Wolf-High Academy's hallways hummed with gossip and thrill. Aurora felt the tension around her, heavy and uncomfortable. Sofia walked next to her, trying to be a calming influence, even as her excitement showed through.
"They have nothing better to talk about," Sofia said with annoyance, though she wanted more details.
Aurora's heart raced as snippets of chatter floated by.
"She's not even one of us."
"Did you see how Finley caught her? Like he cares."
"He wouldn't. She's… beneath him."
Aurora tightened her fists. The sting of their words hurt, but she kept walking, her head held high. She couldn't show any weakness now.
"Just let it go," Sofia encouraged softly, a note of worry in her voice. "They'll move on. Eventually."
Aurora didn't reply. Her mind was on the classroom at the end of the hall. She refused to let their words bring her down, but the feeling of loneliness was creeping in. She was the odd one out among their perfect chaos.
Just before entering the classroom, laughter rang out. A group of students was near the door, focused on Solomon Pierce, the school's biggest troublemaker. His golden hair shone, and his mischievous smile took center stage as he entertained the crowd.
"Looks like Wolf-High's newest charity project wants to reach for the stars," Solomon yelled, loud enough for Aurora to hear. He pointed at her. "What's the plan, Aurora? Win over Finley and escape mediocrity?"
The laughter hit her like a punch. Aurora froze with her breath caught in her throat, feeling the burning stares.
Sofia pulled her back to reality. "Keep walking," she whispered firmly.
Aurora swallowed, her heart racing. She straightened her shoulders and pressed on. As she passed Solomon, he watched her, his smirk turning sharp.
"Careful, Cinderella," he called. "This isn't a fairy tale. Girls like you don't get princes—they get trampled."
More laughter followed, but Aurora kept going. She stepped into the classroom, chin up, even if her chest ached with keeping it all together.
Inside, the noise dropped, but the tension still hovered. Aurora's eyes darted around the desks until they rested on Finley Blackthorne. He sat by a window, lost in thought with sunlight framing him.
Her stomach churned. They hadn't talked since the incident in the courtyard, and those rumors felt heavy on her mind. As she walked past him to her seat, she saw the briefest shift—his eyes followed her for a moment before returning to the view outside.
Her heart raced. Did he even care? Or was she just another annoyance in his perfect world?
Sofia leaned over as soon as they sat down. "Okay, spill it. What happened with you and Finley?"
Aurora hesitated, unsure how to explain. "It was nothing," she finally said. "I tripped, and he helped me. That's all."
Sofia raised an eyebrow. "That's it? You're telling me that Finley Blackthorne, who barely notices anyone outside his little group, just happened to help you without a word?"
Aurora sighed, looking down at her desk. "Maybe he was just being nice."
"Nice?" Sofia chuckled. "Finley isn't nice. He's planned. There's more to this."
Before Aurora could reply, the classroom door opened, and silence fell. Audrey SilverMoon walked in, stealing the spotlight as usual. Her icy blue eyes swept the room, landing on Aurora for a second before a sly smile appeared.
Aurora felt a knot in her stomach. She knew that look—it was someone ready to attack.
The day blurred together. Whispers and stares trailed Aurora like a bad dream. When the last bell rang, she was ready for a break from all the judgment and accusations.
She headed to the courtyard, hoping to find peace in the fresh air. The garden was quiet, the sun casting long shadows over the perfect bushes. Aurora took a deep breath, finally feeling some calm.
But her peace didn't last long.
"You shouldn't let them get to you," a voice said behind her.
Aurora turned to see Finley a few steps away, his hands in his pockets. His face was calm, but his eyes hinted at understanding.
"I don't," she lied, even though her voice quivered.
Finley raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile on his lips. "You're not a great liar."
Aurora crossed her arms, feeling defensive. "Why do you care? You haven't done anything to stop them."
His smile faded, replaced with seriousness. "Because I get it. I know what it's like to be observed, and judged. To have every move watched."
Aurora looked at him, anger turning into confusion. "What do you mean? You're Finley Blackthorne. You're on top here."
Finley's look grew serious. "That makes it even harder. Trust me, the higher you are, the harder you fall."
Before she could respond, footsteps interrupted them. Aurora turned to see Stefan striding over, his smirk in full force.
"Well, isn't this nice?" he said, eyeing the pair. "The charity case and the golden boy. What a match!"
Finley's jaw set tight, but he stayed quiet. Aurora felt irritation bubble in her. "What do you want, Stefan?" she snapped.
"Just checking in. You seemed… distracted in class," he taunted. "Thought you'd like some company."
Aurora shot back, "I don't need your help."
"Oh, I think you do," Stefan said, stepping closer with a mocking tone. "This place will chew you up if you're not careful."
Finley stepped between them, suddenly intense. "That's enough, Stefan."
The two stared each other down, the air electric. Finally, Stefan backed off with a feigned salute.
"Relax, Finley. Just trying to help."
With one last smirk, he walked away, leaving just Finley and Aurora again.
Aurora let out a shaky breath. "What's his deal?"
Finley watched where Stefan had gone, his expression blank. "Stefan plays games. But don't be fooled—he knows more than he shows."
Confused, Aurora frowned. "What do you mean?"
Finley stayed silent and walked away, leaving Aurora in the dimming light.
As shadows deepened, she felt like she was on the verge of something bigger than she could grasp. The deeper she dug into Wolf-High Academy, the more dangerous it got.
Little did she know, someone was watching from the shadows, eyes glinting with curiosity and purpose.
And they weren't finished with her yet.