Zane Lockwood wasn't just any kid. He was the son of one of the richest families in the city. His father, a well-known business magnate, and his mother, a famous fashion designer, expected him to follow in their prestigious footsteps. But Zane had different dreams. He didn't want to manage companies or design clothes—he wanted to sing. Music was his escape, his passion, the one thing that made him feel alive amidst the luxury he never asked for. At fourteen, he spent most of his free time writing songs, practicing his guitar, and imagining himself performing on stage.
One afternoon, on his way home from middle school, Zane overheard something that stopped him in his tracks. He was walking down the hallway when the sound of mocking laughter caught his attention. Turning the corner, he saw a group of boys cornering a girl near the lockers. Her body was tense, and her eyes were downcast as they hurled insults and laughed at her expense.
"Hey, leave her alone!" Zane shouted, stepping forward without thinking twice.
The boys stopped, surprised. One of them, a tall kid named Lucas, sneered at Zane. "What's your problem, Lockwood? Rich boy's got a heart?"
Zane didn't back down. "Yeah, and it tells me you guys are being jerks."
The girl, a quiet and shy figure Zane recognized from his science class, looked up with wide, tear-filled eyes. Her name was Lily, and she'd always kept to herself.
Lucas shoved Zane's shoulder. "Stay out of this, Lockwood. You don't know anything."
Zane squared his shoulders. "Doesn't matter. Bullying isn't cool."
Before Zane knew it, fists were flying. Lucas and his friends were on him in seconds, and though Zane wasn't much of a fighter, he refused to back down. His father had always taught him to stand up for what was right. It didn't take long for teachers to notice the scuffle and pull them apart, dragging everyone to the principal's office.
Sitting outside the principal's office, Zane felt a sinking feeling. His parents were going to be furious—fighting wasn't something the Lockwoods tolerated, even for a good cause. But what bothered him more was Lily's silence. She hadn't said a word since the fight broke out. She sat on a bench nearby, clutching her backpack, her face pale and her eyes darting nervously.
When the principal finally called them in, Zane expected Lily to speak up, to explain what had happened. But when asked about the incident, she just stared at the floor, biting her lip. The principal sighed. "Fighting is unacceptable, Zane. You know better than to resort to violence, no matter the situation."
Zane was about to protest when he noticed Lucas, sitting smugly beside them, giving Lily a threatening glare. And that's when it clicked—Lucas wasn't just a random bully. He was Lily's stepbrother. The way she cowered at his glance, the way her voice seemed frozen in her throat—it all made sense.
Zane clenched his fists, anger bubbling inside him. Lucas had her scared into silence, and because of that, Zane was the one in trouble.
"Well?" the principal asked, expecting an explanation.
Zane glanced at Lily again. He could see the fear in her eyes, the silent plea not to expose the truth. He sighed, defeated. "It was my fault," he said finally. "I started the fight."
The principal raised an eyebrow. "I see. I'll be calling your parents, Zane. This isn't like you."
As the meeting ended, Zane felt the weight of an unfair punishment on his shoulders. But when he walked out of the office