The second bell had already rung by the time Selena Vega pushed open the heavy classroom door. The chatter inside dipped instantly, all eyes flicking toward her like they always did whenever she walked in late.

“You’re late again, Vega,” the teacher said flatly, not even looking up from the register.

Selena slid a strand of dark hair behind her ear and raised a brow. “Traffic,” she replied with an exaggerated shrug. “You want me to bring proof next time?”

A few students snickered under their breath, covering their mouths. Everyone knew Vega wasn’t scared of teachers, and Mr. Carter was too tired to argue with her.

He let out a weary sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Just… sit down.” He paused, glancing at the front of the class where a tall boy stood confidently. “And—ah, right. Before we begin, we have a transfer student. Everyone, this is Ethan Parker.”

The boy stepped forward with the kind of smile that could melt glass. Tall, broad-shouldered, dark hair perfectly messy, his uniform fitting a little too well to be an accident. He gave a lazy wave. “Morning, everyone.”

The whispers broke out instantly, not even subtle.

“He’s hot.”

“Look at his smile.”

“New crush unlocked.”

Selena rolled her eyes, already unimpressed.

Mr. Carter pointed to the back. “You’ll sit next to Selena Vega. Back row.”

Selena dropped into her chair with a mutter only she could hear. “Great. Babysitting duty already.”

Ethan didn’t seem to notice the edge in her voice. He walked down the aisle, every step earning more stares from the girls in class, and slid into the empty seat beside her. The smell of his cologne hit her immediately — clean, sharp, a little too intentional.

He leaned in, just enough to make it obvious. “Lucky me,” he murmured, grin widening. “Got the prettiest girl in class as my seatmate.”

Selena turned her head slowly, her expression flat. “Wow. That line worked better in your head, didn’t it?”

He smirked, unbothered. “No. Worked just fine out loud.”

Before Selena could reply, a sharp voice cut through the air.

“Some of us are trying to listen. Shut it, Parker.”

The class quieted. Selena’s head snapped toward the voice instantly.

Lucien Williams.

He sat two rows away, posture straight, pen poised between his fingers like he’d been waiting to stab it into the desk. His dark eyes locked onto Ethan with a fire that burned hotter than his words.

Ethan’s grin only widened, mischief lighting up his gaze. “And who might you be?” He tilted his head toward Selena. “Her bodyguard?”

Lucien’s jaw tightened, the muscle ticking. “Mind your own business.”

Selena arched a brow, folding her arms. “Since when do you care who I sit with?”

His eyes flicked to hers, just for a heartbeat, then back to Ethan. “…I don’t.”

Ethan leaned closer to her, his voice dropping low, intimate enough for Lucien to notice. “He looks like he does.”

Selena smirked faintly. “Don’t get ideas.”

“Too late,” Ethan whispered back.

A loud clack broke the moment. Lucien had slammed his pen onto the desk, the sharp sound echoing like a gunshot. Several students jumped.

“Pathetic,” he muttered, his voice laced with venom.

Mr. Carter’s head shot up, eyes narrowing. “Do you want to step outside, Williams?”

Lucien’s glare didn’t waver, his gaze still fixed on Ethan. “…No.”

Ethan chuckled under his breath, the sound soft but mocking. “Relax, man. I’m just making friends.”

Lucien’s eyes never left Selena. When he spoke, his tone was low, sharp enough to cut through glass.

“Not with her.”

The cafeteria was louder than usual. Girls crowded at the corner table, giggling behind their hands, sneaking glances toward the tall boy who sat casually near the window.

Ethan Parker.

His sleeves rolled up, hair falling perfectly into place without even trying, and that lazy smirk—like he already knew he owned the room.

Selena dropped her tray onto the table where Kriti and Mia were already whispering.

“Did you see the way he smiled at Mrs. Grant when she asked him to introduce himself? God, I nearly fainted,” Mia whispered, clutching her chest dramatically.

“Half the girls in this school did,” Kriti laughed. “Seriously, Selena, can you believe we finally have someone worth staring at?”

Selena rolled her eyes, stabbing her fork into her salad. “You guys are ridiculous.”

But her gaze betrayed her. For just a second, her eyes flicked toward Ethan. And just like he had been waiting—his eyes caught hers.

Her heart jolted.

Ethan tilted his head, lips curving into a small, knowing grin.

Selena immediately looked away, pretending to be busy with her tray, heat crawling up her neck.

Kriti caught it instantly. “Oh my god. Oh my god, he looked at you.”

Mia gasped. “No, no, not just looked. He smirked. Ethan Parker smirked at Selena Vega.”

Selena groaned. “Shut up. He’s like that with everyone.”

But even as she said it, she could feel that lingering weight of his stare.

From across the room, another pair of eyes burned into her.

Lucien Williams.

He sat with his usual crowd—the soccer team, loud and arrogant—but his focus wasn’t on them. It was on her. His jaw tight, hands clenching slightly on his soda can.

When Selena finally dared to glance his way, she found his gaze fixed—not on Ethan—but on her. The stare was sharp, accusing, almost… possessive.

She quickly looked down, heart hammering.

---

Later, in the hallway…

Selena was pulling books from her locker when a voice broke the noise around her.

“Selena Vega.”

She turned. Ethan leaned casually against the locker beside hers, backpack hanging off one shoulder.

“You remembered my name,” she said cautiously.

“Hard to forget.” His eyes glinted, making her blush even though she tried not to. “So… is it always this boring around here, or are people just pretending until I arrived?”

Selena smirked despite herself. “You’ve been here for what, two days? And you’ve already decided you’re the cure for everyone’s boredom?”

Ethan leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Am I wrong?”

Her breath hitched. “Cocky much?”

“Confident,” he corrected, eyes never leaving hers. “There’s a difference.”

Before she could respond, another voice sliced in—cold, sharp.

“What are you doing here?”

Lucien.

He stood a few feet away, hands shoved into his pockets, expression unreadable but eyes blazing at Ethan.

Selena stiffened. “Lucien, I was just—”

“Talking,” Ethan cut in smoothly, his smile widening. “Why? Problem?”

The hallway seemed to freeze. A couple of students slowed, sensing tension.

Lucien’s eyes flicked to Selena, lingering just a moment too long. “I didn’t realize you were so… available these days.”

Her chest tightened. “Excuse me?”

Ethan’s smile faded. His voice turned low, warning. “You got something to say, say it to me.”

Lucien stepped closer, their height almost equal, the air between them crackling with challenge.

“Stay out of things that don’t concern you,” Lucien said, voice like steel.

Ethan chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. “Funny. Looked to me like she didn’t mind my company.” His eyes flicked back to Selena, deliberately, making her heart race.

Lucien’s jaw clenched so hard she thought he might explode.

“Lucien—” she tried to break the tension, but her voice came out smaller than she wanted.

Before anything more could spark, the bell rang, and the hallway scattered with students rushing to class.

Lucien leaned in, his voice low, meant only for her. “Careful who you let close, Selena.” His eyes darkened. “Not everyone deserves you.”

Her chest tightened, words caught in her throat.

And then he was gone.

---

By the end of the day, the whispers had doubled.

“Did you see Ethan walk Selena to class?”

“Lucien looked like he was about to murder someone.”

“Honestly, I live for this drama.”

Selena wanted to disappear. But her heart… her heart was betraying her. Every time Ethan’s gaze found hers, she felt that rush. Every time Lucien’s eyes lingered, heavy and full of something unspoken, she felt the ache of what they used to be.

And caught between them, she wondered—

Was this the beginning of something dangerous?

Or the start of a fire she couldn’t control?