The air inside Crown Height Academy buzzed like static, as if the walls themselves whispered of secrets and power. Every corner gleamed with polished marble, gold-trimmed doors, and crystal chandeliers that didn't belong in a school—but then again, Crown Height wasn't just a school. It was an empire where only the wealthiest heirs walked, their last names carrying more weight than any textbook.
And no one carried that weight more gracefully than Sophia Harrington.
By the time she and her girls—Isabella, Chloe, and Amelia—strode down the grand hallway, the crowd had already parted. Heads turned. Conversations hushed. Even the sharp sound of her heels against the marble floor felt like a melody that commanded attention.
"Everyone's staring again," Isabella murmured with a grin, adjusting the strap of her designer bag. "Not that I'm surprised."
"They always stare," Chloe added, pulling out her phone to film a quick clip for Sophia's vlog. "This is what happens when you're the most popular girl at Crown Height."
Amelia linked her arm with Sophia's. "Correction—the most popular people. We rule this place together."
Sophia smirked. She thrived on moments like this, when the entire world seemed to revolve around her. But no matter how perfect the picture looked, there was always one person who refused to play along.
Noah Sinclair.
Her gaze flicked across the hall, finding him near his locker with his usual group of four friends. They were like a fortress—each one different but united by the same unshakable presence. Noah stood in the center, his dark hair falling slightly over his forehead, his jawline sharp enough to cut glass. His uniform blazer was open, his tie loose, as if rules were beneath him. Even leaning casually against the wall, he carried himself like a king who didn't need a crown to prove it.
Girls hovered nearby, pretending to chat while stealing glances at him. But Noah, as always, didn't seem to notice—or care.
Sophia's lips curved. Cold aura, handsome, untouchable… and mine.
"Watch this," she whispered to her friends, and without hesitation, she broke away from them and headed straight for him.
---
Noah noticed her before she spoke. Of course he did—everyone noticed Sophia when she walked into a room. But unlike the others, his expression didn't change. His eyes flicked up, cool and unreadable, before dropping back to the book in his hand.
"Good morning, Noah," Sophia said, her tone sweet but confident, her smile polished to perfection.
Around them, whispers rippled. Everyone loved these moments—the perfect princess and the cold prince, side by side.
Noah barely glanced up. "Morning."
Just that. Nothing more.
Sophia tilted her head, unbothered. She was used to his walls, and unlike every other girl, she wasn't scared of climbing them. "You're skipping the assembly?" she asked lightly.
"No," he said, closing his book and sliding it into his bag. "I'm on my way there now."
His friends were already smirking. The carefree one—Ethan—whispered something that made the quiet one, Leo, chuckle under his breath. The baby-faced genius, Mason, only shook his head like he'd seen this scene too many times.
Sophia straightened, her confidence unshaken. "Then let's walk together. People expect it, you know."
Finally, Noah's gaze locked on hers. His eyes were sharp, dark, and steady—eyes that never flinched, never softened. "I don't care what people expect."
The words should have stung. Instead, Sophia's heart fluttered. He was impossible, and that made her want him even more.
---
In the assembly hall, the buzz of students filled the massive space. A grand chandelier sparkled overhead, and rows of velvet seats stretched out like a theater. Sophia and her girls claimed the front row, as always. Noah and his group sat on the other side, a deliberate distance between them.
Principal Westwood took the stage, his voice echoing as he welcomed everyone back for the new term. He spoke of legacy, excellence, and the honor of Crown Height Academy.
But Sophia wasn't listening. Her gaze kept drifting toward Noah, who sat with one arm resting lazily on the back of his chair, his posture relaxed but his presence commanding.
"Still staring?" Amelia whispered, nudging her side.
Sophia smiled faintly. "I'm not staring. I'm observing."
Chloe giggled softly. "Observing your future boyfriend, you mean."
Sophia didn't deny it. Instead, she leaned back in her seat, her mind already spinning. Her father wanted her closer to Noah, their families expected it, the entire school saw them as a perfect match—and deep down, Sophia agreed. She wasn't just chasing him for the thrill. She truly believed they were meant to be.
And one way or another, she always got what she wanted.