Adrien didn't sleep that night.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Riyan's expressionless face…
those calm eyes that looked straight through him…
and the quiet warning that somehow felt worse than an actual threat.
By morning, Oakridge High looked even more suffocating.
Whispers began the moment he stepped inside.
"He talked to Riyan yesterday."
"Why would Crest bother with him?"
"What did the new kid do?"
Adrien kept his head down, gripping his backpack tighter.
He didn't want attention.
He didn't want trouble.
He didn't want to be involved with the Crest siblings at all.
But Oakridge High had already made that choice for him.
---
### **The Classroom Shift**
When he entered class, the atmosphere felt… different.
Students didn't block him.
They didn't shove him.
They didn't mock him.
They just watched.
As if waiting to see what Riyan Crest's "new interest" would do next.
Adrien sat in the same corner seat hesitantly.
His hands trembled slightly.
A boy leaned toward his friend and whispered just loud enough:
"That's the seat. Riyan's seat."
Adrien froze.
Before he could move, Naomi walked in.
She glanced at Adrien… then at the whispered conversation… then at the boy.
Her stare alone shut him up instantly.
Naomi didn't say anything.
She simply took her place two rows behind Adrien, like nothing had happened.
But the message was loud.
**Don't bother him.**
Adrien didn't know whether to feel relieved… or more terrified.
---
### **A Warning… Again**
Between classes, Adrien stopped by the water fountain.
He was just taking a sip when a shadow fell over him.
He didn't need to look up to know who it was.
**Riyan Crest.**
Calm.
Cold.
Unreadable as always.
Adrien straightened immediately.
Riyan didn't waste time.
"You sat there again."
Adrien felt his heart jump.
"I—there was no place left—"
"I'm not angry," Riyan said quietly.
His voice was soft, but each word cut clean.
"That seat isn't the problem."
Adrien frowned. "Then… what is?"
Riyan stepped closer.
"People are watching you now.
You don't understand the lines here… but they do.
One wrong move and they'll use you as an excuse."
Adrien whispered,
"I'm trying to stay out of everything."
"That's not possible anymore."
The hallway noise seemed to disappear around them.
Riyan added, lower than before,
"Just don't stand with the wrong people. Oakridge eats those first."
Before Adrien could respond, Riyan walked away, as if the conversation had been nothing.
---
### **Someone Notices**
Classes ended.
Adrien was leaving the building when someone caught his arm gently.
Naomi.
"You okay?" she asked.
Adrien wasn't sure how to answer.
"I didn't mean to get involved with any of you. I just… came here to study."
Naomi sighed softly.
"That's the problem, Adrien. Oakridge doesn't care about your intentions."
He hesitated.
"Why did your brother—"
"He's not targeting you," Naomi cut in.
"He's just… warning you before someone worse does."
Adrien looked down.
"Why would he warn me at all?"
Naomi opened her mouth… then closed it.
She didn't have an answer, or maybe she wasn't willing to give one.
Instead, she simply said,
"Just stay aware. You're not invisible here anymore."
She let go of his arm and walked away.
Adrien stood alone, the weight of the entire school pressing on him.
Riyan hadn't threatened him.
Naomi hadn't comforted him.
But both had made one thing painfully clear—
**In Oakridge High, once someone like Riyan Crest notices you…
you don't get to choose peace anymore.**