It's Monday morning, and the bruise on my neck looks so bad that I feel ashamed to look in the mirror. A reminder of yesterday's slip-up—one that cost more than I was willing to admit. Can anyone explain to me why I thought it wise to challenge mom? And I already know wearing a scarf would scream 'hiding something,' but leaving the bruise exposed would spark questions I never want to answer.
It also goes against the school dress code, but I've seen every other girl break it at least once a week. I can't be the only one who's ever felt the need to cover up a mistake, right? But this isn't just any mistake; it's a glaring reminder of my impulsiveness, my need to prove myself, and the consequences that followed. Still, I don't want to wear one today—it's especially hot. Damnit, damn everything, I'll just wear the stupid scarf and melt. I made my way downstairs, hair in a bun, uniform clean and neat. Packed my lunch and headed out the door.
"Hey, pumpkin!" I heard my dad call. To my surprise, he was outside before me, his voice even more chipper than usual. Wait... Why's he up this early?
"Good morning, Dad." I walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek. "Why are you up so early?"
"Because I'll be taking you to school today," he beamed, practically bouncing on his feet.
"Awww, you want to walk me? That's so sweet," I teased, grinning.
"Oh, we won't be walking," Dad said, a dramatic twinkle in his eye as he reached for the garage door. It creaked open, revealing something that made my jaw drop.
There it was—a brand-new car. I didn't know the name, but I knew I'd fallen in love.
Dad's grin stretched so wide it was almost embarrassing. His excitement was contagious, and I couldn't help but match it as I ran my hand over the glossy hood.
It was black, big, and beautiful. The tires looked like they could conquer any road. "She's beautiful," I mumbled, almost in awe.
"She's a boy," Dad corrected, his voice full of mock seriousness. He stepped into the garage, and I followed close behind, still stunned.
"When did we get a car? And what type of car is it?"
"Yesterday, while you were passed out," he said with a chuckle. "And it's a BMW X5."
As he unlocked the door, I couldn't resist sliding into the front seat. The fresh leather smell enveloped me, and I inhaled deeply. Everything about the car screamed luxury.
"Can I drive her?"
"No," he deadpanned.
"It's for the family," Dad added, but the way his grin softened when he looked at me told a different story. This car is definitely mine after all I'm family.
When the engine roared to life, I could feel the vibrations in my chest. The AC blasted, music played softly through the speakers, and the new car smell filled the air. It was the best ride I'd ever had.
"Thanks, Dad. Love you," I said, leaning over to blow him a kiss before I stepped out of the car.
The campus was just beginning to stir. A few early birds, like me, wandered through the walkways, their footsteps echoing faintly in the morning stillness. The crisp air carried the faint scent of freshly cut grass, and the low hum of distant conversations hinted at the day slowly coming to life.
I made my way to the library, eager to get a head start on some work. Inside, it was blissfully quiet, the kind of quiet that wrapped around you like a comforting blanket. I picked a table tucked in the far corner, where even the buzzing of the fluorescent lights seemed to fade into the background.
Settling in, I opened my laptop and began typing. The soft click of the keyboard was the only sound in my little bubble. The library was a sanctuary—a place where the chaos of the school day couldn't quite reach.
For a while, it felt like I was the only person in the world. The stillness was soothing, and the steady rhythm of productivity kept me focused. But quiet never really lasted in this school.
Someone sat down at my table—of all the empty tables in this library. The place was practically deserted.
"Do you mind?" I asked, still typing, not even bothering to look up.
Silence.
After a moment, the lack of a reply forced me to glance up, and of course, it had to be Jayden.
He had this infuriating way of always finding me, like a moth to a flame—or maybe I was the flame, and he was the moth. Either way, it was impossible to ignore him, no matter how much I wanted to.
"Can you leave? I'm kinda busy" I asked.
"Good morning to you too." He smiled. Which was weird since he's always smirking.
"Why do you look so happy?" I asked skeptical.
"Because I get to see you."
I didn't know what to say or how to react; my heart was racing. Strangely, it wasn't fear—it was something else entirely. A tingling sensation coursed through me, leaving me giddy and unsteady, like I was standing on the edge of something I couldn't quite see. It was as if my body knew a secret it hadn't let me in on yet.
Jayden leaned back in the chair, arms crossed, watching me with that infuriating calmness he always carried, as if he owned the moment.
"What?" I snapped, my eyes darting back to my screen in a desperate attempt to seem unbothered.
"Nothing," he said. "I just like seeing you flustered."
My fingers faltered on the keys. I wasn't sure if I was more annoyed by his smugness or how easily he could get under my skin.
"Since you're clearly not leaving, we might as well get started on the project," I replied, trying to sound indifferent.
His smirk softened a little. "Bossy much?" Jayden raised an eyebrow, leaning forward like he was daring me to push back.
