Something About Magical

Selena’s POV

I didn’t see him again after that. Dominic.

It was like he just vanished from the face of the school or maybe I just wasn’t looking hard enough. No. I was. I was looking for him like crazy. Every hallway I passed through, every classroom door I walked by, even the damn cafeteria. Nothing. Not even a stupid glimpse of those cold grey eyes.

He just disappeared.

But something wasn’t sitting right. Like how did he even know I was in the girls' toilet? That still messed with my head. Did someone tell him? Did he...hear me cry? That would be even worse. I hated that. I hated that someone saw me like that. Weak. Broken. Crying on a dirty school bathroom floor like a movie cliché.

Gross.

Sarah came skipping up to me during lunch like nothing happened, like my whole soul didn’t collapse a few hours ago.

“Where have you been?” she asked, all wide-eyed and nosy. “I looked for you everywhere.”

I blinked at her, forcing my lips into a smile. They felt dry. I think I forgot how to smile properly.

“Nowhere. Just needed to breathe.”

I expected her to push more but she didn’t. Maybe I looked too messed up and she let it slide. Thank God.

But the question that kept crawling under my skin like ants was—how did Dominic have that video? The one of Cherry. You know. Sucking on something.

The image itself made my stomach twist. My insides flipped like someone wringing a towel.

My gut was saying it was his video. Like he was the one in it. And if that was true, if Cherry had her mouth on...God.

I felt bile climb up my throat.

But why should I care?

He’s not my boyfriend. We’re not even friends. We barely talk and when we do, it's all tension and confusion and...heat. Stupid heat.

He was a stranger. Yeah. That’s what I kept telling myself.

Strangers don’t wipe your tears or lift your shirt gently to check your bruises. Strangers don’t hold you like you’re something fragile they don’t want to break.

I rolled my eyes at my own thoughts. Pathetic. I was being so pathetic.

Anyway, time flew like it always does when you want it to pause, and soon it was time for the election.

I walked into the auditorium with my heart beating like it wanted to escape my chest. I swear even my palms were sweating like crazy. I wiped them on my skirt but it didn’t help. I could barely feel my knees and my throat felt like someone shoved cotton balls down it.

I scanned the crowd real quick. No Cherry.

Weird.

She was supposed to be one of the nominees too. Maybe she chickened out. Maybe she was sick. Or maybe...

I paused.

No way.

I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood as I stepped on stage. The mic felt too tall but I didn’t fix it. My voice came out shaky at first but I kept talking. I poured everything I had into the speech. My voice gained strength halfway. People were actually listening. Someone even clapped early. When I finished, the whole room clapped. Some stood. Some called my name.

I smiled.

And that’s when I saw him.

Dominic.

Leaning against the back wall like he owned the entire damn planet. His grey eyes were on me. Not just looking. Watching. Studying. Almost proud.

My lips twitched into a smile before I could stop it. Idiot. Why was I smiling? At him?

I shook my head.

Still...for a jerk, he sure was a nice one. Or maybe he just played the nice guy really well. That wouldn't be surprising.

My gut kept tugging at me. Telling me he had something to do with Cherry not showing up. That maybe he...I don’t know...blackmailed her? Threatened her back? Something shady.

The idea didn’t exactly make me feel safe but I wasn’t mad either.

I didn’t see him again after that moment. He left before I came off the stage. Slippery like smoke. Sarah was bouncing beside me like a little ball of caffeine.

“You killed it! Oh my God Lena you killed it!”

I smiled even though my insides felt like pudding.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. I was floating. A little. My body still ached but not like before.

It wasn’t until I got home that I realized something was off.

Sarah and I were sitting on my bed, talking and laughing about people who clapped too hard during the speeches and who wore what and how one girl’s fake lashes fell off mid-clap. It was fun. Stupid, harmless fun.

And then my brain just paused.

Wait.

My ribs.

I hadn’t felt pain all afternoon. Not even when I laughed hard. Not even once.

I pulled up my sweater real quick, panicking a little.

“Sarah,” I said, “Can you check?”

“Check what?” she asked, frowning at me like I was being dramatic.

“My side. Where the bruise was.”

She blinked. “Okay?”

She leaned in and looked, her fingers brushing my skin. I braced myself for her to hiss or gasp or say something about the color or the swelling.

Nothing.

She sat back.

“There’s literally nothing there, Lena.”

“What?” I asked, already reaching down to feel it myself.

She was right.

There was no pain. No bruise. Not even a trace.

My heart stopped for like two seconds. I had jammed myself into a ceramic sink. I had cracked something. I felt it. I couldn’t even walk properly this morning.

“What the hell?” I whispered.

Sarah looked at me, confused.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded. But I wasn’t. Not really.

I was healed. Like magically healed. No ice. No meds. Nothing.

Except...

Except Dominic said it.

He said I’d be okay before the elections. He said it like he knew. Like he could guarantee it.

I looked at Sarah and tried to laugh but it came out weird and tight.

“I think I need to find someone.”

She raised her brows. “Who?”

I didn’t answer. I just stood and grabbed my phone.

She followed me with her eyes, a little suspicious.

“What’s going on, Lena?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. But I think Dominic did something. And if I don’t find out soon I’ll freaking lose it.”

Sarah looked worried now.

“What do you mean he did something?”

“I don’t know!” I snapped, then regretted it. “Sorry. I just...he said I’d be fine. And now I am. No bruise. No pain. Nothing. What does that mean?”

She shrugged. “Maybe you got lucky?”

Lucky? Was that what we were calling it now?

I sat back down, heart racing again.

There was something wrong.

Or maybe something very right and very confusing.

Either way, I needed to see him again. Even if I didn’t know what I’d say. Even if I couldn’t trust him. Even if his past with Cherry was messy and maybe disgusting and maybe none of my business.

I needed to know what he was.

Because clearly he wasn’t just a hot jerk who liked messing with my head.

He was something else.

And I was about to find out.