Leo adjusted his tie for the hundredth time as he stared at his reflection in the rearview mirror. His messy brown hair refused to cooperate, and his grey eyes looked dull under the harsh morning light. He sighed, slamming the mirror shut.

"First days suck," he muttered, slinging his bag over his shoulder and stepping out of the car.

Westwood High loomed ahead, all red bricks and tall windows, teeming with students who seemed far too cheerful for a Monday morning. Leo already felt out of place, a sensation heightened when he noticed the tight-knit cliques scattered across the courtyard. Athletes dominated the steps, drama kids gestured wildly by the fountain, and the rest swirled around in their unspoken hierarchies.

He barely made it to the main doors before bumping into someone.

"Whoa there, newbie," a guy said, steadying him. He was taller than Leo, with warm blond hair and soft hazel eyes. His smile was easy, and his voice had the kind of charm that could sell bottled water to a drowning man.

"Sorry," Leo mumbled, embarrassed.

"No worries. First day, huh?" The guy extended a hand. "I'm Ethan."

Leo shook it, his embarrassment fading under Ethan's warm demeanor. "Yeah. Leo."

"Cool. Let me know if you need a tour or something. Westwood's not so bad once you figure out where everything is."

Leo opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, a shadow fell over them.

"You're blocking the hallway, Ethan," a new voice said, sharp and unyielding.

Leo turned to see a dark-haired boy glaring at him with icy grey eyes. He had an athletic build and an air of authority that made Leo feel immediately small.

"Chill, Kai," Ethan said, rolling his eyes. "Leo's new."

Kai's gaze flicked to Leo, his expression unreadable. "So?"

Ethan sighed. "Ignore him," he said to Leo. "He's like this with everyone. Come on, I'll walk you to the office."

Before Leo could process what had just happened, Ethan was already leading him down the hall.

"Who's that guy?" Leo asked, glancing back at Kai, who was still watching him with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine.

"Kai? He's my best friend," Ethan said casually. "He takes his self-imposed job of 'protecting me' a little too seriously."

"Protecting you?"

"Yeah, he's convinced everyone who talks to me is some kind of threat. It's... complicated. Just don't take it personally. He's not as bad as he seems."

Leo wasn't so sure about that, but he didn't press the issue.

The day passed in a blur of introductions, syllabi, and awkward small talk. By lunchtime, Leo was ready to collapse. He navigated the bustling cafeteria, tray in hand, searching for an empty seat.

He spotted Ethan waving at him from a table near the windows. Relief flooded him as he made his way over.

"Hey, Leo!" Ethan said brightly. "Over here."

Leo sat down, grateful for the familiarity. He noticed Kai sitting next to Ethan, his arms crossed and his gaze fixed on Leo like a hawk.

"So, how's your first day been?" Ethan asked, ignoring Kai's glowering.

"Not bad," Leo said, carefully avoiding Kai's stare. "A bit overwhelming, but that's normal, right?"

"Totally. Took me weeks to figure out where all my classes were," Ethan said with a laugh.

"Months," Kai muttered, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Ethan shot him a look. "Kai, be nice."

Kai shrugged, stabbing at his salad with unnecessary aggression.

Leo cleared his throat, desperate to change the subject. "So, um, what do you guys do for fun around here?"

Ethan's face lit up. "We've got a great theater program! Oh, and the music club's pretty cool, too. Are you into anything like that?"

"Uh, not really. I like photography, though," Leo said.

"Photography? That's awesome!" Ethan said, his enthusiasm infectious. "You should check out the art wing. Some of the students hang out there after school to work on projects. You might like it."

Kai snorted.

Leo glanced at him, irritated. "What?"

"Nothing," Kai said, not looking up.

Leo frowned. He'd only just met this guy, and he already felt like punching him.

"Anyway," Ethan said quickly, steering the conversation back on track, "you'll settle in soon enough. And if you need help with anything, let me know."

Leo smiled, grateful. Ethan was the kind of person who made everything seem a little less daunting. He felt a twinge of jealousy toward Kai for having someone like him as a best friend.

The rest of lunch passed without incident, though Leo couldn't shake the feeling that Kai was watching him, judging him with every bite he took.

After school, Leo wandered the halls, looking for the art wing Ethan had mentioned. He turned a corner and nearly collided with someone—again.

"Watch it," the person snapped, their voice low and gravelly.

Leo looked up to see a tall guy with dark hair and piercing green eyes. He had paint smudges on his hands and a sketchbook tucked under one arm.

"Sorry," Leo said automatically.

The guy stared at him for a moment, then smirked. "New kid, huh? You've got that lost puppy look."

Leo bristled. "I was just looking for the art wing."

"Found it," the guy said, gesturing to the door behind him.

"Thanks," Leo muttered, brushing past him.

"Don't mention it," the guy called after him, his voice laced with amusement.

Leo stepped into the art room, his frustration melting away as he took in the space. The walls were covered in student artwork, and the smell of paint and charcoal hung in the air. For the first time that day, he felt like he'd found a place where he could breathe.

As he set his bag down and pulled out his camera, he couldn't shake the feeling that his time at Westwood High was going to be anything but ordinary.