"I like efficiency," I shot back. "And we're running out of time to make this decent." I said, pulling out my notes. "We're dividing the topics. I'll take guilt and conscience. You handle ambition and power. And we both will discuss the supernatural and the corrupting nature of power."
Jayden tilted his head, that infuriating grin still on his face. "Why do you get the emotional depth? Afraid I'll outshine you?"
I rolled my eyes. "Because I actually understand guilt. Do you?"
That wiped the grin off his face, though only for a second. He leaned forward, his expression sharpening. "You think I don't know guilt? That's bold of you, Lyra."
I froze, realizing I'd struck a nerve. "I didn't mean—"
"Forget it," he interrupted, waving me off. "Ambition suits me better anyway."
His tone was lighter, but I caught the flicker of something deeper in his eyes.
We worked in tense silence for a while, and I found myself stealing glances at him. His focus was sharper than I expected, his pen moving quickly across the page.
"Ambition," he said suddenly, breaking the silence. "It's about wanting more—being willing to risk everything to get it." He tapped his pen against his notebook. "It's not just about power. It's about proving you deserve it."
Something in his voice caught me off guard. "Proving to who?" I asked softly.
He didn't answer right away, his gaze distant. "To everyone," he said finally. "To yourself."
For a moment, I didn't know what to say. "That's... good," I said, pulling my attention back to my screen. "Use that. Tie it to Macbeth's drive to become king. He wasn't just chasing power—he wanted to prove he could rise above his station."
Jayden nodded, scribbling down notes. "And guilt," he said, glancing at me. "It's what eats at you afterward, When you realize the cost of what you've done."
My fingers paused on the keyboard. "Yeah," I said quietly. "It doesn't just punish you—it changes you. It makes you see things differently, question everything you thought was right."
He studied me, his expression unreadable. "Sounds like you've given this a lot of thought."
"Maybe," I said, shrugging. "But guilt doesn't have to destroy you. It can make you stronger if you let it. Like Macbeth's guilt—it didn't just weigh him down. It exposed his weakness."
Jayden tilted his head, his smirk returning. "And here I thought you didn't trust me with the deep stuff."
"Don't get used to it," I said, turning back to my laptop.
We worked in silence again, though this time it felt less strained. Jayden's notes were surprisingly insightful, and I found myself revising my initial impressions of him.
The bell rang, breaking the moment. I started packing up my things, glancing at him as he closed his notebook. We got a lot done compared to the other day, we could have done a lot more but I had to prepare for first period.
"This went... better than expected," I admitted reluctantly.
"High praise from you," he said, smirking again. "We should meet after school to finish."
"Fine," I said, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "But only if you promise to stay serious."
He gave me a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am." He grinned. "You know, you're a little scarier than I expected."
I blinked at him. "Scary? How?"
"The whole 'bossy perfectionist' thing," he said, waving a hand. "It's... unexpected. Kinda hot, though."
My face heated instantly. "Focus, Jayden."
As I turned to leave, his voice stopped me. "Hey, Lyra."
I glanced back, raising an eyebrow.
"You're not the only one who knows what guilt feels like," he said, his tone softer than before. "Just so you know."
Before I could respond, he was already walking away. I stood there, watching him leave, burdened by a thousand unspoken questions that would likely never be answered. Why does Jayden know so much about guilt and would he think it's weird that I also know a lot. From the corner of my eye I saw the Librarian giving me a look of 'aren't you getting the hell outta here?'
The library's calm disappeared the second I stepped into the hall.
The girls in class were being weirder than normal, they were staring at me longer and whispering louder. And it was only my third class of the day. The whispers didn't stop, was there something I didn't know yet?
"What did you do?" Kyle asked, leaning over my desk with a suspicious look, like he was analyzing some unsolved mystery.
"What do you mean?" I frowned, adjusting my scarf for the third time today.
He raised an eyebrow, his tone dry. "Every girl in here looks like they want to throw you out the window."
I froze, suddenly hyper-aware of the stares drilling into me from every direction. My voice dropped to a defensive whisper. "I didn't do anything!"
"Right," he said, dragging the word out. "I know the girls in this school are bitchy but they don't usually target someone unless theirs a reason. And I heard the cause is some guy."
I scanned the room, my chest tightening as the glances became more obvious. Then it hit me. Kyle couldn't mean... Jayden, could he? He was the only other guy I'd really spoken to.
"You're chatty today," I said, trying to change the subject. The words came out sharper than intended, and I cringed at the sound of my own voice.
Kyle shrugged, unfazed. "I'm just calling it like I see it."
"Sorry," I muttered quickly, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.
He raised a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. You're not the first person to snap at me, and you probably won't be the last."
I paused, then gave him a lopsided grin. "Well, who care about a bunch of petty girls anyway? I've got you, and that's way better."
