Not everybody enjoys seeing persons change.
Especially if they are those who have gained from you by being limited.
Loid Ainsworth realized that Shaw Donovan was watching him for some time before something was about to happen.
Not explicitly.
Not overtly.
Last enough to sense it.
Like someone was measuring him secretly.
And it was worse.
"You're getting popular," Jay said in a theatrical way, twirling a pen.
Loid sighed softly. "…Don't say that."
"I'm serious," Jay argued. "People know you."
"That's normal."
"No," Jay said instantly, "it's new."
Loid fell silent.
Because somewhere he deep down inside realized how true it was.
There wasn't much difference.
But it was real.
He got more greetings.
He was asked more questions.
Even teachers treated him differently.
Nothing special.
Just…
the recognition.
And the recognition had its consequences.
Not all of them positive.
"Yo."
The voice broke through the classroom relaxedly.
Loid raised his eyes.
Shaw Donovan was near his desk.
Tall.
Calm.
Hands in his pockets like he owned everything.
The classroom went silent to some extent.
Not entirely.
But sufficient.
Shaw looked at Loid who was gazing at him with a smirk of his own.
Jay straightened up quickly next to him.
The atmosphere changed at once.
It did not change overtly, but one could feel it in the air.
Shaw tilted his head slightly to one side.
"Nice explanation."
The compliment sounded out of place.
Too smooth.
Too cavalier.
Loid noticed that immediately.
"Thank you."
They fell silent for a moment.
Then Shaw started to laugh.
"Calm down. You seem nervous."
Loid frowned slightly.
He was not nervous.
He felt alert, though.
But not nervous.
Shaw leaned back against a desk next to Loid.
"You know," he continued, "it is kind of surprising."
"What?"
"You."
Simple.
To the point.
Loid was silent for a moment.
Shaw smiled slightly.
"People change very quickly when they want to attract attention."
Jay's face became darker.
But Loid remained calm.
"That is not the reason why I changed."
Shaw narrowed his eyes slightly.
And then—he laughed again.
"Yeah, right."
The word had something dismissive in it.
The room suddenly became very quiet.
Everyone was listening.
It might help you with popularity more.
And there it was.
That tone of voice again.
Just like this is a game.
Like everything is only for the purpose of getting attention.
Loid stood from his chair slowly.
Not being aggressive or emotional.
Just enough to make eye contact with Shaw.
"I am not trying to become popular."
Shaw smiled unexpectedly.
This time his smile faded just a little bit.
As in he didn't see anything behind it.
But he smiled again.
"Sure."
The bell rang just then.
The tension dropped as students started moving again.
Shaw casually pushed himself from the desk.
"See you."
And went out of the classroom as if nothing happened.
The room became normal again.
But not the atmosphere around Loid.
Jay continued looking after Shaw for some time.
"He doesn't like you, you know."
Loid sat down again quietly.
"I know."
Jay frowned.
"Are you okay?"
Loid stopped for a moment.
Then nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Now—
Shaw was just assessing the situation.
Figuring it out.
Charlotte was the reason Shaw wasn't engaging.
Not only her.
There was more to it.
Something noticeable.
People like Shaw were used to grabbing attention.
Being in the spotlight.
Now—
there was a newcomer in that role.
Just a little bit.
That was problematic already.
"You did great."
Loid glanced at him.
Julian was standing there with a notebook.
Jay went, "Wow! It's a compliment from Julian again."
"It wasn't," Julian spoke without any emotion.
"It totally was."
Julian didn't reply.
He turned his gaze back at Loid.
"You were calm."
Loid thought for a moment before speaking.
"I wanted to be, though."
Julian nodded.
"But you weren't."
That was it.
Clear.
But somehow it meant a lot.
Charlotte saw it all from the distance.
Not everything.
But enough to understand Shaw's tone.
Enough to figure out there was something odd.
Loid was composed.
No fake behavior trying to look strong.
Just being calm and collected.
And that was something Charlotte remembered longer than she should have.
Ava bent forward a little.
"Has Shaw been acting strange lately?"
Charlotte paused before replying.
She was still focused on Loid.
She thought about how he hadn't said anything after coming into the room.
How he hadn't been acting cocky or nervous about him being there.
Just… how calm he was.
"Maybe," Charlotte replied indifferently.
But she had a totally different idea in her mind.
Loid Ainsworth had changed.
And it was not only about social life.
And it was not about his studies.
It was all about the person.
And people have started noticing it including Shaw Donovan.
Which meant only one thing.
The gap between Loid and others was narrowing.