The first rays of morning sunlight streamed into the vast hallway of Riverside Academy, a prestigious high school where appearances mattered almost as much as grades. The tiled floors gleamed under the light, lockers lined the walls in perfect symmetry, and the air buzzed with chatter, laughter, and the occasional squeak of sneakers against polished floors.
Students filled the corridors, cliques clustered in corners, each group radiating its own energy. Yet, in the midst of it all, two figures stood out—not because they tried, but because they simply couldn't help but shine.
Adrian Cole and Elias Hart.
They weren't just students. They were an image, an iconic duo everyone in Riverside knew. If you saw one, you'd inevitably see the other.
---
Adrian Cole was the kind of boy who carried storms in his gaze. His beauty wasn't gentle; it was striking, sharp, the kind that drew attention without asking for it. Tousled black hair framed a chiseled face, his jawline sharp enough to cut glass. His tall frame leaned casually against the lockers, exuding effortless dominance. His gray eyes held a perpetual disinterest, scanning over people as if they were background noise.
Everyone knew him as the school's golden boy—untouchable, unbothered, dangerously charming. Girls whispered about him, boys envied him, but Adrian never seemed to care. He had only one person who mattered to him.
Elias.
---
Elias Hart was different, yet just as magnetic. Where Adrian's beauty was stormy, Elias's was sunlight. His brown hair gleamed with golden undertones, always falling in a soft mess across his forehead. His features were delicate but not fragile—expressive hazel eyes, a smile that could melt even the coldest teacher's heart, and a warmth that made people feel at ease around him.
Unlike Adrian, Elias thrived in the crowd. He was cheerful, approachable, the kind of boy who remembered names, waved across the hallway, and laughed easily at people's jokes.
And yet, no matter how many friends he had, Adrian was his anchor. They were inseparable—sunshine and storm, light and shadow.
---
Elias POV
I swung my bag over my shoulder, rushing up the hallway, nearly colliding with a freshman.
"Sorry! My bad," I laughed, steadying the kid before moving on.
I could already spot Adrian leaning against his locker, one hand shoved in his pocket, the other holding his phone. He didn't need to do anything—he just stood there, and everyone stared like he was a scene pulled straight from a drama.
"Morning!" I greeted him, grinning wide.
His gray eyes flicked up at me, slow, like he had all the time in the world. A corner of his lips tilted into the smallest smirk.
"You're late," he said.
"Five minutes isn't late!" I protested, leaning against the locker beside him.
"You said that yesterday."
I rolled my eyes, but his words made me chuckle. Adrian could act cold, but I'd known him long enough to recognize the subtle softness in his tone. He cared. He just didn't like anyone else knowing.
---
Adrian POV
Elias grinned at me again, the same way he always did. That easy smile, the kind that made people gravitate toward him.
I hated how everyone wanted a piece of him. Teachers adored him, students wanted to be his friend, and half the girls in school were in love with him.
But Elias was mine.
Not in the way they thought—not yet, at least. But in my head, he belonged to me.
"You'll trip over yourself one day if you keep running in the hallway," I muttered.
Elias laughed. "Then you'll catch me, right?"
I looked at him, and for a second, the corner of my lip curved again. He didn't know how right he was.
--
When the bell rang, the two entered their classroom, immediately drawing attention. Heads turned, whispers floated.
"They're here."
"Adrian and Elias… they look so good together."
"Don't they get tired of each other?"
But Adrian ignored everyone, taking his usual seat at the back near the window. Elias, of course, plopped down beside him, chatting with students along the way.
The classroom itself was spacious, sunlight pouring through tall windows. Desks were arranged neatly, and the whiteboard gleamed as the teacher scribbled formulas across it.
Yet, even in a room full of people, some stood out more than others.
---
At the far corner sat Selene Moretti. Her beauty was otherworldly, the kind you couldn't look away from. Silky raven-black hair cascaded down her shoulders, her eyes a piercing shade of green that sparkled under the light. She had porcelain skin, sharp cheekbones, and the poise of someone who had been raised to be admired.
Everyone knew she was rich. She never hid it—the designer shoes, the sleek luxury car that dropped her off, the air of superiority. What people didn't know was her bloodline, the shadows her family moved in.
Selene was the undisputed queen of the school, the girl every boy dreamed of and every girl envied. But the only person she looked at… was Adrian Cole.
---
Selene POV
Adrian leaned back in his chair, staring out the window like he didn't have a care in the world.
Perfect. Effortless. Untouchable.
My lips curved slightly. Everyone saw him, but no one understood him. They fawned over his looks, his aura, but I knew. I knew he wasn't like them. He didn't belong in this classroom full of ordinary teenagers. He was something else—something greater.
And that's why he should be mine.
Elias sat beside him, laughing at something. My jaw tightened. That boy… always in the way, always at Adrian's side. He didn't deserve to be there. Not like I did.
But soon, Adrian would notice me. He had to.
---
On the opposite side sat Maya Rivera. She wasn't Selene's level of intimidating beauty, but her charm was undeniable. Long wavy brown hair framed her round, gentle face. Her dark eyes sparkled with kindness, her smile warm and genuine. She carried herself with a grace that wasn't prideful but approachable.
She came from a middle-class family, nothing extravagant, but she wore her simplicity well. Where Selene radiated superiority, Maya radiated sincerity.
And unlike Selene's cold glances, Maya often smiled at Elias.
---
Maya POV
I glanced at Elias across the room. He was laughing at something Adrian whispered, his hazel eyes bright with amusement.
He really was beautiful. Not just on the outside—though anyone could see that—but the way he carried himself, the way he made people feel seen.
It was… refreshing.
Selene might have her eyes set on Adrian, but I couldn't help mine drifting to Elias.
---
The teacher's voice droned on, chalk scratching against the board, but the energy in the classroom never dimmed. Whispers, stolen glances, scribbled notes passed under desks—it was high school, after all.
And in the center of it all were Adrian and Elias, the duo everyone talked about.
Adrian, who ignored every girl that dared to flirt with him.
Elias, who laughed with everyone but always returned to Adrian.
Storm and sunshine.