In one of the entertainment districts on the Ascent Isles — one of the few where even first-years were allowed — a young couple was strolling through the upper floor of Skylight Galleria, the largest mall on this floating island.
The boy was tall and striking, with rusty red hair and a rugged yet refined appearance that suggested not only he was rich but also tough. An ever-present brooding expression was plastered on his sharp face — just what appealed to many young women.
He kept stealing glances at the girl beside him — a petite beauty with a cute face and long, strawberry-blonde curls cascading down her back.
She wore high-waisted jean shorts and a cropped off-shoulder sweater in pale pink, matching the gloss on her lips. She wanted to look comfortable, casual, and effortless — while still impressing the boy next to her.
Even though that boy wasn't really her boyfriend.
This wasn't technically a date.
They weren't actually a couple.
Not yet, anyway.
