bright sky with clouds parting as an airplane glides smoothly through. Below, New York City looms in all its grandeur—a mix of old and new, hustle and dreams. The city never sleeps, they say. But what does that really mean?
"From the crowded streets of Hyderabad to the vast skyline of New York… it felt like I was stepping into a whole new universe. I wondered if I would ever really belong here."
out the airplane window. She's quiet, a little lost in thought. Her long pale silver hair falls over her shoulder, her crimson eyes full of uncertainty and hope.
"A new school. A new life. How do you even start again in a place where no one knows your name?"
The airplane lands with a soft thud. Stella looks out of the window as the airport comes into view. The hustle of New York already buzzing below her, she picks up her bag and stands up, her fingers trembling just a little.
"This is it. This is where my new life begins."
Stella enters Brookstone High School. The building is massive, imposing, and full of life. Students rush past her in different directions, chattering, laughing, their faces already familiar with each other. Stella, in contrast, feels like she's on the outside looking in.
"I was just another girl in a sea of faces. Nobody knew me, and I didn't know anyone. And maybe… that was the hardest part of all."
Inside the classroom, Stella stands at the front, the teacher introducing her to the class. Students glance her way, some curious, others indifferent.
"Class, we have a new student today. Please welcome Stella Greenwood , who just transferred here from Hyderabad."
As she sits down, her eyes inadvertently meet those of a boy in the front row. His jet-black hair falls slightly over his forehead, and his piercing blue eyes seem to lock onto hers for a brief moment. His gaze is intense, but there's a mysterious, almost cold, air about him.
"And then... I saw him. Alex."
"Alex… the boy with the hauntingly beautiful blue eyes. His presence felt almost... ethereal. But there was an icy distance to him, a wall he had built up around himself. Something about him intrigued me."
"Alex… the boy with the hauntingly beautiful blue eyes. His presence felt almost... ethereal. But there was an icy distance to him, a wall he had built up around himself. Something about him intrigued me."
The bell rings for math class. The teacher walks to the whiteboard, writing a complicated equation that causes the entire class to groan in unison. Stella watches, her mind automatically starting to break down the problem in her head.
Teacher (annoyed):
"Okay, class. Who can solve this one? I'll give you a hint: it's not as simple as it looks."
Stella raises her hand almost instinctively, her heart beating a little faster. The room goes quiet. The teacher pauses for a moment, surprised.
Stella, do you want to give it a shot?"
Stella walks to the front of the class, chalk in hand. She feels the weight of everyone's gaze on her. But something about math—the certainty, the logic—gives her strength. Her fingers move quickly, her mind racing to find the solution.
"Maybe I wasn't good at fitting in… but I knew I could do this. Numbers didn't judge you. They only made sense."
She finishes the equation and steps back. The class remains silent. The teacher's jaw drops slightly as he stares at the solution. The students exchange impressed looks.
Teacher (in awe):
"Well, that was… unexpected. Well done, Stella."
Stella returns to her seat, her heart still pounding. She can't shake the feeling that someone is still watching her.
The bell rings for lunch. Stella walks through the crowded hallway, unsure of where to go. Her stomach growls. She wonders if anyone would invite her to sit down, but she doesn't hold her breath.
"This is always the hardest part. Not knowing where to go, where you belong…"
At the cafeteria, stella stands awkwardly with her tray, looking around. She feels the eyes of some students on her, whispers, judgment—until a voice calls out to her from a corner table.
"Hey, new girl! Over here!"
Stella looks over. A girl with curly brown hair and a carefree smile waves her over. There's something warm and welcoming in her eyes, a contrast to the cold, judgmental stares stella's been receiving all morning.
Hazel (cheerfully):
"I'm Hazel! You're Stella, right? You can sit with me if you want."
Stella's surprised , then a soft smile forms on her lips. She nods and walks over, the weight on her shoulders lifting just a weight
"Thanks… I'd really appreciate that."
The two sit at the table, and stella starts to feel a bit more at ease. Hazel is talkative, filling the air with laughter and stories, but stella is still distracted by the thoughts of the mysterious boy from earlier.