Kamsi's breath hitched as she stormed up the stairs, her mind a whirlwind of anger and confusion. The air was cold, and the rooftop door creaked loudly as she shoved it open, stepping out into the stillness of the night. She felt like a pressure cooker ready to explode—her fists clenched by her sides, her heart pounding with frustration.
"Screw you, Washington DC International School!" Her voice echoed across the empty rooftop, sharp and full of venom. She didn't care who heard her; she just needed to release the tidal wave of emotion crashing through her. She had had enough of everything—of being underestimated, dismissed, and pushed aside.
"Screw you, Xavier! Screw you all!" Her words burned like fire on her tongue, the repetition of her anger almost comforting as it left her lips. She felt the fury spread through her, hotter and louder with each word.
Her outburst was raw, uncontrolled, and just when she thought she couldn't scream any louder, a voice broke through the chaos.
"Keep it down, young lady."
Kamsi froze. Her blood ran cold at the unexpected interruption. Slowly, she turned, eyes wide, her breath catching in her throat. Standing there in the dim light was none other than Alexander Marshall.
She blinked, certain she hadn't seen him up here before. He stood with a calmness that immediately made her feel small, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions raging within her. Alexander wasn't someone she knew personally—he was a senior, someone she had only seen in passing. The few times their paths had crossed, he'd seemed distant, an enigma shrouded in mystery. And now, of all places, here he was—on the school rooftop, crouched down among a pile of discarded drama props and cardboard boxes, as if this was his secret spot.
She felt heat rise in her cheeks, the embarrassment flooding her chest as she realized her outburst had interrupted his solitude. Her lips parted to apologize, but no words came out at first.
"I'm sorry," she muttered, her voice small, her gaze dropping to the ground as she tried to steady herself. "I didn't know you were here."
Alexander simply gave a casual, unbothered smile, one that didn't seem to hold any judgment or reproach. He shrugged it off with an ease that was almost disarming.
"It's cool," he said in his usual quiet tone, standing up and brushing off his clothes with a nonchalant gesture. "I was getting bored anyway."
Kamsi blinked in surprise, still processing the fact that he wasn't upset. What was someone like Alexander Marshall—mysterious, composed, and a senior no less—doing on a rooftop like this, especially hidden among cardboard and random stage props? He seemed entirely out of place, a stark contrast to the polished image she'd always assumed he maintained.
"What's got you so worked up?" he asked, his voice steady, a soft curiosity in his words. He wiped a speck of dirt off his sleeve, looking at her with an expression that didn't carry the usual air of superiority she expected from someone like him.
Kamsi hesitated. She wasn't even sure how to begin. She barely knew him—she'd only encountered him twice before, and both times, their interactions had been brief and indifferent. He had always seemed distant, detached even, and there was still an undeniable tension between him and Xavier. Kamsi wasn't sure why, but she felt like this was all so… wrong. Why was Alexander even here, of all places?
The question seemed to linger in the air between them, making Kamsi's discomfort grow. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words stuck in her throat. She couldn't explain why she was so angry—everything had been piling up on her lately, and she had no outlet for it. And now, here was Alexander, standing so calmly in the middle of her chaos, not knowing how to help or if he even wanted to.
Alexander must have sensed her hesitation because his smile softened, turning knowing. He nodded, almost to himself, like he understood more than she thought.
"Just a piece of advice," he said, his voice still surprisingly gentle, his eyes steady as he looked at her. "Don't let them get to you."
His words hung in the air, and for a moment, Kamsi could do nothing but stare at him, bewildered. It wasn't the advice she had expected to hear from someone like him. Alexander Marshall was notorious for being quiet and aloof, someone who had a reputation for not getting involved. So why was he speaking to her like this? His calm demeanor seemed out of place against the storm of emotions she'd been carrying around.
He smiled again, this time warmer, as if to brush off the awkwardness of the moment. Without waiting for a response, he turned and began walking toward the door, his pace unhurried, as if everything was just… normal.
Kamsi watched him go, her mind racing. She hadn't expected that. His calm, almost detached presence had somehow soothed her. As he left, a strange sense of peace settled over her, and she realized just how badly she needed it.
She stood there for a while, the air cooling her anger, the weight of his words lingering in her chest.
Alexander was so different from Xavier—so unbothered by the drama, so calm in the face of everything. Xavier's intensity and anger seemed to smother her at times, but Alexander's quiet assurance had left her feeling oddly… lighter.
She wasn't sure if that was good or bad. But it made her question everything she thought she knew about him.
Kamsi stood there, still processing the conversation with Alexander, when the sound of footsteps broke her thoughts. She tensed, expecting the usual faces—maybe someone from the T3—but when she turned, it was Gilbert.
He walked over, giving her a long, questioning look. "You okay?" he asked, his voice still calm but laced with a sense of concern.
Kamsi quickly wiped the remnants of her tears, trying to force a smile. "Yeah, just... needed some space."
Gilbert raised an eyebrow, scanning the rooftop. "Perhaps this place is good for letting your bottled emotions out," he said, glancing around, "but you know what it's not good for?"
Kamsi furrowed her brows in question. "What's that?"
"Celebrating," he said with a small grin, holding up a piece of paper. It was her test results. Her stomach sank, but Gilbert's teasing smile kept the moment from feeling too heavy.
Kamsi let out a breath, relief flooding her as she took the paper from him. Her eyes skimmed the results—she had done better than she thought, especially considering the stress she'd been under. A faint smile tugged at her lips despite herself.
"Congrats," Gilbert said, his voice light but warm. "I guess you owe me a treat after all."
Kamsi chuckled softly, the tension that had been building inside her finally starting to lift. "I guess so," she said, the weight of everything else fading for just a moment.
Together, they walked toward the stairs, their footsteps echoing in the quiet of the night. The frustration and confusion that had clouded Kamsi's mind seemed a little lighter now. Gilbert, always the unpredictable source of lightheartedness, had a way of shifting the mood.