Storm learned early in life that silence was safer than speaking.
It was easier to listen, to nod, to do exactly what was expected of him, at home, at school, everywhere. Expectations followed him like a shadow, heavy and unmoving. His parents called it discipline. Storm called it suffocating.
At school, though, things were different.
The bell rang sharply across the courtyard, and Storm barely had time to shoulder his bag before Niki slammed into him from the side.
"You're walking too slow," Niki complained, already grinning. "We're gonna be late."
"We're literally five minutes early," Storm muttered.
"That's late in my world."
Storm shook his head as Yuri stepped between them, effortlessly separating the two. Her expression was calm, but her eyes held the same quiet sharpness Storm recognized in himself—something that came from growing up too fast.
"Stop arguing," she said. "You both sound exhausting."
"Wow," CJ added from behind them, "attacked before first period. Brutal."
CJ slung an arm over Storm's shoulders, his weight familiar and grounding. Storm didn't shrug him off. He never did. These were his people, the ones who knew him before expectations and pressure and rules shaped him into someone quieter.
They'd been friends since they were three years old. Since scraped knees and shared lunches and promises that nothing would ever change.
Elias jogged up last, slightly out of breath, curls messy and tie crooked. "You guys didn't wait?"
"We did," Niki said. "You're just slow."
"I hate all of you."
Storm smiled faintly at that. It came easily with them. Real smiles. Ones he didn't have to think about.
They moved through the halls together like they always did, an unbreakable cluster that teachers recognized instantly. Some students stared. Others whispered. They didn't care. They never had.
Until this year.
"Did you hear?" CJ said as they stopped outside their lockers. "There's a new kid."
Niki scoffed. "There's always a new kid."
"No," Elias said, lowering his voice. "This one's apparently rich-rich."
Storm barely reacted. He twisted the lock on his locker, eyes focused. "So?"
"So," CJ continued, "he showed up this morning in a car worth more than my house."
"That's not hard," Niki said.
Yuri shot him a look. "Don't start."