Sam's POV
The moment the bell rang, the hallways erupted again, a mix of chatter, laughter, and the occasional pointed whisper. I clutched my bag tighter as I made my way to my next class, forcing myself to breathe normally. My mind, however, refused to cooperate.
The note.
It wasn't your fault.
The words pulsed in my mind, echoing louder than the noise around me. Every step I took felt heavier as if the hallway itself was pressing down on me. Who had left it? And why? The thought that someone might be watching me sent a shiver down my spine.
I slid into the classroom, trying to melt into the empty corner at the back. Mr. Hudson, our literature teacher, was already scribbling something on the board, his glasses perched precariously on his nose. The morning sunlight streamed in through the tall windows, dust motes floating lazily in the air.
Everyone was here on time today. Almost everyone. Except Liam Fernandez, of course.
I tried to focus on the rows of desks, the orderly lines, the sound of chalk scratching the board. But I couldn't. My fingers itched to pull the note from my pocket, to read it again, to understand. Instead, I kept it hidden, trying to act normal.
A sudden shadow fell over my desk, and I looked up to find Liam Fernandez leaning casually against the edge of the blackboard. His dark eyes scanned the room before finally settling on me.
I froze.
"What are you staring at?" I muttered under my breath, not meaning to be loud.
"I'm making sure you're not hiding in the corner plotting another attack," he said with that infuriating smirk. "You're quiet today. I almost didn't recognize you."
I scowled. "And I almost didn't recognize you without someone whispering your name in every hallway."
His smirk widened. "Touché."
Despite myself, I felt a small thrill. It annoyed me that he could get under my skin so easily.
Then the whisper came again. That voice—soft, barely audible, yet unmistakable:
It wasn't your fault.
I jerked my head around, scanning the classroom. Nobody seemed to notice, not even Liam. But my heart hammered.
"You okay, Sam?" His voice cut through my thoughts. His dark gaze was sharp, piercing, and suddenly concerned.
"I'm fine," I said quickly, shoving the note further into my pocket.
He didn't look convinced. But he didn't press further either.
I could feel his eyes on me the entire class, like a shadow I couldn't shake. And though I tried to ignore it, I couldn't stop glancing back at him.
By the time Mr. Hudson assigned an in-class essay, my mind was elsewhere. My fingers moved on autopilot, writing words that seemed to spill out from a place I hadn't known existed. My emotions, my frustration, my hidden thoughts—they were all pouring onto the page.
It felt… liberating.
I glanced at Liam again, and this time, he was watching me, an unreadable expression on his face. For a brief moment, I wondered if he could see what I was writing, if he could somehow feel the turmoil I was trying to hide.
Liam's POV
I couldn't focus on anything today. Not lectures, not the chatter of students, not even the sight of Siya fluttering around with her fake smiles.
Because all I could think about was Sam .
She was quiet, keeping her head down, but there was fire in her. I'd seen it yesterday—the punch, the sudden anger, the raw intensity—and now I saw it again. It lingered in her movements, in the way she bit her lip as she wrote in that notebook, in the subtle tightening of her fingers on her bag strap.
She wasn't just another girl at St. Mary's. She was… different.
The note. I had noticed her pulling something from her pocket earlier. I didn't know what it was, but the way her eyes flicked around the classroom said it all. Someone had left her a message. And now, she was struggling with it, reading it over and over in her mind.
I wanted to ask what it said, but I couldn't. Asking meant interest. Interest meant… complications.
And my life already had enough complications.
Not to mention Siya, who had been glaring at Sam from across the cafeteria earlier, making sure everyone noticed she was displeased. I could already feel her jealousy simmering. It wasn't just the fight yesterday. It was the way people were starting to notice Sam, the way she carried herself, the way she wasn't afraid.
I wanted to protect her. I hated myself for that.
Because protecting her meant admitting that I cared. And I wasn't ready for that.
So I stayed silent. Watched. Waited. And kept my distance.
Sam's POV
The bell rang for lunch, and the tension in my chest didn't let up. I made my way to the cafeteria, ignoring the stares and whispers.
Siya was already seated with her clique, laughing in a way that made my stomach twist. She spotted me, and her smile widened—not friendly, but sharp, possessive.
I took my tray and moved to an empty corner, trying to find solitude amidst the chaos. But it was impossible. Liam Fernandez sat two tables away, pretending not to notice me, yet somehow managing to glance in my direction repeatedly.
I pulled the note from my pocket again. It wasn't your fault.
I traced the words with my finger, my heart aching. I didn't know why those words mattered so much, or why they made me feel both safe and unsettled at the same time.
Then I felt it again—a whisper in my mind, clearer than before:
Write it down. Show them who you are.
I froze. My pulse raced.
Someone knew. Someone was guiding me, or… watching me.
I didn't know whether to be terrified or grateful.
And then, across the cafeteria, I noticed her—Zoe. Chestnut curls bouncing as she laughed at something a friend said. She didn't know me yet. She wasn't part of this chaos. But something about her calm presence drew my attention.
I didn't understand it yet. But I would.
Author's POV
By the end of the lunch hour, the rumor mill had reached full speed. Sam Rivera's punches, her mysterious note, and the tension with Liam Fernandez had become the main topic of conversation. Some whispered about her bravery; others scoffed, labeling her reckless.
Siya's jealousy burned hotter with every passing glance, while Liam Fernandez remained enigmatic, watching, waiting, and silently unraveling his own feelings.
And somewhere near the back corner, Zoe noticed everything with quiet curiosity. She didn't know it yet, but soon, she'd be drawn into Sam and Liam's world, and the trio's bond would change everything.