I tried to pretend it didn't matter.
That the way Felix Garfield had looked at me—like I was something worth noticing—wasn't replaying in my head on a loop.
It was ridiculous, honestly. This was my first day, first hour even, and I was already getting distracted by a boy I didn't know. A boy everyone else clearly already knew.
"Stop thinking about it," I muttered under my breath as I sat down in my first class.
Unfortunately, my brain didn't listen.
The classroom was just as polished as everything else at Royal Crest—sleek desks, large windows, sunlight pouring in like something out of a movie. Students filled the room with quiet confidence, chatting like they'd known each other forever.
I slid into a seat near the middle, keeping my head down as I pulled out my notebook.
Normal. Just act normal.
"Is this seat taken?"
My head snapped up.
And there he was.
Felix Garfield.
Up close, he was somehow worse—or better, depending on how you looked at it. Taller than I expected. Sharper features. Eyes that seemed to miss nothing.
And right now, those eyes were on me.
"No," I said quickly. "It's not taken."
"Good."
He sat down beside me like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Like he always sat next to strangers.
Like I wasn't currently forgetting how to breathe.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. I stared at my notebook, suddenly fascinated by the blank page.
Say something, Allison.
Anything.
"I thought people like you had assigned seats," I blurted.
I immediately regretted it.
People like you?
Really?
But instead of looking offended, Felix let out a soft laugh.
"People like me?" he repeated.
I cringed. "That sounded bad."
"It sounded honest," he said.
I risked a glance at him.
He wasn't mocking me. If anything, he looked… amused.
"What does that mean?" he asked, leaning back slightly in his chair.
I hesitated, then shrugged. "You know. Popular. Important. Surrounded by people all the time."
"And that means I can't choose where I sit?"
"I just assumed you'd already have a place."
His lips curved into a small smile. "Maybe I wanted a new one."
Something about the way he said it made my stomach tighten.
Before I could respond, the teacher walked in, and the room fell silent.
Saved.
Or not.
Because even as the lesson started, I could feel Felix beside me. Not touching, not speaking—but present in a way that made it impossible to focus.
I tried. I really did.
But every now and then, I'd catch him glancing at me. Not constantly, not obviously—just enough to make me aware of it.
Why me?
That question lingered in my mind the entire time.
When the bell finally rang, I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.
Students began to pack up, the room filling with noise again.
I moved quickly, shoving my notebook into my bag.
"Leaving already?" Felix's voice came from beside me.
I paused. "I have another class."
"So do I."
I blinked. "Okay…?"
He stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Walk with me."
It wasn't exactly a question.
I hesitated for a second—but then again, saying no felt… complicated.
"Sure," I said.
We stepped out into the hallway together.
And just like that, everything changed.
People noticed.
I could feel it instantly—the shift in attention, the subtle looks, the whispers that weren't even trying to be quiet.
"Is that—"
"With him?"
"Already?"
I kept my gaze forward, my grip tightening on my bag.
"This is normal for you, isn't it?" I said under my breath.
Felix glanced at me. "What is?"
"Everyone staring."
He shrugged slightly. "You get used to it."
"I don't think I want to."
He smiled faintly. "You might not have a choice."
That wasn't exactly comforting.
We walked in silence for a moment before he spoke again.
"You're Allison Braxton."
It wasn't a question.
"Yeah."
"The scholarship student."
There it was again.
I braced myself—but his tone wasn't mocking. Just… observant.
"Does everyone know that already?" I asked.
"Most people," he said. "Royal Crest doesn't get many scholarship students."
"Lucky me."
Felix stopped walking.
I took a step before realizing he wasn't beside me anymore. Turning, I found him watching me, something unreadable in his expression.
"You say that like it's a bad thing," he said.
I shifted slightly. "It's just… different."
"Different isn't bad."
"It is when you're the only one."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he stepped closer—not too close, but enough to make my pulse pick up again.
"You're not the only one," he said quietly.
I frowned. "What does that mean?"
But before he could answer—
"Felix!"
A voice cut through the moment.
We both turned.
A boy approached us, grinning, hands shoved into his pockets like he didn't have a care in the world.
"Man, you disappear for one class and suddenly you've got a new friend?" he said, his eyes flicking to me with interest.
Felix exhaled softly. "Jasper."
"This must be Allison," Jasper continued, extending his hand. "I've heard about you."
"You have?" I asked, surprised.
"Hard not to," he said with a wink.
I shook his hand, unsure how to respond to that.
"Don't listen to him," Felix said. "He exaggerates everything."
"Only the interesting parts," Jasper shot back.
I couldn't help but smile a little.
At least someone here felt… normal.
"Well," Jasper continued, "I'll let you two get back to your mysterious hallway conversations."
"There was nothing mysterious about it," Felix said.
"Sure," Jasper replied, clearly unconvinced.
He gave me one last curious look before walking off.
Silence settled again—but it felt different now.
Lighter.
"So," I said, breaking it. "What were you saying before?"
Felix looked at me for a moment, like he was deciding something.
Then he shook his head slightly. "Another time."
"That's not fair."
"Maybe," he said. "But it's true."
I sighed. "You're frustrating."
"I've been told that."
I should've been annoyed.
But I wasn't.
"Where's your next class?" he asked.
I told him, and he nodded. "Same direction."
Of course it was.
We started walking again—but this time, it felt less tense. Less like I was completely out of place.
Still out of place—but not alone.
As we reached the classroom, I paused at the door.
"Thanks," I said.
"For what?"
"For… not making today worse."
Something softened in his expression.
"Give it time," he said lightly. "The day's not over yet."
I rolled my eyes. "That's not reassuring."
He smiled.
And just like that, I felt it again—that strange pull, that quiet shift I couldn't explain.
"See you around, Allison," he said.
"Yeah," I replied. "See you."
I walked into class, trying to focus on anything else.
But as I took my seat, one thought refused to leave my mind.
Maybe coming here wasn't just about proving I belonged.
Maybe it was about something else entirely.
Something I hadn't planned for.
And judging by the way Felix kept finding his way into my day…
Whatever it was, it was only just beginning.