The hallway stretched endlessly, silent except for the quiet tap of our shoes against the polished floor. At the far end, the president waited—calm, unreadable, as if he owned the air around him.
I squared my shoulders. Adrian muttered something under his breath about "this is going to end badly," and Mila clutched my arm.
"President," I called, voice steady despite my pounding heart. "We need to talk."
He didn't move. Didn't blink. Just stared.
"Talk?" he said finally, his tone sharp. "Or lecture me on manners?"
"Both," I shot back, stepping forward. "You think you can scare everyone with that smirk, that 'I-own-this-school' act. Not me."
A faint smile tugged at his lips—one that didn't reach his eyes.
"Not many dare to say that," he said. "Especially not freshmen."
"Freshmen? We just signed up for survival, not a monarchy," I said. "And we're not your chess pieces. We don't bend."
He tilted his head, studying me. There was curiosity there now, beneath the usual cold control.
"I see," he said slowly. "So this is why… everyone whispers about you. You have fire."
"Fire keeps you alive," I said. "You might want to try it sometime."
He stepped closer, the hallway shrinking around us. "You're… unusual. Bold. Reckless. Maybe too much for this place."
"Maybe," I said, staring him down. "But that's exactly why I won't be controlled."
The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable. It was electric. He finally gave a small, almost approving nod.
"You're not like anyone else here," he said quietly. "I think… I like that."
I blinked, unsure if I'd heard him right. Adrian muttered "Uh-oh," from behind me. Mila froze. Bella peeked around, mouth open.
"I—like that?!" I asked incredulously.
"Yes," he said, his tone casual, but there was an edge of something… personal. "And I think you'll be a problem. The kind I can't ignore."
My stomach twisted. He wasn't threatening me—exactly. But this… fascination in his gaze? It was new. Dangerous. And weirdly thrilling.
I crossed my arms, trying to hide the flush rising in my cheeks. "Problem? Good. Keep noticing me, and maybe we'll both survive Black Hollow a little longer."
He laughed softly, a sound that made the hairs on my arms stand up. "Careful, Jay. Survival isn't just about courage. Sometimes it's about knowing when to fight… and when to follow."
I smirked. "And sometimes it's about knowing when to challenge."
He paused. And for a moment, I saw something behind the president's calm, untouchable façade—interest. Respect. Something I couldn't quite name.
"Not many," he said finally, stepping back, "make me feel… intrigued. Keep that fire. You'll need it."
I rolled my eyes, trying to hide the tiny thrill running through me. "Noted, Mr. President. But just so you know—I don't do fire half-heartedly."
He smiled faintly, turning and walking away, leaving a trail of whispers behind him. The hallway seemed emptier suddenly. And yet… somehow, I felt like we'd just started something that neither of us could walk away from.
Lyra nudged me. "That was… intense."
"Intense?" I echoed, voice low. "That was fireworks."
Adrian groaned. "Yeah, and we're all standing too close to the explosion."
I watched the president disappear around the corner, and for the first time since arriving at Black Hollow, I wasn't just thinking about survival. I was thinking about him. And that scared me more than any ghost or rule this school could throw at us.