The sky burned in shades of molten gold and crimson as the sun began its slow descent behind the horizon. Students spilled out of the massive gates of Starlight Academy, their laughter echoing across the courtyard, the sound of footsteps and chatter blending with the distant hum of traffic.
For most, it was the perfect ending to an ordinary day. But for Elena Li, it was the start of trouble.
Her sneakers pounded against the pavement as she ran, hugging a heavy stack of books to her chest. The wind teased strands of her dark hair loose from her ponytail.
Late. Again.
She bit her lip, muttering under her breath, "If I don't return this book to the library before closing, Professor Han is going to kill me."
But fate, as always, had other plans.
Just as she darted around the corner near the sports field, a sharp roar split the air the unmistakable growl of a motorcycle engine. Students scattered aside with squeals and yelps.
Elena froze.
A sleek, black motorcycle barreled down the narrow road, its rider leaning casually, as though the speed limit didn't exist. The sunset gleamed against his polished helmet, turning him into a blur of light and shadow.
"Move!" someone shouted.
But it was too late.
Elena stumbled forward, her foot catching the curb. Her books flew into the air like startled birds. She crashed against the motorcycle at just the wrong moment.
Clang!
The rider jerked the brakes with expert precision, but not before her elbow slammed against his helmet with a resounding crack. Both of them reeled from the impact the books scattering across the pavement like fallen leaves.
Silence fell.
Then, slowly, the rider straightened, one hand still gripping the handlebar. He tugged off his helmet, shaking loose tousled blond hair that glinted like the fading sun. His eyes icy blue, sharp as a hawk's locked on hers.
Elena's heart stuttered.
Not from awe. Not from attraction.
From horror.
Because she had just dented the helmet of Adrian Cole the school's infamous bad boy, the heartthrob who made teachers sigh in despair and girls squeal in delight.
And Adrian Cole was glaring at her as if she'd committed a crime.
Adrian swung one leg over his motorcycle and stalked toward her. His tall frame cast a long shadow across the pavement, his leather jacket creaking as he moved. He held up the helmet now with a noticeable scratch streaking across the visor.
His voice was low, dangerous.
"Do you have a death wish, bookworm?"
Elena scrambled to her feet, brushing dirt from her skirt. Her pulse hammered in her ears.
"I I didn't mean to! You were speeding "
Adrian let out a short, humorless laugh.
"Speeding? You jumped out like a suicidal squirrel. Look." He tilted the helmet toward her. "This isn't just a helmet. It's imported. Custom made. Do you know how much it costs?"
She blinked at the gleaming scratch and felt a pang of guilt. But her pride surged stronger.
"Well, if you weren't driving like a maniac through a school zone, this wouldn't have happened!"
Gasps rippled from the crowd gathering around them. No one ever talked back to Adrian Cole.
His lips curved into a smirk, sharp and mocking.
"Bold. Cute. But boldness doesn't fix what you broke."
Her cheeks flamed.
"I said it wasn't my fault!"
Adrian leaned down, so close she could see the flecks of stormy gray in his icy eyes. His voice dropped to a whisper that sent shivers racing down her spine.
"Then whose fault is it, sunshine? You think the helmet scratched itself?"
Elena stiffened, refusing to back down even as his nearness rattled her.
"I'm not sunshine. And I'm not paying for that helmet."
The crowd erupted in whispers.
"She's dead."
"She just challenged Adrian Cole."
"Poor girl, she won't last a week."
Adrian straightened, chuckling darkly.
"You've got guts. I'll give you that. But guts won't save you."
He held the helmet under his arm and tapped her forehead lightly with one gloved finger.
"Consider this a debt. And I always collect what I'm owed."
Before she could protest, he swung back onto his motorcycle. The engine roared to life, reverberating through her bones. With a sharp twist of his wrist, the machine leapt forward, leaving behind only the stench of gasoline and the pounding of her heart.
Elena stood rooted to the spot, her books scattered at her feet.
The whispers grew louder.
"She's doomed."
"Adrian's not going to let this go."
"She's brave, though."
Elena clenched her fists, heat flooding her cheeks.
So what if he's the school heartthrob? So what if everyone worships him?
She knelt, gathering her books with trembling hands.
"I'm not afraid of him," she whispered to herself. "He can't scare me."
But deep down, she knew this was just the beginning.
Later that evening, when Elena finally reached the library, she found Adrian leaning casually against the entrance, twirling his helmet with one hand.
Her jaw dropped.
"You what are you doing here?"
He flashed that infuriating smirk.
"Waiting for my little debtor. What took you so long?"
She bristled.
"I don't owe you anything."
"Oh, but you do." He stepped closer, his voice dripping with amusement. "You scratched my helmet, bookworm. You bruised my pride. That's two debts. And I always collect."
Elena hugged her books tightly, glaring at him.
"Fine. What do you want?"
He leaned in, his breath brushing her ear.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Her pulse raced, a mix of fear and indignation twisting inside her.
And just like that, Adrian turned and walked away, his laughter echoing in the twilight.
That night, as Elena lay in bed staring at the ceiling, one thought refused to leave her mind:
Adrian Cole isn't just trouble. He's a storm. And I just walked right into it.
The sunset that had painted the sky earlier now felt like a warning.
Because their collision wasn't an accident.
It was the spark of a war.