The rest of the day passed surprisingly fast.
After Miley left—pretending to be furious that Angel still refused to tell her what had been bothering her—Angel spent most of the afternoon alone in her room.
She tried focusing on her assignment but every few minutes her mind wandered back to the same thing.
The Blackthorne Clock Tower.
The dream.
The green-eyed boy.
The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became.Nothing made sense.
By evening, she still hadn't left her room Well... except once.
And that was only because Max was blasting music so loudly that the vibrations were practically shaking her bedroom walls.
Angel had stormed into his room without knocking.
"Turn on your soundproof walls!" she shouted.
Max barely looked up from his game.
"You know, most people knock before entering."
"You know, most people don't try to deafen their entire family."
He rolled his eyes and pressed a button.The music instantly became quieter.
Satisfied, Angel left.
Later that evening, a maid knocked on her door.
"Dinner is ready, Miss Dove."
"I'm not hungry," Angel replied.
The maid looked like she wanted to argue but eventually nodded and left.
A few minutes later, another knock came.
Angel groaned.
"I said I'm not—"
The door opened.Max walked in carrying a tray.Without a word, he placed it on her desk.Angel stared at him.He stared back.
"Eat," he said simply.
Then he turned around and left.The door clicked shut behind him.
Angel looked down at the tray.A small smile appeared on her face.
"Idiot," she muttered.
That night she fell asleep almost immediately.And once again...She dreamed.
Of the tower. Of endless ticking clocks.And of green eyes watching her from the shadows.
*******"*******
The next morning, a sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled into the parking lot of Westbridge Academy.
The moment it stopped, heads turned. Students paused mid-conversation. Others openly stared.Some even pulled out their phones.
The driver's door opened first before Max stepped out lazily, sunglasses resting on his nose.
A second later Angel emerged from the other side.
Golden curls framed her face while the morning sunlight made her green eyes appear almost unreal.
Whispers instantly spread through the crowd.
"The Dove's are here."
"They look like models."
"Did you see Angel's necklace?"
"Oh my God, Max looked at me."
The Dove family wasn't just rich.
They were old money.
The kind of wealth that stretched back generations.
The kind that built companies, owned estates, and appeared in history books.
Their family name carried influence in both America and Europe.
Some people joked that if royalty still existed in New York, the Doves would be sitting on the throne.
Angel ignored the attention as she adjusted her bag.
She had grown up with people staring.
At this point she barely noticed anymore.
"Try not to start any fights today," Max said lazily.
Angel snorted.
"Try not to throw any parties."
Max smirked.
"Can't promise that."
They headed inside.
Almost immediately, Angel spotted Miley waiting by the lockers.
Miley crossed her arms dramatically.
"I am still mad at you."
Angel rolled her eyes.
"No you're not."
"I absolutely am."
"Nope."
Miley held her serious expression for exactly three seconds before breaking into a grin.
"Okay fine. I'm not."
Angel laughed.
"That was fast."
"I missed gossiping with you."
The two girls linked arms and headed toward class together while students watched them pass.
Miley's family wasn't far behind the Doves when it came to wealth.
Together, the two girls were practically social royalty at Westbridge Academy.
By lunchtime they had finished cheer practice and were heading toward the locker rooms when a familiar voice called out.
"Angel!"
The girls turned.
Calvin jogged toward them with John, Nathan, and Max behind him.
"Want to grab lunch at the mall?" Calvin asked.
Miley immediately nodded.
"Definitely."
Angel tried not to look too pleased.
"Sure."
Half an hour later, they arrived at one of the most expensive cafés in the city.
The moment Angel stepped inside, her good mood vanished.
Ariana was sitting at the table.
Beside her sat Molly.
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
Ariana smiled brightly the moment Calvin sat beside her.
Molly's attention remained fixed entirely on Max.
Angel immediately wanted to leave.
For the next twenty minutes, Ariana laughed at everything Calvin said.
Even things that weren't funny.
Meanwhile Molly kept trying—and failing—to get Max's attention.
Max responded with his usual level of enthusiasm.
Which was none.
Eventually Angel had enough.
"I'm leaving."
Miley immediately stood.
"I'll come with you."
The two girls exited the café together.
The moment they reached the mall entrance, Miley suddenly stopped.
"I need the restroom."
Angel groaned.
"Seriously?"
"I'll be two minutes."
Then she disappeared.
Angel sighed and continued walking alone.
Her thoughts drifted aimlessly until—
THUD.
She crashed directly into someone.
Her bag slipped from her shoulder.
Books scattered across the floor.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry—"
She looked up.
And froze.
Green eyes.
The exact same shade from her dreams.
For a moment the entire world seemed to stop moving.
The noise of the mall faded.
The people disappeared.
All Angel could see was him.
Golden hair. Sharp features.Those impossible green eyes.
The boy stared back just as surprised.
Neither of them spoke.
Neither seemed capable of it.
"Angel!"
Miley's voice suddenly echoed through the hallway.
Angel blinked.
The spell shattered.
She turned briefly toward her friend.
When she looked back—
A woman had appeared beside the boy.
She grabbed his arm and began pulling him toward the exit.
The boy glanced over his shoulder.
Their eyes met one final time. Green to Green.
And Angel could have sworn she felt a spark race through her entire body.
Then he was gone.