Two weeks had passed since Sylvian moved into Delmare Academy. He was certainly no longer labeled as "the new kid." He had subtly built up a reputation, in part by scoring the highest mark on the initial unit quiz, which gained him respect and admiration for, well, his appearance. But like all trends, that attention had quailed. Why? Because news had spread that something much grander were coming onto campus. There was a buzz in the academy that was like a beehive, but the young lady youth were squealing about one name: "Akiel Dowell." The third son of the famous and powerful Dowells. A model, a name in the entertainment industry. The young guy had everything, fame, fortune, hot looks, and talent. Sylvian did not care. At least, he wanted to think he believed that he did. Finally, the day had come, and Akiel wound up on campus. Julia opened the front door just as he strolled into the quad, and mayhem broke out. Everyone on campus was literally pushing and shoving to get an autograph or selfie, and within seconds, a trove of admirers hopped on Akiel's hype train and trailed along his side like imprinted baby chicks. Sylvian dodged the scene and did not give it a second thought—he did not care.
But then later that day, walking into class, Sylvian saw a figure that looked familiar. Out of nowhere, he ran into someone in the corner of the hallway. He opened his mouth to say sorry, then went completely still. Oh no. It was Akiel. The strutting model's eyes narrowed like a hawk catching a glimpse of prey, annoyance visibly crossing his perfect features, as if Sylvian was guilty of some terrible crime. Sylvian narrowed his eyes, but was about to say something as Akiel pushed him back harder than strictly necessary. "Watch it." Anger simmered at the base of Sylvian's chest. It was just a freakin' bump. But before he could stop himself, he pushed back harder than he meant. "You didn't have to push me." Tension built there now, words flying, tempers flared, until a teacher took a hold of both their arms and dragged them both to the principal's office. The problem was at least "resolved," and they exchanged some cringing apologies, but at the end of the day, the hostility felt more ingrained than that. One month passed. Akiel was still very much a Delmare pop star, and Sylvian's abhorrence of him ebbed deeper.
One day Sylvian was contentedly seated under a tree in the courtyard when something small hit him in the back. He furiously turned around to find Akiel standing there, holding something that looked like a pebble, twirling it in his hand.
With an intensifying glare, Sylvian barked, "What's your problem?"
Akiel rolled his eyes at Sylvian and began to walk away through a bunch of other students who were walking by and are confused.
But when Sylvian picked up the "rock," he had plenty of reasons to put the anger away and dump all the agitation inside him. It wasn't a rock. It was just a crumpled little piece of paper with writing on it. And when he unfolded it and read it, he turned bright red. He embarrassingly jammed the paper in his pocket, and left in search of Akiel. They confronted each other loudly enough to warrant another trip to the principal's office, and earned an official warning.
After that, it was just argument after argument in the hallways, some foolishness, and even the odd childish fistfight. Neither of them wanted to back down.