Vanessa stood there, stunned.

And furious.

"Wow..... who does this bitch thinks she is to even speak to me like that?"

"Do not worry about her,Vanny. I'm sure she's scared right now,she's just pretending" one of her girls said.

"Yes,she is, she's not all that,she's just a poor bitch and I'm sure she's not even Leo's type, she wouldn't dare compete with you" The other girl said.

-

Leo saw Aria leave the building.

He noticed her shoulders were tense.

He noticed Vanessa standing behind her.

He noticed the look on Vanessa's face.

As he approached Vanessa,the two girls behind her left immediately.

"Did you talk to her?" he asked calmly.

Vanessa turned sharply. "Talk to who?"

"The new girl."

Vanessa smiled sweetly. "Why would I? There's nothing to discuss, we're not even friends"

Leo studied her for a long second.

Something didn't sit right.

She has a look he couldn't describe.

-

That evening, Aria sat on the edge of her bed, laptop open, typing furiously. Numbers came easily to her-economics made sense. People didn't.

Noah was asleep already.

Her mother lay in bed, coughing softly in the next room.

Aria closed her laptop and rubbed her temples.

She wasn't angry.

She was tired.

Tired of being warned. Tired of being seen as a threat for simply existing.

She whispered to herself, "Just finish school. That's all."

-

The next day, things escalated.

Leo found himself "accidentally" bumping into Aria near the library.

"Again?" he said with a faint smile.

She raised an eyebrow. "You campus stalkers are getting creative."

He laughed. "I was going to say fate, but okay."

She shook her head. "What do you want, Leo?. Can't you leave me alone?"

Straight. Direct.

"No,I can't Ari! I want to know you," he said honestly.

She paused.

"That's a bad idea."

"Why?"

She looked at him then-not cold, not distant, just realistic.

"Because you live in a world that creates problems for people like me."

He didn't argue.

Instead, he said, "You don't even know my world."

"And you don't know mine," she replied.

They stood there for a moment.

Then she walked away.

Again.

-

Vanessa watched everything from a distance.

The way Leo smiled at Aria. The way Aria didn't cling. The way Leo followed her with his eyes.

Something ugly twisted inside her chest.

She wasn't being replaced.

She was being ignored.

And Vanessa Hartwell had never been ignored before.

Never!!

-

That night, Leo sat in his apartment, replaying the way Aria spoke.

Not impressed. Not intimidated. Not interested.

He liked that.

No-he needed that.

"Get me her class schedule," he told his assistant.

A pause. "Sir...?"

"Everything."

Shocked. "Sir!?"

"You're not deaf,are you?"

"Okay sir,sorry Sir"

-

Across the city, Aria lay awake, staring at the ceiling.

She didn't know that a line had been drawn.

She didn't know that Vanessa's jealousy was turning into something darker.

And she didn't know that Leo Moretti-who never chased-had just decided that for the first time in his life...

He wanted something that refused to be bought.

And she only wants a peaceful university experience.

Was that too much to ask?

-