Alex stood in front of the mirror, his reflection staring back at him with a cold, unflinching gaze. He wished, just for once, that life could be better—that things would take a turn for the better. But it seemed that every time he hoped for a reprieve, it only got worse. No one liked him. No one ever did. He just wanted to be left alone, to live his life on his own terms. But they didn't allow him that. The constant bullying, the snide remarks, the disdain, all of it piled on top of him until he felt like he would burst.
His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms, drawing small beads of blood. The rage was suffocating, filling his lungs with fire. He raised his fist, ready to smash the mirror in front of him, to break the last remnant of his fragile composure.
But then a voice interrupted him.
"Break it and get expelled right before your graduation."
The calm, almost teasing tone stopped Alex in his tracks. He turned, his heart still pounding in his chest, and his breath caught when he saw the figure standing just a few feet behind him.
The guy was young, his face almost angelic, with flawless skin and features that seemed too perfect to be real. He was breathtaking. Beauty didn't seem to do him justice—it was as though he had stepped out of a dream, a vision too perfect for this cruel, broken world. His hair was a soft shade of brown, cascading in gentle waves, and his eyes were a mesmerizing shade of blue that seemed to hold an endless depth.
"You may not know me, Alex," the guy said, a small smile playing on his lips. "My name is Nathan."
Alex blinked, trying to process what was happening. Nathan? The name didn't ring any bells. Was he a student at the school? Did they have any classes together?
"Are you from our class?" Alex asked, his voice hoarse from the strain of holding back his emotions.
Nathan chuckled softly, his laugh smooth and melodic, as if he found the question amusing. "Hmm, I am. In fact, I've always had an interest in you—your weird behavior, the way you're always lost in thought, your obsession with horror books. And, of course, the way you're bullied. But trust me when I say this, Alex—I like you, man. And I'm here to tell you that the days of bullying are over. From now on, you're going to be a sought-after student."
Alex's eyes widened, shock overtaking his features. Friend? Was this guy planning something? Because even his so-called best friend, Ethan, hadn't been able to help him. And now, out of nowhere, a complete stranger was offering him help?
Seeing the doubt in Alex's eyes, Nathan stepped closer, his expression soft but determined. "You see, Alex, don't trust that guy—Ethan. If he were really your best friend, why didn't he help you? Why did he leave you to endure all this suffering alone? So, here I am, offering you a chance to rise above all of that, and now you're doubting me?"
Alex stared at him, unsure of what to say. Nathan's words struck a chord deep within him. He looked at Nathan's blue eyes and saw something he hadn't seen in a long time: sincerity. This guy genuinely cared about him, more than anyone had in years. More than Ethan ever did.
After a long pause, Alex finally spoke, his voice low. "Okay. I accept. So… what do you propose we do?"
A wide smile spread across Nathan's face, and without warning, he stepped forward and hugged Alex tightly. The sudden warmth and closeness caught Alex off guard, but he didn't resist. It had been so long since anyone had shown him any kindness, and the weight of it caused him to choke back tears.
"I knew you'd come around," Nathan said softly, his voice filled with reassurance. "Here's the plan. The school is organizing a get-together for us final-year seniors. It's going to be the biggest event of the year. I want you to come and prove to everyone that you're better than those spoiled brats who torment you. Show them the real you."
Alex managed a small smile, but the doubt still lingered in his mind. "What about you? Won't they bully you too, for helping me? That's what Ethan was always afraid of."
Nathan let out a small laugh and pulled back, looking Alex straight in the eyes. "Don't worry about me. Trust me, I can handle myself. Meet me at the school park later—we've got a lot to do, starting with a makeover."
The mention of a makeover made Alex chuckle softly, though tears still streamed down his face. He felt overwhelmed by the sudden kindness. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice cracking. "Thank you. No one's ever done anything like this for me before. I… I'll never forget it."
Nathan smiled again, and together, they walked out of the restroom, side by side, leaving the shattered remains of Alex's anger and self-hatred behind them.
Meanwhile, across the school, Isabella was sitting at her desk, idly fixing her hair with a small mirror she always carried. Her lips curved into a slight smirk as she admired her reflection. But her phone buzzed, breaking her moment of vanity. She glanced down, a new message lighting up her screen.
Meet me at the female restroom. Now.
Bella's smirk deepened. She quickly tucked her mirror back into her bag and stood up, smoothing her hair one last time. She walked out of the classroom with a certain sway in her step, her movements deliberate and graceful, drawing a few eyes as she passed by.
Jessie, sitting nearby, watched Bella leave with a knowing glance. She had been observing Isabella for weeks now, silently piecing together her secrets. The smirk on Jessie's face hinted at the satisfaction of knowing more than anyone else in the class. She was invisible to them, sure—but that only made it easier to learn what they all wanted to hide.
On the other side of the classroom, Lily leaned over excitedly toward Eve, her phone clutched in her hand. "Evelyn, you have to see this!"
Eve glanced up from her notebook, raising an eyebrow. The free period had left the classroom in a state of buzzing chatter, with students passing notes, browsing their phones, and talking loudly. No one was expecting a teacher anytime soon.
Lily shoved her phone in front of Eve's face, barely able to contain her excitement. "Look at Alex! And see who he's with!"
Eve's eyes widened as she looked at the screen. There was a picture of Alex—awkward, out-of-place Alex—walking down the hall beside a guy who looked like he belonged in a fashion magazine. "Oh my god," Eve gasped. "That guy… he's even hotter than Oliver! Where has he been hiding all this time?"
Jessie, ever the silent observer, scoffed from her seat. "Don't be stupid," she muttered, just loud enough for them to hear. "That guy's been in our class all along. You were all just too blind to notice."
Eve's mouth dropped open in shock. Did Jessie, the class freak, the loner, really just talk to her? And had she been paying attention to their classmates this whole time?
Before she could respond, Jack, one of the guys sitting nearby, leaned over, whispering conspiratorially, "I think this is gonna blow up on the school blog. Social media's already going crazy over it. No one ever thought Alex would be the center of attention, but here we are."
Another student chimed in from across the room, "Oliver's gonna flip when he sees this."
Everyone turned their attention to the screen at the front of the classroom, which displayed the Kings Hall—the grand venue where the final-year seniors' get-together would be held. The news of the event had already spread like wildfire, and now, with Alex's sudden transformation, anticipation was at an all-time high.
Meanwhile, Bella entered the dimly lit female restroom, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floor. She barely had time to take in her surroundings before she spotted him—Oliver, leaning casually against the far wall. The moment their eyes met, the tension in the room thickened, and without a word, they moved toward each other.
Their lips met in a soft, slow kiss, the world outside fading into nothingness as they lost themselves in the moment.