CHAPTER TWO: NEW FACES, OLD SHADOWS
The school day had barely begun, but Ethan Carter already felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. As health perfect, football captain, and top student, he was expected to be everywhere at once—organizing, leading, smiling. But today, he just wanted quiet.
He slipped on his earphones and let the beat of his favorite hip-hop track drown out the noise around him. The corridors buzzed with students catching up after the break, their voices bouncing off the tiled walls. Ethan leaned against the railing near the science block, watching the crowd blur past.
"Ethan!" called Liam Turner, the head boy, striding toward him. "Prefect meeting. Mr. Dalton's office. Now."
Ethan sighed, pulled out his earphones, and followed Liam. As they approached the admin wing, two unfamiliar figures stepped out of the office. One was a man in a tailored suit, the other a woman with sunglasses perched on her head and lipstick too bold for a school setting. Between them stood a girl—no uniform, no smile, just a guarded expression.
"Who are they?" Liam whispered.
Ethan shrugged. "No idea."
The girl glanced at them briefly, then looked away. Something about her felt... off. Not in a bad way, just different.
Inside the office, Mr. Dalton handed out schedules and responsibilities for the term. Chores, assemblies, disciplinary duties. Ethan barely listened. His thoughts kept drifting back to the girl.
The next morning, the school was alive with chatter. Students gathered outside the hall, laughing and gossiping before assembly. Ethan moved through the crowd, trying to herd students into lines.
"No chains on trousers. No earrings for girls. Principal's orders," he reminded them.
Then he spotted Sophie Bennett standing with someone new. A girl with auburn hair and sharp eyes—Isla Morgan.
Ethan nudged Oliver Blake, who was adjusting his tie nearby. "Who's that with Sophie?"
"Oh, that's Isla," Oliver said. "Sophie mentioned her yesterday. She's new. Apparently, she went to our primary school."
Ethan frowned. "I don't remember her."
"Neither do I," Oliver admitted.
Sophie waved them over. "Hey, Isla—these are the boys I told you about. Ethan and Oliver."
Isla gave a polite nod. Oliver smiled shyly. "Nice to meet you," he said.
"I remember you," Isla replied. "You once put a dead bird on my desk."
Oliver's face turned red. "I don't recall…"
"You were a kid," Isla said with a smirk.
Sophie laughed. "Come on, Isla. Let me show you around."
As the girls walked off, Ethan watched them go. "I don't like her," he muttered.
Oliver raised an eyebrow. "You just met her."
"Exactly," Ethan said. "And she's already stirring things."
Later that day, Isla sat in the principal's office, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Mr. Ellison peered at her over his glasses.
"Your first day didn't go smoothly," he said.
"I'm sorry, sir," Isla replied. "I didn't mean to cause trouble."
"Teachers say you were in the wrong class. You didn't follow instructions."
"I was confused," she said. "I'm not a bad student. I promise I'll do better."
Mr. Ellison leaned back. "We'll be watching you. You'll meet with the counselor once a week. If you can cope, you stay. If not…"
"I understand," Isla said quietly.
"Good luck," he said.
She stood, nodded, and walked out.