That made him blink. For a moment, he looked like he didn't know how to respond, his usual calm cracking ever so slightly. "You're weird, you know that?"
"Takes one to know one," I shot back, leaning forward with mock seriousness.
Kyle snorted, his usual guarded expression slipping back into place. "Whatever you say, Lyra."
Class continued, and while the stares didn't stop, nobody said anything outright. I let out a breath of relief. As long as no one told me to take off the scarf, I'd make it through the day.
Lunch came around pretty quickly and for the first time I convinced Kyle to eat with me, he said he'll meet me there so I went ahead.
"Hi, hot stuff," Amy said in the worst imitation of a guy voice I'd ever heard.
"Hi, Amy," I replied flatly as she looped her arm through mine. The gesture was a little too much for me, but I didn't pull away. Just let her do her thing. It'll be over soon.
People seem to look at us the moment we enter the cafeteria and Amy didn't seem to notice at all, while I felt every stare like lazer beam. We were the only ones at our table so far. Amy was glued to her phone, typing away before looking up at me with a grin. "How do I not have your number yet? Do you even know how many group chats you're missing out on?"
"I guess not," I said, unsure of where this was going.
Amy shoved her phone toward me. "Well, fix it. Gimme your number."
I hesitated for a second but took her phone and punched my number in.
"What are you guys doing?" Riley's voice startled me as she leaned over the back of my chair, peering down at us.
"Exchanging numbers," Amy answered for me, turning back with a mischievous smile. "Now I'm calling you, so you'll have mine, too."
"Ouu, I want your number, too!" Riley said, holding out her phone before I could even respond. Resigned, I took it and went through the process all over again.
"Okay, now I'm adding you to the group chat," Amy declared, fingers flying over her phone.
"What group chat?" I asked warily.
Amy grinned. "It's just me, Riley, and Rose. But now you're part of it."
My phone buzzed a second later. I opened the notification to find myself officially part of their chat.
Amythemagician: where r u
Rosebush: on my way calm down jeez 😘
Rosebush: welcome 2 the group, Lyra.
Me: Thanks...?
I stared at the screen for a moment. Amy was already talking to Riley about something else, so I just slipped my phone back into my pocket. I wasn't sure what I'd just signed up for, but I had a feeling there wouldn't be any escape.
"My friend will be joining us today?" I said so they know.
"You have friends?" Someone said in as sarcastic voice that I soon realized belong to Rose.
I rolled my eyes and she smiled "I miss you too." She reach out for a hug and was rejected.
Rose sat next to Amy and give her a gentle push "who you texting?"
"Adrian. And he doesn't seem to be replying to my text." Amy replied anger lace in her voice.
"I wouldn't either if I was him" Rose said earning her a slap on the arm from Amy.
"You guy already share a ton of classes together and you'll see him soon anyway." Riley said.
"So?" Amy asked not looking up from her phone.
"So give the man a break, I know he's your mat-boyfriend and all" Riley said kinda correcting herself mid sentence.
"You wouldn't understand" Amy rolled her eyes but still put her phone down.
"Speak of the devil" Rose said pointing at something with her head.
I turned and saw Jayden, Adrian and Blake walking, also someone I haven't seen in a minute, Andy was with them.
"What does that slut want now?" Riley asked.
"Jayden, duh" Rose said and for some reason I felt uncomfortable.
"More like anyone with power that looked in her direction" Amy joined.
"Including Adrian" Rose tease and was not so gently shove by Amy.
"Power?" I asked confused.
"Oh nothing" Riley said quickly and Rose and Amy also seem to be avoiding answering as well.
I turned to look again and Jayden was laughing at something Blake said while standing waiting for something, rather someone, Adrian seem to be getting his lunch but held two trays in his hand, they made there way over to our table. Adrian sitting next to Amy and kissing her on the forehead, Blake sat next to Riley while Jayden sat in the chair next to me that wasn't occupied with my bag and Andy by his side.
"Why aren't you responding to my text?" Amy question.
"Phone's dead" Adrian said pushing one of the tray in front of her.
Amy climb into Adrian's lap and kissed him on the cheek. "You're lucky you're cute," she said with mock annoyance.
The two stare at each other for a minute before they full on started making out. I didn't know where to look while everyone else completely ignore them, probably used to it.
"Y'all need to stop swapping spit while I'm eating, shit" Riley sigh and Blake chuckle.
"When aren't they swapping spit" Blake added and Amy responded with her middle finger yet they didn't stop no matter how much I wish they would or how much teasing they received. Eventually, Rose tossed a balled-up napkin at them, causing Amy to pull back with a glare.
"Okay, okay, we'll stop," Amy said, though she stayed comfortably perched on Adrian's lap. "Satisfied?"
"Not really," Riley muttered, stabbing her fork into her salad. "But whatever."
