Chapter Two:
Elian stood under the covered hallway, watching as students flowed into the building in loud groups. The morning air was already thick with noise, perfume, and gossip. His uniform clung to his skin from the slight heat, and the backpack on his shoulder felt heavier than usual.
His phone buzzed.
Kai (Elian's bestfriend)
> You survived Day One.
New school got anyone hot enough to distract you yet?
Elian smirked and typed back.
Elian
> Just noise and chaos. Same as always.
I'm not here to be distracted.
But that was a lie. He wasn't planning to be distracted… until Noa happened but he didn't know it yet.
He hadn't expected someone like him , sharp, unreadable, magnetic without trying. Elian still remembered the way Noah's eyes lingered a second too long yesterday. Like he saw straight through him.
"Elian!"
He turned just in time to catch a flash of long red hair and perfect lip gloss. A girl with wide hips and bold confidence strutted up to him.
"New boy," she purred. "I'm Malia. You're cute."
"Thanks," he replied flatly.
"I sit by the window in chem. Don't be shy if you need help." She let her fingers brush his arm before winking and walking off.
Elian rolled his eyes. Too obvious.
Inside class, the tension thickened. He found his seat,right next to Noa again. Of course.
Noa didn't speak, but his knee bounced. His brows were tight, focused on his notebook, though he hadn't written a word.
"Rough morning?" Elian asked, breaking the silence.
Noa looked up. "You're early."
"I always am."
Their eyes locked. Noa looked away first, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"Students," the teacher called, entering with an announcement. " As I said yesterday we've started pairing people for the inter-class project this term. You'll work in pairs for the next four weeks. Choose carefully, this is your final chance to change partners,cause I had some complains yesterday regarding people not wanting to pair with their current partners."
Few groans and excited chatter filled the room.
Elian didn't move. Neither did Noah.
"I'm with him," Noah said finally, nodding toward Elian.
The teacher raised a brow. "Volunteering already? Noted."
Elian's chest tightened, but he didn't object.
When the bell rang, they left the classroom together, the silence between them loaded with something they couldn't name.
At lunch, Elian sat on the edge of the courtyard wall, poking at his food. He wasn't hungry. He was listening.
Malia was back, laughing loudly at a table with her group. Across from her sat another new face , lean, smug, with striking blue eyes and a resting smirk that said I know your secrets. His name was Jace, and from what Elian overheard, he had history with Noah.
"He's always so cold," Malia was saying. "But maybe new boy can thaw him,cause I see him peep at him."
"Oh please," Jace scoffed. "Noah doesn't thaw. He freezes."
Malia's eyes sparkled. "Maybe that's what makes it fun."
Elian didn't react. But inside, a spark of something unfamiliar flickered , Anger!
What do these people take him for , he thought.
But ,he shoved it down.
After school, Elian lingered in the hallway, phone in hand.
Kai
> You okay?
You ghosted me.
Elian
> I'm fine. Just…
Something about this school is strange.
Kai
> Strange good or strange bad?
Elian
> I'll tell you when I figure it out.
There's this guy…
He stared at the message before deleting that last part.
No. Not yet.
Behind him, a voice spoke. "You walk home?"
Elian turned. It was Noa.
"Yeah. You?"
"I take the long route."
"Why?"
"It's quieter."
Elian started walking, and Noa joined him. They didn't say much, but the silence between them felt heavy. Loaded.
As they reached the corner of the street where their paths split, Noa stopped. "You don't have to talk much to say a lot, do you?"
Elian raised an eyebrow. "Was that a compliment?"
Noah's lips lifted just a little. "Maybe."
"We'll meet tomorrow after school tomstart with the project."
Then he turned and walked away, hands in his pockets.
Elian stood there for a long second, his heartbeat slightly faster than it should've been.
He wasn't sure if it was curiosity or danger that pulled him toward Noah.
But either way,it's whatever at this point.