Love Alarm

The morning sun bathed Kingswell High School in a soft, golden glow, casting shadows along the well-worn paths that students knew all too well. It was the first day of senior year, but for Edward Collins, the excitement that filled the air seemed like just another fleeting moment in the monotony of high school life. As the son of one of the wealthiest families in town, he was used to having all eyes on him-his popularity ensured that-but none of it really mattered to him anymore. The parties, the girls, the endless expectations-it all felt hollow.

Standing at his locker, Edward exchanged half-hearted jokes with his best friend, Jason. They'd been inseparable since middle school, their bond forged through shared experiences of growing up in the spotlight. Jason, ever the life of the party, flashed his trademark grin as he rambled about the wild summer they'd just had.

"So, are we going to kick off senior year with a bang or what?" Jason asked, nudging Edward playfully. "I'm thinking we host a party this weekend. You know, something big to let everyone know we're back."

Edward gave a noncommittal shrug, his mind wandering. Just as Jason was about to launch into more party plans, something caught Edward's eye-a girl, walking through the hallway, completely unnoticed by the usual crowd.

She had long, dark hair that cascaded down her back in loose waves, and she wore a simple, oversized sweater that didn't quite fit in with the more polished looks of Kingswell's student body. There was something about her presence, though, that stood out to Edward. She didn't look nervous or shy, but there was an undeniable air of mystery around her-like she was trying to keep the world at a distance.

"Who's that?" Edward asked, his gaze lingering on the girl as she walked past them, her head down and her steps quick.

Jason followed his line of sight and smirked. "Oh, her? That's the new girl-Mabel Kingston. Just transferred here from somewhere up north, I think. She's been flying under the radar since the semester started."

"Mabel," Edward repeated quietly. The name suited her somehow-soft but with an edge. He watched as she slipped through the crowd like a ghost, unnoticed by everyone around her.

"You should go talk to her," Jason teased, nudging him again. "Might be fun to introduce yourself. Mr. Popular doing his good deed for the day."

Edward chuckled, but there was a tug of curiosity in his chest that he couldn't ignore. Normally, he wouldn't have bothered, but something about Mabel drew him in. She wasn't like the other girls at Kingswell-the ones who knew all the right people and flaunted their connections. Mabel seemed different, and Edward wanted to know why.

He closed his locker and turned to Jason. "I'll catch up with you later. I think I'll go say hi."

Jason gave him a knowing grin. "Good luck, man. I'll see you in class."

Edward wove through the crowded hallway, his heart pounding a little faster than usual. He wasn't nervous, but there was an edge of anticipation that he hadn't felt in a long time. As he approached Mabel, he saw her stop at a locker near the end of the hall. She fumbled with the lock for a moment before finally getting it open.

"Hey," Edward said, keeping his tone casual. "You're new here, right? I'm Edward."

Mabel looked up, startled by his sudden approach. For a moment, her hazel eyes met his, and in that brief second, Edward felt like he could see something-pain, maybe, or fear-but then it was gone. She quickly averted her gaze, her voice quiet and unsure.

"Yeah. I'm Mabel," she said, her hands still fiddling with the books in her locker.

Edward leaned against the lockers, trying to put her at ease. "How are you finding Kingswell so far? It's a bit overwhelming, right? I remember my first day here felt like I was walking into a whole new world."

Mabel hesitated before responding. "It's... fine. Just different, I guess."

"Different how?" Edward asked, genuinely curious now. He noticed how she kept her answers short, like she didn't want to reveal too much.

"It's bigger than my last school. A lot bigger," she replied, glancing up at him briefly. Her tone was neutral, but Edward could sense there was more to her story than she was letting on.

Before Edward could ask more, the bell rang, signaling the start of first period. Mabel quickly grabbed her books, muttering, "I've got to get to class," before rushing off without another word.

Edward watched her disappear into the crowd, a frown tugging at his lips. There was definitely something about her-something hidden behind that quiet demeanor. Jason's words echoed in his head: Might be fun to introduce yourself. But this didn't feel like fun anymore. It felt like the beginning of something he couldn't quite place yet.

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur, with Edward's thoughts constantly drifting back to Mabel. During lunch, he sat with Jason and the rest of their usual group, but he found himself distracted, scanning the cafeteria for any sign of her.

Jason, ever the social butterfly, was in the middle of recounting a story about their summer adventures when he noticed Edward's lack of attention. "You're thinking about her, aren't you?" he teased, nudging him with his elbow.

"Who?" Edward asked, playing dumb, though he knew exactly who Jason was talking about.

"Mabel. The new girl. Dude, you've been spacing out since you talked to her."

Edward shrugged, trying to act casual. "I don't know, man. She's just... different."

Jason raised an eyebrow. "Different how? She's cute, sure, but she doesn't seem like your type."

Edward thought about it for a moment. Jason wasn't wrong-Mabel wasn't the kind of girl he usually went for. She wasn't flashy, didn't care about popularity or fitting in with the crowd. But that's what intrigued him. There was something real about her, something raw and unpolished.

"She's just... interesting," Edward finally said, though the word didn't quite capture what he was feeling.

Jason smirked. "Well, good luck with that, man. I've got my eye on Sarah from biology class. Maybe you'll have your little love story while I work on mine."

Edward laughed, shaking his head. "It's not like that."

---

Later that evening, Edward sat in his room, staring out the window at the city lights in the distance. His house-if it could even be called that-was more like a mansion, with sprawling gardens, marble floors, and more rooms than he could count. But despite all the luxury, it always felt empty. His father, Henry Collins, was rarely home, always off managing his tech empire. His mother, Clarissa, filled her days with charity galas and shopping trips, barely acknowledging Edward's existence.

The only company he had was the silence that filled the halls.

Edward's thoughts drifted back to Mabel, to the way she'd looked at him in that brief moment in the hallway. There was something there-something she wasn't saying. And for the first time in a long time, Edward felt a spark of excitement, like he was on the verge of uncovering a mystery.

Across town, in a cramped apartment, Mabel sat on her bed, staring at the small, framed photo of her and her brother, David. The picture was from years ago, before everything had fallen apart. Before they had to run.

David had warned her to keep a low profile, to stay out of trouble. But Edward Collins wasn't someone she could just ignore. He was popular, charming, and everything she needed to avoid.

But the way he'd looked at her-it made her feel seen in a way she hadn't felt in a long time. And as much as she wanted to stay invisible, she knew that staying away from Edward

Collins was going to be harder than she thought.

---

To be continued....