Lyra followed Sienna down the hall toward their classroom. When they arrived, the door was open, and students had already taken their seats. Most of the desks were full, except for a single seat by the window at the far end.
The teacher, a tall woman with glasses on the peak on her nose, looked up as Lyra walked in.
"Ah, you must be the new student," she said.
From the back of the room, a boy whistled loudly and a ripple of laughter ran through the class.
"Who did that?" she asked. The class went silent. "Sit by the window, dear. It's the only seat left."
She walked over to the window seat, feeling every eye in the room on her. Sienna was already across the classroom, seated in the middle row, their seats were far from each other so there was no chance to talk.
Lyra's eyes wandered out the window. Not too far from the classroom, she noticed a tall, stone building.
A massive gate separated it from the rest of the campus, and it looked totally off limits.
There was something strange about Ravencrest, and she already felt that she was only just beginning to see it.
...
Class ended soon, and the students rushed out into the hallways. Lyra followed Sienna, heading toward the cafeteria.
"Here, this is the best spot." Sienna giggled, placing her tray on the table as they sat.
Murmurs erupted in the hall as a loud noise was heard, there was a small commotion near the middle tables.
A timid-looking boy with round glasses was being cornered by some other students. Typical, every highschool had these kind of people, who thought it was fun and self-satisfactory to prey on the weak.
"Go on, eat." The timid boy knelt on the ground and slowly picked up the crumbs on the floor with his mouth.
"That's Edward. He's been to the high-class dorms before. Think of him like... a messenger for them. He gets a taste of their power and influence, and it makes him feel untouchable."
"So he's bullying people because of that?"
"Exactly, he thinks it makes him bigger than everyone else. Most of the normal students just step aside when he's around, especially if he's had that kind of backing. Honestly, you don't want to get on his bad side." Sienna said, amid chewing her food, acting like nothing was happening.
"And this is okay?"
"Just a warning. The high-class dorms isn't just a fancy building. They give certain students leverage, even over people like Edward."
The hierarchy was already clear, this was just her second day at Ravencrest, and she was already regretting having herself involved.
***
It was nighttime already, Sienna was already asleep, the room was quiet except for her steady breathing.
Lyra pulled out her phone and scrolled through Instagr@m, when a faint sound came in from outside.
Lyra paused, her thumb hovering over her screen. The noise came again, like a dying engine.
She stood up slowly and walked toward the window. Pulling the curtain aside just a little to have a look.
It was dark, but the courtyard lights were on. A guy stood beside a bike, one hand resting on the handle. His helmet hung loosely from his other hand with a cigarette between his fingers, the smoke spreading into the night air.
And suddenly, he looked up. Even from the slight distance, she knew he was looking straight at her.
His eyes...were bright, red? That wasn't possible, maybe the lights were playing with her eyes.
He lifted the cigarette, tapped it once against the ground, and crushed it beneath his shoe. Without looking away, he put on his helmet, swung onto the bike and rode off.
Lyra stepped back, her heart beating faster than she expected. She glanced at Sienna, who was still asleep, then back at the window.
---
It's been a week since she transferred to Ravencrest, and she was already adapting to the place.
Lyra was tucked in the corner of the library, she was writing again. The quietness of the library made it easier to think and write her novel.
After a while, she stood to grab a book from the shelf. She reached up, her fingers brushing a thick hardcover, when something caught her eye.
Across the aisle, a pair of bright blue eyes stared straight at her.
Lyra froze and her stomach did a little flip, she didn't even know it could do that.
"Hi," the boy said with a slight smile.
"Hi," she said softly, looking down at the book in her hands.
He leaned casually against the shelf, a smile at the side of his lips. He was incredibly handsome. His blazer, the glow of his shirt and his shoes...it all screamed money. Lyra guessed immediately that he must be one of the high-class students.
"I don't think I've seen you around before. You're new, right?" he asked.
"Uh… yeah," she murmured, feeling her cheeks heat up. "I just transferred."
He smiled, and it was one of those smile that made her question why she found it charming.
"Ravencrest can be… kind of a lot at first. Big campus, all the rules… it can hit you in the face."
"Yeah, it's… a lot."
"Don't worry too much. It's confusing, but you'll get used to it. Most people just figure out the rules by watching what others do. Makes life a little easier."
"Are you… one of the high-class students everyone's talking about?"
He laughed softly, like it was a question he'd heard a hundred times. "Guilty as charged. I'm Adrian." He said, offering his hand.
"Lyra." She shook it gently.
"Nice to meet you, Lyra. So… what's with all the writing? Are you some kind of author?" How long had he been there? Had he been watching her?
"I… just like to write."
"I get that," he said. "I read too, but I usually end up people-watching instead. Way more entertaining than any book." He winked.
"People-watching… yeah, I can see that."
He glanced at the book in her hands. "Good choice. That one's a classic. You'll like it. Hey, if you ever need someone to help find other books… I know where everything is."
"Thanks," Lyra said softly.
"Anytime," he said, giving her a small nod before walking down the aisle, leaving her staring at the shelf and the book in her hands.
Her heart was still racing. This time, it wasn't just the normal 'new girl nerves.' There was something about Adrian that made her want to see him again.