Rain hammered the cracked pavements of Ravencrest High, the kind of prestigious school where the students wore designer shoes and carried problems wrapped in gold.All except Zara Vale.
Zara kept her hoodie up, her headphones in, and her eyes dead ahead. No one needed to know what she'd survived. Not the abandonment. Not the trust she no longer had for anyone. Not the temper she kept locked behind her ribs like a loaded weapon.
She hated bullies. She hated liars. She hated people who pretended they cared when they didn't.
Which meant she hated about 98% of the world.Ravencrest High included.
The gates loomed ahead sharp, black iron mocking her with every step.
"First day," she muttered to herself. "Don't punch anyone. Don't destroy anything. Don't give them a reason to kick you out."
Her scholarship was her lifeline; without it, she was nothing but a girl with anger issues and a pile of scars she didn't talk about. She pushed open the gate.Instant chaos.
The courtyard was full. Students had formed a massive circle around two boys who looked like they had stepped straight out of a magazine cover—and were currently trying to beat each other into the concrete.
One of them had dark curls, sharp cheekbones, and a reputation that drifted on whispers:
Jaxon Creed.Ravencrest's golden troublemaker.Handsome. Rich. Popular.
A walking red flag with dimples and a laugh girls fell for too easily.She hated him already.
The other boy—taller, colder—was Riven Hale, Jaxon's ex–best friend. Rumor had it their fallout was legendary.
Everyone watched.Everyone screamed.Everyone recorded.Except Zara.Zara kept walking.Headphones on. Music blasting. Eyes straight ahead.
Let them kill each other for all she cared.
She threaded through the crowd, slipping into the narrow gap between them like they were nothing more than street signs.
But thenBoth boys froze.Jaxon's fist was halfway up.Riven's jaw was tensed.
Zara stood between them, adjusting her hoodie like she was choosing a playlist.
And silence rippled across the courtyard.
A whisper:"Who… is she?"
Jaxon tilted his head, his voice low, amused, and dangerously charming.
"Really? You're just gonna walk through a fight like it's a grocery aisle?"
Zara didn't remove her headphones.
She just glanced at him, eyes icy.
"You're blocking my way."
Riven let out a short, surprised breath.
"She's bold."
Jaxon stepped closer, curiosity flickering in his gaze.
"You new here, shadow girl?"
Zara's expression didn't change."Don't talk to me."
The crowd collectively inhaled.
Jaxon blinked. "Wow. Brutal."
She turned to walk away, but Jaxon spoke again louder this time."What's your name?"
She didn't stop walking.Zara just lifted her hand and gave him a single, perfect middle finger.The courtyard erupted.Laughter. Shock. Whispers. Gasps. Jaxon Creed Ravencrest High's untouchable king stood there stunned… then broke into a slow, wicked grin.
"Oh, this is gonna be fun," he murmured, eyes locked on her retreating figure.
And from that moment…
Zara Vale was no longer invisible.