POV: Kevin
Goldridge Academy had a way of hiding rot behind polish.
Everything was clean here. The lawns were surgically trimmed. The uniforms pressed to perfection. Even the scandals — the cheating, the lies, the betrayals — were sterilized with money and silence.
But Kevin had never been fooled by that.
He saw the way the cracks ran beneath the surface.
And this year, for the first time, those cracks were inside him.
He sat in the back corner of the library during free period, pretending to read an article on post-war economic theory. But all he could think about was her laugh. The way she tilted her head when Zion spoke. The casual way their shoulders brushed like it was nothing.
But it wasn't nothing.
Not to him.
Not to anyone paying attention.
Zion didn't deserve her.
Kevin's jaw clenched. He had spent years curating his image — grades, status, discipline. He kept his cool when others didn't. While Mikey played, while Zion wandered, he built.
And still, Mabelle never looked at him the way she did at Zion.
Group Chat: "Goldridge Core 💼✨"
Mikey: LMAO Zion u dipped halfway through econ
Celeste: He probably had another brooding crisis
Isla: Maybe he was just tired?
Nyra: People don't disappear for no reason.
Kevin didn't reply.
He didn't feel like laughing.
Later that day, he walked past the south wing balcony and paused.
Mabelle stood there alone.
Zion walked up from the courtyard and leaned against the railing beside her. They weren't touching. Not really. But the air between them was full of static. Words passed between them too low for Kevin to hear.
He didn't need to.
He could see it.
Her smile. His expression. The way her hand almost — almost — touched his wrist.
Kevin turned before they noticed him.
That night – Dorm Lounge
Celeste was painting her nails on the plush velvet couch, Mikey gaming beside her. Kevin sat across from them, scrolling through his phone aimlessly, but his ears were sharp.
"Zion's kinda... different this year," Celeste said casually. "Like he's finally stepping into something."
Mikey shrugged. "Yeah, he's chill. Bit darker maybe. Still the same Z."
Kevin didn't speak.
But Celeste watched him.
She always watched.
And he noticed how she glanced briefly at Isla, who sat alone by the window, sketching. Her eyes kept flicking toward Kevin. She quickly looked away when their eyes met.
A little too quickly.
Later – Kevin's Room
He stared at the ceiling, drowning in silence.
He didn't understand it.
He was supposed to be the one who had it all together. He had the best grades. The clean record. The family name. The future planned out.
So why did he feel so... disposable?
Mabelle barely responded to his texts anymore. Nyra seemed like she hated everyone. Isla kept hovering, like a ghost he couldn't chase away.
Even Mikey and Celeste were in their own bubble — weird, perfect, drama-free.
And Zion?
Zion had her.
Whether they admitted it or not — it was happening. Kevin could feel it. A current pulling them together. And worse?
Zion didn't even seem to want it.
That made it unbearable.
Unknown Message – Midnight
"Why do you only see her?"
Kevin frowned.
It was from an unlisted number.
He typed:
"Who is this?"
No reply.
But he had a feeling.
Nyra.
Or maybe Isla.
He wasn't sure which was worse.