The final bell rang sharply through the empty halls of Alexander Middle School. The sound marked the end of an era, but I felt nothing but a hollow quiet inside me. Around me, the students poured out with shouts of freedom and laughter. But I was a spectator to their joy.
Why do I always feel so... invisible? I thought bitterly. Wealth, power — none of it matters when your own parents treat you like a shadow.
I pushed the bitterness down as I stepped out through the gates, blinking in the bright sunlight. The summer air was thick and warm. And then I saw her.
She was crouched beside a girl who had twisted her ankle. Her hands were gentle, steady, the kind of kindness that didn't seek applause. Her golden hair caught the sun's rays, but it was her eyes—deep, restless ocean blues—that caught me unprepared. Those eyes held stories and secrets, and somehow, they unsettled something inside me.
Who is she? I wondered, heart pounding. And why does seeing her feel like the first breath of air in a long drought?
My fingers trembled as I quietly snapped a photo. A single moment I wanted to hold onto.
Later, in the cold silence of my massive home, I summoned Remus, my loyal butler and only constant.
"Remus," I said, voice steady but laced with urgency, "find everything you can about this girl." I showed him the photo.
He raised an eyebrow, recognizing her immediately. "Seren Valen... daughter of the Valen family. One of the state's wealthiest. She's set to attend Ardelyn University next term."
I shook my head, jaw tightening. "No. Not university. I want to go to Ardelyn High—with her."
Remus blinked, surprised. "Sir, your parents have arranged for you to study abroad at Silvercross International Academy in Switzerland. Going against their plan…"
"They won't even notice," I interrupted sharply, my voice cold. "They never do. This time, it's about what I want."
A soft sigh escaped him, but he nodded, pushing aside his papers. "Very well, sir. But are you certain? It's a drastic change."
I stared out the window, the image of Seren's eyes burning into my mind.
"I have to be."
Across town, in a cramped, dim apartment, Jaxon Creed sat with his father and mother, plotting.
"My son's future is secure," Jaxon's father said, voice low but firm. "If he wants to move up, he needs the right connections."
The family friend leaned closer. "There's the Valen girl. Perfect match. If Jaxon wins her over, he's set for life."
Jaxon smiled cruelly.
His mother laughed darkly, cigarette smoke curling in the stale air. "The richest girl in the state... Think of all the debts I could pay, all the chances I'd get."
Jaxon's jaw clenched. His father's ambition, his mother's desperation—it all fueled a ruthless determination.
Ardelyn High is my battlefield.
And I will destroy anyone who stands in my way.
Back at home, Remus laid a thick dossier on my desk.
"Seren Valen," he said quietly, "is more than wealth and status. Despite the spotlight, she seems... lonely. Her friendships are more about status than sincerity."
I flipped through the pages, drinking in every detail.
She's real. Vulnerable. And I want to protect her.
I looked up at Remus, resolve burning in my eyes.
"Cancel my university plans. I'm staying. I'm going to Ardelyn High."
He hesitated, concern shadowing his face. "Are you sure, young master? Your parents will be furious."
I gave a bitter laugh. "They don't even know I exist. This time, it's about me."
For the first time in years, hope flickered inside me—a fragile flame in the darkness.
Remus looked thoughtful. I asked him "Arrange me to enroll as a regular student, no special privileges. I want to see if she truly is as unaffected by status as you believe."
I shook my head with a smile. "No privileges. I want to be invisible, just like her. Maybe then, I can know her."
Remus nodded. "Very well, sir. I will inform the academy."
As I stood by the window that night, looking out at the distant city lights, I felt something stir—something like destiny.
I didn't know what awaited me at Ardelyn High.
But I was ready to find out.