Nathan's POV
I'm late, as usual. Not because I overslept or anything-I just like to make an entrance. And today, it's a big one.
The low, roar of my Bugatti Veyron cloud through the school parking lot as I pull in, slowly enough to make sure every single person see me.
The sleek black car gleams under the sun, its curves catching every bit of light. I roll to a stop near the entrance, and the effect is undeniably captivating.
Heads turn, conversations halt, and phones are whipped out. Just like I like it.
"Is that Nathan?"
"Oh my God, it's him!"
"I can't believe I go to school with someone who drives that."
I hear it all, every whispered admiration and jealous murmur.
A couple of girls on the side giggle and pretend to glance away like they're not completely losing it. A few guys nearby look pissed, muttering under their breath. I don't need to hear what they're saying-I already know.
They hate that I can do this, that I have the power to stop everything with just my presence.
And I love it.
I step out of the car, taking my time, letting the cool morning air hit me.
I am an expert at this.
I know how this works. Every movement of mine feeds into the spectacle they're so desperate to watch.
Sunglasses on, jacket slung casually over my shoulder-I don't need to try. I'm just built for this.
The whispers grow louder as I walk toward the main building. I catch bits and pieces of conversations.
"Do you think he even notices us?"
"He's so hot. Like, ridiculously hot."
"I heard his dad owns half the city."
I smirk to myself, pretending I don't hear any of it. It's better that way-let them think I'm untouchable. Let them wonder if I even know they exist.
A few girls in my path try to catch my attention, flipping their hair or giving me shy smiles.
One of them fakes dropping her book right in front of me.
Classic move.
I step around her without a second glance.
The truth is, they all blend together.
Same giggles, same desperate need to be noticed. None of them are worth my time. Not when I've already claimed this entire school as my kingdom.
As I push open the heavy glass doors to the main building, the familiar sounds of lockers slamming and chatter fill the air.
This is my domain.
The hallways, the classrooms, the cafeteria-every square inch of this place belongs to me.
"Nate!"
I turn at the sound of my name, and there they are: Gajeel, Aiden, and Gray.
My minions.
The only people here who come close to matching my level.
Gajeel's the muscle, tall and intimidating, with a perpetual scowl that could scare off anyone.
Aiden's the charmer, always grinning and smooth-talking his way into trouble.
And Gray? He's the brains. Calm, calculating, and always one step ahead of everyone else.
Together, we're untouchable.
"You're late," Gajeel says with a smirk, punching me lightly on the shoulder.
"Fashionably," I reply, shrugging.
"Typical," Aiden laughs. "Make 'em wait, right?"
"Gotta keep things interesting," I say, my tone casual, but inside I'm basking in their attention.
The four of us start walking down the hallway, our footsteps echoing in sync. Students part like the Red Sea as we pass.
Some lower their heads, avoiding eye contact. Others sneak glances, whispering as we go by.
"It's good to be king, huh?" Aiden says, nudging me.
"It has its perks," I reply with a smirk, but the truth is, it's more than that.
Being on top isn't just a perk-it's a necessity. This school runs on hierarchy, and I'm at the very top. Respect, fear, admiration-I've earned all of it.
We're halfway to our usual spot by the lockers when something catches my eye. A flicker of movement, soft and hesitant.
Abigail.
She's walking down the hallway, clutching a stack of books to her chest, her head slightly bowed like she's trying to disappear into the crowd. Her hair falls around her face in loose waves, and her steps are quick, purposeful.
For a moment, I freeze.
What the hell is she doing here? Not just in the hallway-I mean here, in my world. She doesn't belong in this school, in this life, in my world. And yet, there she is, walking past like she has every right to.
"Nate?" Gray's voice snaps me out of it.
"What?" I say, too quickly.
"You good?"
"Yeah, yeah," I mutter, shaking it off.
I glance back at Abigail, but she's already turned the corner, disappearing from view. Good. The farther away she is, the better.
I turn my attention back to my friends, but the distraction lingers. There's something about her-something irritating, something... I don't even know. It's not like I care or anything. She's just another clueless girl in a game I've already mastered.
"Anyway," I say, forcing a smirk,
"we're still on for the game later, right?"
But Gray isn't buying it. He narrows his eyes at me, his lips twitching into a sly grin.
"So," he starts, drawing out the word,
"about that pink journal..."
I get tense immediately, but I keep my expression neutral.
"What journal?" I say, playing dumb.
"The one you swiped from Abigail's locker," Gray presses, clearly enjoying himself.
"Yeah," Aiden chimes in, grinning.
"What's the plan with that?"
"I saw you grab it," Gajeel adds, laughing. "What's in it? Secrets? Crushes? Come on, spill."
I shrug, trying to look disinterested.
"It's nothing," I lie smoothly. "Just some boring stuff about classes or whatever."
"Boring?" Gray raises an eyebrow.
"Then why'd you take it?"
I'm about to come up with some excuse when the sound of the bell cuts through the air.
"Saved by the bell," I say quickly, using it as an escape. "We'll talk later."
They groan in unison but let it drop, and I make a mental note to come up with a better cover story before they bring it up again.
As we head to our respective classrooms, I feel the weight of the journal in my bag. I haven't opened it again, after last night.
The words I read that night are burned into my memory.
The fantasies. About me.
It should be funny, right? Laughable, even. And yet, it's not. Instead, it feels... complicated.
Abigail doesn't belong in my world.
She doesn't belong in my head. And yet, here we are.
I slip into my seat, the teacher droning on about something I don't care about, but my thoughts keep drifting back to her.