The sound of the bus brakes screeched as the vehicle pulled up in front of the imposing iron gates of St. Augustine Academy. Jace Rivera stared out the smudged window, his stomach twisting in knots. The campus stretched out like something from a movie—sprawling lawns, ancient oak trees, and brick buildings so polished they seemed to glint in the early morning sunlight.
Jace adjusted his hoodie, the familiar fabric suddenly feeling like armor. He didn't belong here, and he knew it. This wasn't some public school where everyone was just trying to get by. This was a place for the elite—the kids of CEOs, senators, and people whose last names opened doors.
The bus driver coughed, startling Jace. "Kid, this is your stop. You getting off or what?"
"Yeah. Sorry." Jace grabbed his duffle bag, slinging it over his shoulder, and stepped off the bus.
The moment his sneakers hit the pavement, he felt the weight of a hundred stares. Students were scattered across the courtyard, chatting in clusters, but their conversations seemed to pause as they noticed him. A few whispered behind cupped hands; others looked him up and down, clearly unimpressed by his worn sneakers and faded jeans.
"Deep breaths," Jace muttered to himself. He was here on a scholarship, and no amount of dirty looks or judgmental glances was going to change that.
As he made his way toward the admin building, a sleek black sports car roared into the parking lot. Heads turned instantly. The driver stepped out, casually tossing his keys to a waiting valet. He was tall, with wavy blond hair that looked like it belonged in a shampoo commercial. His uniform blazer fit like it was tailored, and he moved with the kind of confidence that made Jace want to disappear into his hoodie entirely.
"That's Elliot Grayson," a voice said from behind him. Jace turned to see a girl with curly hair and round glasses. She looked friendly enough, though her expression carried a mix of amusement and warning. "School royalty. Football captain. Debate team star. Pretty sure his dad owns, like, half the country."
Jace raised an eyebrow. "Good for him, I guess."
She grinned. "You'll want to avoid him if you value your sanity. People like him don't mix with people like us."
"Us?"
"Yeah, us. The normal people." She stuck out her hand. "I'm Lily, by the way. And you're the new guy everyone's talking about."
Jace hesitated, then shook her hand. "Jace. And I didn't realize I was a topic of conversation."
"Small school," Lily said with a shrug. "New faces are rare. And you're a scholarship kid, right? That's even rarer."
Jace frowned. "Is that going to be a problem?"
Lily tilted her head, considering him. "Depends. Keep your head down, don't try to impress anyone, and you should be fine. Oh, and don't look Elliot in the eyes. That's how he traps his victims."
Jace couldn't help but laugh at that, though his nerves still simmered under the surface.
The first day of classes wasn't as bad as Jace had feared, but it wasn't great either. Most teachers introduced him with the dreaded, "We have a new student today," forcing him to endure curious stares and half-hearted smiles. By lunch, he was exhausted.
He found a quiet corner of the cafeteria and unpacked the sandwich he'd brought from home. The room buzzed with energy—laughter, clinking trays, and the occasional shout from across the hall. Jace tried not to notice how polished everyone looked, from their shiny shoes to their designer backpacks.
"You're sitting in the wrong spot, new guy."
Jace looked up to see Elliot Grayson towering over him, a smirk playing on his lips. He was flanked by two other boys who looked like they'd stepped out of a GQ magazine.
"Excuse me?" Jace said, confused.
Elliot gestured lazily around the cafeteria. "This is the unofficial cool kids' section. You're in my seat."
Jace blinked, unsure if Elliot was joking or serious. "There's like, a hundred other seats. Take one of those."
Elliot's friends chuckled, but Elliot just raised an eyebrow. "Feisty. I like that."
Lily appeared out of nowhere, sliding into the seat across from Jace. "Ignore him. He's just bored."
Elliot's gaze shifted to Lily, his smirk widening. "Still babysitting the underdogs, Lily?"
"Still pretending you have a personality, Elliot?" she shot back without missing a beat.
Elliot let out a dramatic gasp, clutching his chest. "Ouch. That one almost hurt."
Jace couldn't help but snort at that, earning a sharp glance from Elliot. "Careful, new guy," Elliot warned, though there was no real malice in his tone. "You're on thin ice."
With that, he turned and sauntered off, his entourage trailing behind him.
"See what I mean?" Lily said, shaking her head. "Total narcissist."
Jace sighed, taking a bite of his sandwich. "Great. My first day and I've already made an enemy."
That evening, Jace sat in his dorm room, unpacking his things. The room was small but comfortable, with a twin bed, a desk, and a window that overlooked the football field. He was halfway through organizing his books when his phone buzzed.
It was a text from his mom.
How's your first day?
Jace stared at the screen, debating how to respond. He didn't want to worry her, especially since she'd worked so hard to get him here.
It's fine, he typed back. Just... different.
Her reply came almost instantly. You'll find your rhythm. I'm proud of you.
Jace smiled faintly, setting his phone down. He hoped she was right.
As he turned back to his desk, something caught his eye. A small note had been slipped under his door.
Curious, he unfolded it.
"Welcome to St. Augustine, scholarship boy. Try not to get in over your head."
There was no signature, but Jace had a sinking feeling he knew exactly who it was from.