Sterlin woke up to the faint sound of his alarm clock, the digits glowing a dull red in the early morning light. A mix of excitement and anxiety churned in his stomach—it was the first day at Asphalt Academy, the prestigious private high school he had worked tirelessly to get into.The thought of finally stepping foot inside the school was thrilling, but another thought weighed heavily on him: Leo. His best friend since childhood wasn't here to share this milestone. The high admission fees had been a barrier too steep for Leo's family to climb. Instead, Leo was now attending a public school on the rougher side of Chicago, a world apart from the immaculate halls and manicured lawns of Asphalt Academy.Sterlin sat on the edge of his bed, staring down at his uniform—crisp and neatly folded, a symbol of the opportunity he'd earned. But it didn't feel right knowing Leo was somewhere else, facing a much different reality. He let out a sigh and forced himself to get ready.Downstairs, the smell of eggs and toast greeted him as he entered the kitchen. His father, Malcolm Sr., was already at the table, sipping a mug of black coffee. Stella was there too, bouncing in her chair as usual, radiating energy that seemed endless."You're up early." Malcolm Sr. said with a small smile. "Big day?"Sterlin nodded, trying to keep his tone neutral. "Yeah. First day. No big deal."Malcolm Sr. chuckled knowingly. "It's okay to feel nervous, son. You've earned this. Just remember, you belong there. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."Stella chimed in, grinning. "You're gonna crush it, Sterlin! Just don't mess up in front of the fancy kids.""Thanks for the vote of confidence." Sterlin muttered, rolling his eyes but smiling despite himself.After a quick breakfast and a few more words of encouragement from his father, Sterlin grabbed his backpack and headed out the door.The drive to school felt like an eternity, his nerves growing with each passing block. When they finally pulled up to the towering gates of Asphalt Academy, Sterlin's breath caught in his throat. The school was massive, with ivy-covered brick walls and an imposing clock tower that loomed over the sprawling campus. Students in pristine uniforms filled the walkways, their chatter blending into a dull hum.Sterlin took a deep breath, gripping the straps of his backpack. "Here goes nothing." he murmured, stepping through the gates.Inside, the hallways were just as grand as the exterior. Polished floors gleamed under bright lights, and glass cases displayed trophies from decades of academic and athletic achievements. Sterlin felt like a small fish in an ocean of ambition.As he scanned the crowds, a flash of black caught his eye. Grace, her long black hair and goth attire standing out starkly against the sea of navy blue uniforms, was leaning against a locker. Standing beside her were two familiar figures: Southie, whose real name was Daniel, and Reddick, who exuded his usual confident energy."Hey, you made it!" Reddick called out, his voice cutting through the noise.Sterlin's nerves eased slightly as he jogged over to them. "Yeah, can't believe we're actually here." he replied, adjusting his backpack.Grace smirked, crossing her arms. "You look like you're about to pass out. Relax, it's just school.""Easy for you to say." Sterlin shot back. "You're used to looking cool all the time.""Damn right." Grace said with a wink.As they walked through the crowded halls, the group compared schedules and joked about their new teachers. Reddick, as usual, couldn't stop bragging about his car."Did I tell you my dad got me a new ride?" he said for the third time that morning. "It's stupid fast. I'll pick you guys up sometime."Sterlin chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah, we'll see if it's faster than your mouth."Despite the laughter and banter, a pang of guilt kept tugging at Sterlin. As his friends talked, his mind drifted to Leo. He wondered how his best friend was doing on his first day at the new school, knowing how much Leo had dreaded the change. He wished he could call or text him, but he also didn't want to bring up anything that might make Leo feel worse."Hey." Daniel said, snapping Sterlin out of his thoughts. "You good?"Sterlin nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just... first-day nerves."Daniel didn't look convinced but didn't press the issue. "Don't overthink it, man. We're here now. Let's make the most of it.""Yeah." Sterlin said quietly, more to himself than anyone else.As the day went on, Sterlin tried to focus on his classes and the excitement of starting a new chapter. But no matter how hard he tried, the weight of Leo's absence lingered. