Irene's POV
The first rays of sunlight slipped through my curtains, landing right on my face. I groaned and buried my head into the pillow, wishing I could rewind time and erase yesterday's words from existence. Different. That was what I had called him.
Why had I said that?
It replayed in my mind like a scratched record. Adrian's eyes on me, the silence that followed, the way my cheeks had heated until I felt like I would melt into the floor. He probably thought I was weird. Or worse—he probably thought I was mocking him.
I sighed, dragging myself out of bed. "Get over it, Irene," I muttered to myself. "It's just a word."
Except it wasn't just a word. Deep down, I knew I hadn't been wrong. Adrian was different. Not in the way people whispered about students who transferred in their final year. No… there was something deeper. Something in the way he carried himself, in the weight of his gaze that unsettled me, yet pulled me in at the same time.
I shook my head, brushing the thought away as I moved through my morning routine. Shower. Toothpaste. Hair tied back neatly. I slipped into my favorite light-blue shirt and jeans. Simple. Safe. Maybe if I kept myself invisible, I wouldn't have to face him today.
When I got to school, Anna and Elsa were already chatting at their lockers. Anna's hands flew in excited gestures as Elsa rolled her eyes with a laugh. I smiled faintly, joining them, but my mind wasn't fully there. My gaze kept wandering down the hall, searching even though I told myself I wasn't.
And of course, the universe hated me. Because just as I turned, there he was—Adrian—walking down the hall like he owned the place, his dark eyes unreadable, his steps steady, unhurried.
My heart stuttered. I quickly looked away, fumbling with my books as if the lock on my locker had suddenly become the most fascinating thing in the world.
"Are you okay?" Elsa asked, peering at me curiously.
"I'm fine," I lied.
I wasn't fine. I was awkward, embarrassed, and—if I admitted it to myself—dangerously close to crushing on a boy who confused me more than calculus ever could.
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Adrian's POV
She couldn't even look at me.
I noticed the way her shoulders tensed when she caught sight of me, the way her eyes darted elsewhere like I was fire she didn't dare touch.
It amused me. Not in a cruel way—though others might have thought so—but in a curious one. Irene Walker wasn't like the others. Most girls either giggled behind their hands or stared too long, thinking I didn't notice. But Irene? She called me different. And the thing was… she was right.
No one was supposed to see that.
I leaned against the wall, pretending not to care, but I was watching her. The way she bit her lip nervously, the way she tried so hard to act normal—it was almost endearing. Did she regret saying it? Or had she meant it more than she realized?
Part of me wanted to corner her, to ask what she thought she knew. Another part… just wanted to see how long she could keep avoiding me.
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Irene's POV
Later in the day, during our chemistry period, I thought I might survive without speaking to him. But fate had other plans.
"Class," Mr. Jacobs, our chemistry teacher, began. He was tall and balding, with glasses that slid down his nose every five seconds. "As part of your final-year evaluation, each pair will be working on a water purification project. It will account for a large percentage of your grade. I expect thorough research, proper execution, and teamwork."
Pairs? My stomach knotted.
When Mr. Jacobs started calling names, dread washed over me. And then I heard it.
"Walker and Blackwood."
My head snapped up. No way.
Adrian glanced at me across the classroom. His expression was unreadable, but his lips curved ever so slightly—as if the universe had just handed him a game he intended to win.
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Adrian's POV
Perfect.
Irene's eyes widened when our names were paired. She looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole. I almost laughed. Maybe this project wasn't going to be such a burden after all.
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Irene's POV
After class, I tried to act casual as I packed my books, but Adrian was suddenly there beside me.
"We should decide where to work on the project," he said, his voice smooth, calm.
I hesitated, then forced a smile. "Sure. My place or yours?"
He froze. Just for a second, but I noticed it. "Not mine," he said quickly.
Suspicion pricked at me. "Why not?"
"It's… complicated," he muttered, looking away.
I crossed my arms, tilting my head. "Complicated? What, are you hiding something? Is your house haunted? Or are you secretly living in a cave?"
He shot me a sharp look, but I grinned, trying to lighten the mood even though my curiosity was genuine. "Come on, Adrian. Everyone has a house. What's the big deal?"
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he would walk away. But then, with a low sigh, he said, "Fine. My place. Tomorrow after school."
Victory sparked in my chest, mixed with unease. Something was off about him—I knew it. And yet, the thought of stepping into his world, even just his house, made my pulse quicken in ways I couldn't explain.
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Adrian's POV
I shouldn't have agreed.
Letting her into my house… into my life… it was dangerous. Too many secrets lived in those walls, secrets she wasn't ready to know.
But when she had looked at me with those determined eyes, accusing me of hiding something… I couldn't say no.
Maybe I just wanted to see how close Irene Walker was willing to get to the truth.
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