Jayden, meanwhile, was completely unfazed by the chaos. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms and grinning like he was watching a comedy show. His gaze drifted to me, and I could feel it even before I looked up.
"Interesting crowd you've got here," he remarked, his tone light but pointed. "Makes me feel right at home."
I rolled my eyes. "Glad you're so easily entertained."
Andy chuckled softly, finally breaking her silence. "This table's got more drama than a soap opera."
"No one asked you, Andy," Amy shot back, though there wasn't any real malice in her voice.
"Not wrong, though," Blake added with a grin. "I mean, we've got PDA central over here, Riley being Riley, and Lyra pretending she doesn't notice Jayden staring at her."
Riley push him "Don't say 'Riley being Riley' as if I'm some freak."
"You kinda are" Blake shrugged and they both started arguing.
Meanwhile I nearly choked on my drink. "What?"
Jayden didn't even try to deny it, his smirk growing wider. "He's not wrong."
"Seriously?" I shot him a glare, my face heating up.
"Relax," Jayden said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "I'm just here for the good vibes." He laughed.
"Yeah, sure," I muttered trying and failing to hide my embarrassment.
The table was lively, but I couldn't help feeling a little on edge with Andy sitting so close to Jayden. She seemed overly cheerful, laughing at everything he said, even when it wasn't that funny.
"You good?" Jayden asked, leaning closer to me.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
He raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. Instead, he turned back to Andy, who was already trying to get his attention again.
Rose shot me a knowing look from across the table, but I ignored it.
"Andy, did you always hang out with these guys? I haven't seen you in a while," I asked suddenly, trying to change the topic in my head.
She rolled her eyes, "I didn't know you were keeping tabs on me"Andy mumble not so quietly before answering my question. "Not always. I've known Blake and Adrian for a while, though. And Jayden…" She paused, her eyes darting to him with a small smile. "We've been friends for years." she said rubbing his hands not so friendly like
"Friends?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.
"Yeah," Jayden cut in casually, before turning his focus back on his food.
"Oh, that's nice," I said, biting into my sandwich, though my stomach churned for reasons I couldn't quite explain. Everyone kinda went into their own conversation, I was eating my lunch and about to text Kyle.
Andy grinned, her voice cutting through the low hum of the cafeteria chatter like a blade. "Cute scarf and all, but it has to be hard to eat with it on."
The words hit me like a spotlight, blinding and relentless. My stomach clenched as every head at the table turned toward me.
Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit.
"I'm eating just fine with it on, so..." I muttered, forcing myself to take another bite, hoping to prove my point and will everyone back to their own business. But they didn't. The weight of their stares pressed down on me, sharp and suffocating.
I wanted to disappear. The scarf was my shield, my armor, and the only time I'd taken it off today was in the bathroom. Even then, I'd scrambled to put it back on when someone walked in. I didn't see who it was, and I prayed they hadn't seen me either.
"I'm good," I added, reaching for a baby carrot on my plate. My hand shook slightly as I bit into it.
Andy leaned back in her chair, clearly unfazed. "Aww, don't be like that. I'll help you since you're feeling shy," she said, standing up.
"Damn, bitch, she said she's fine. Just leave her be," Riley snapped. Her words were sharp, but they didn't stop Andy from moving toward me.
"Andy, don't," I said, my voice firm but trembling as I leaned back, gripping the edge of the table. My heart pounded, each beat echoing in my ears as the heat of all the stares made my scarf feel tighter, suffocating.
"Relax, Lyra. No need to be so dramatic." Andy's smile was sweet, but her eyes gleamed with something cruel.
I bolted upright, nearly knocking over my tray. "I said, I'm fine!" My voice came out louder than I intended, and the cafeteria seemed to hold its breath.
Andy froze, her hand hovering mid-air, startled by my outburst. But the surprise didn't last. Her face twisted into a smirk as she said, "And I insist."
Her hand shot out, yanking at my scarf.
The fabric slipped loose. I heard a sharp gasp from Rose. Heat flooded my face, and without thinking, I shoved Andy hard. She stumbled back and fell, but it didn't matter—the damage was already done. I scrambled to pull the scarf back into place, my fingers fumbling, panic clawing at my chest.
The cafeteria was silent, but not because of me.
The air shifted, heavy and electric, and I felt a presence behind me.
"What the fuck was that?" Jayden's voice cut through the stillness, low and commanding. I'd never heard him swear before.
I didn't turn around. I couldn't. My voice was barely a whisper as I muttered, "None of your business."
"Did someone strangle you?" he asked again.
Yes. I had asked my mom to do it, but there was no way I could say that—not to Jayden, not to anyone. And now, standing there, it looked like he was about to reach for my scarf.
Fuck no.
I bolted, shoving past Kyle without a glance, the sound of my pounding heartbeat drowning out everything else.