At Rothswood High School, lunchtime was frequently the loudest time of day. Students crowded the courtyard between the old brick buildings, sitting on the stone benches or the low walls that surrounded the central fountain.Conversations converged everywhere—laughing, talking, and grumbling about teachers. It appeared normal. It sounded typical. However, for Lena Hart, nothing had seemed normal in weeks. She sat on the fountain's edge, absentmindedly tracing the lip of her plastic cup and gazed at the rippling water below. Across from her, Naomi Cruz was working hard to keep the mood from falling into stillness.
"So then Coach literally said," Naomi continued animatedly, "that if I skipped practice again, I'd be kicked off the team." Lyra lifted her eyebrow."You skip practice every week." "That's not the point," Naomi objected. "The point is he's threatening my athletic career." Lyra snorted."You don't have an athletic career." Lena's lips trembled slightly. Naomi instantly pointed to her."See? "That was nearly a smile." Cassidy Blake stood by Naomi, leaning against the stone wall, keeping a close eye on Lena.
"You know you don't have to pretend everything's fine," Cassidy stated in response. Lena shrugged lightly. "I'm not pretending." Lyra leaned back on her hands next to her twin. "She is," Lyra replied plainly. Lena sighed. "Thank you for that." Lyra shrugged. "What? "I'm the honest one." The wind rustled through the oak trees that surrounded the courtyard. For a brief while, the talk died down.
Cassidy's focus drifted to the far end of the courtyard. "Well… speak of the devil." Lena maintained her stare. Two men were walking through the courtyard toward the main building.Lena recognised one of them immediately. The name is Lucas Calder. He was tall and confident, with dark hair that always looked like he had just brushed it. His easy smile had made him popular with nearly everyone at school. This includes Lena. Until the summertime. After her parents' deaths, their relationship began to deteriorate.Lucas had attempted to be helpful at first, but tragedy has a way of altering people.Conversations turned awkward. The distance expanded. The partnership eventually came to a quiet conclusion.
He looked uncomfortable merely seeing her.Mateo Reyes walked beside him. Mateo had a sharper edge than Lucas, who exuded comfortable assurance. Broader shoulders. Short, dark hair. His eyes were constantly intense, as if he were examining the world for a challenge. The Reyes family has always been known throughout town for this. Old blood. Old pride. The Reyes and Calder families were among Rothswood's founding families. Exactly like the Harts and Blake's. Mateo realised that Lena's group was watching them.
He moved close nearer Lucas and spoke something under his breath. Lucas paused slightly as he caught Lena's eyes. Lyra rolled her eyes quickly. "Oh, look," she mumbled. "The Calder prince." Naomi gently nudged Lena. "Do you want us to cause a scene?" Cassidy shrugged."I'm not opposed." Lena shook her head swiftly."Please don't." Lucas seemed to want to say something. But instead, he continued walking.Mateo cast a brief glance at the twins as they passed, his expression unreadable.
Lyra watched them leave with narrowed eyes."Coward," she mumbled. Lena breathed slowly.Before she could say anything — A low sound reverberated over the courtyard. It wasn't loud.But it went smoothly. Powerful. The calm purr of an automobile motor. Conversations in the courtyard faded as people turned toward the parking lot. Cassidy stood midway. "Okay… that's not a student car."
A sleek black automobile cautiously entered the parking area near the school's main entrance. It moved with silent precision before coming to a halt. Students near the fence leaned slightly to look. Naomi tilted her head. "Who's that?" The car stopped for a brief moment. Then the driver's door opened. A young man stepped outside. Tall.Dark hair. Sharp characteristics. He closed the door quietly, adjusting his jacket sleeve as if he had done it a thousand times before.
Something about him didn't fit the bustle of a high school courtyard. Something overly composed. Too controlled. Students around started whispering. Cassidy blinked. "Okay… wow." Naomi nodded slowly. "Definitely new."Lyra studied him more closely. "Yeah," she replied gently. "And definitely not from around here." The new pupil cast a peek toward the school building.Then his gaze moved across the courtyard. Over the groupings of pupils. Over the fountain. Until his gaze rested on Lena. For a little period, everything seemed eerily still. Lena frowned slightly. She did not recognise him. However, the way he looked at her... It seemed like he did.
The man's expression sparked with something unreadable before he calmly looked away. He began going toward the school door. Cassidy grasped Naomi's arm. "Please tell me he's in our grade." Naomi laughed softly. Lyra was still observing him. Something about the stranger made her feel nervous. Instinct. He had an unsettling feeling about himself. But she couldn't say why. As the new student walked through the school gates, the breeze moved softly across the courtyard trees. Because Adrian Vale had recently returned to Rothswood. Whether the town knew it or not. One of its oldest secrets had recently resurfaced. 🌙