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. What he didn't know—what none of them knew—was that Leo's first day wasn't just rough. It was devastating.Somewhere across town, Leo was grappling with a grief Sterlin couldn't yet imagine. And as the news about Christian continued to ripple through their world, the distance between them would only grow wider, even as Sterlin tried to hold everything together.Sterlin woke up the next day still replaying the events of his first day at Asphalt Academy in his head. The school was larger and more intimidating than he had imagined, but he had managed to hold his own. The encounter with Justin, Dustin's little brother, still hung in the back of his mind. The way Sora Fuzaro, captain of the martial arts club, had intervened was a moment that Sterlin couldn't shake. How had Sora recognized his stance so quickly? And more importantly, had he revealed too much?As he packed his bag for day two, Sterlin resolved to stay under the radar. Drawing attention wasn't part of the plan, especially not in a school filled with prodigies, legacies, and future leaders. Asphalt Academy wasn't just a school—it was a stage for the next generation's elite. And Sterlin wasn't sure if he was ready for the spotlight.The day began quietly enough, with Sterlin weaving through the bustling hallways to his first class. The buzz of students chatting, lockers slamming, and announcements over the intercom created a steady hum of energy.As he reached for his locker, he noticed Justin down the hallway, leaning against the lockers with a group of his lackeys. Sterlin's stomach twisted. Justin's glare was sharp, and it was clear he hadn't forgotten about their encounter."Keep moving." Sterlin muttered to himself, gripping his books tightly. He ignored the sneers from Justin's group and slipped into his next class.During lunch, Sterlin sat with Grace, Southie, and Reddick in the cafeteria. The group had their usual banter, but Sterlin couldn't help but notice Sora Fuzaro sitting a few tables away with members of the martial arts club. Sora wasn't looking at him, but his presence made Sterlin's skin prickle with unease.Grace noticed his distracted expression and followed his gaze. "Who's the guy with the intense 'I can kick anyone's ass' energy?" she asked, raising an eyebrow."That's Sora." Sterlin replied. "Captain of the martial arts club.""Why's he staring at you like you owe him money?" Southie teased."He's not." Sterlin said quickly, though his voice lacked conviction. "He just... noticed my stance yesterday when I almost got into it with Justin."Grace leaned in. "What stance? You didn't—oh, wait, is this related to your dad's super-secret martial arts?"Sterlin shook his head. "I didn't show him anything. He just recognized it somehow. It doesn't matter."Grace gave him a knowing look but didn't press further. Reddick chimed in, changing the subject to his new car, much to everyone's relief.As the final bell rang, Sterlin was gathering his things when a voice called out to him from across the hall. He turned to see Sora Fuzaro, walking toward him with a relaxed but deliberate pace."Sterlin, right?" Sora said, stopping a few feet away."Yeah." Sterlin replied, his grip tightening on his bag strap."I meant what I said yesterday." Sora continued. "You've got potential. If you ever want to explore it, the martial arts club is open. We're not just about tournaments—we focus on discipline, technique, and self-discovery. You'd fit right in."Sterlin hesitated. "I'll think about it."Sora nodded, his calm demeanor unwavering. "Take your time. But just so you know, Justin won't let things go. You might want to be ready for that."With that, Sora walked away, leaving Sterlin to process his words.That evening, Sterlin was sitting at his desk, flipping through his homework, when his phone buzzed. It was a text from Leo: Yo, you free to talk?Sterlin immediately called him. "Hey, what's up? How's your new school?"There was a pause on the other end. "It's... different." Leo said, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. "Not what I'm used to, but I'm managing."Sterlin frowned. "You sure? You don't sound like yourself."Leo chuckled weakly. "Yeah, I'm good. Just... miss you, man. Miss playing ball with you and Danny. Feels weird being on the other side of the city."Sterlin leaned back in his chair, guilt washing over him. "I miss you too, bro. It's not the same without you here."They talked for a while longer, catching up and joking like old times. But when the call ended, Sterlin couldn't shake the feeling that Leo wasn't telling him everything.As Sterlin lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, he thought about all the things that were changing around him—Leo's struggles, Justin's hostility, Sora's cryptic interest in his abilities. He felt like the world was moving faster than he could keep up, and for the first time in a while, he wasn't sure what direction to take.But one thing was clear: the threads of his life were pulling him toward something bigger. Whether he was ready or not, Sterlin knew he'd have to face it head-on. And as his father always said, "You don't wait for the storm to pass. You fight your way through it."Tomorrow, he decided, he'd start figuring out how.