Chapter 1: New Marks

The first punch didn’t even hurt. Not really.

Eli staggered back against the lockers, the metal slamming into his spine with a hollow clang. His backpack slid off his shoulder, landing in a heap by his feet. A couple of loose papers fluttered out — math notes he already knew by heart.

“Pick it up, genius,” sneered Carter Vance, the ringleader. Tall, tan, built like he lived in a gym. His two shadows, Logan Sharp and Derek Tills, laughed behind him, like backup singers who couldn’t keep a tune.

Eli bent down slowly. He knew better than to move fast — it just gave them an excuse to kick him in the ribs. His hands were steady, even when his knees weren’t.

“You think you’re better than us, huh?” Carter jeered. “Always hiding behind your grades. Bet you can’t even throw a punch.”

Eli didn’t answer. He smoothed out the crumpled paper and slid it back into his notebook. Words were useless here. Logic didn’t beat fists.

A hard shove sent him sprawling to the floor.

The hallway buzzed with the noise of moving students, but nobody looked their way. Nobody ever did.

Carter leaned down, voice low and mocking.

“Say something, nerd.”

Eli opened his mouth — maybe to talk, maybe to breathe — but that’s when it happened.

A hand grabbed Carter by the back of his hoodie and ripped him away. Carter stumbled back, confusion flashing across his face for just a second before it twisted into anger.

Standing there, between Eli and the bullies, was a kid Eli barely knew.

Jay Cooper.

Sharp jawline, messy blond hair falling over his forehead, blazer half-buttoned like he didn’t care about dress codes or anything else.

“You got a problem with someone your own size?” Jay said, voice low and even.

Carter’s lip curled.

“Mind your business, Cooper.”

Jay didn’t move. He didn’t even blink.

“You heard him,” Logan said, stepping forward.

Jay tilted his head slightly, cracking his knuckles.

“I said, find someone your own size.”

For a second, Eli thought Carter would swing. Thought he might get to watch Jay take a hit for no reason.

Instead, Carter scoffed and backed off, shoving Logan in the shoulder.

“Not worth it,” he muttered. “Come on.”

The three of them melted into the crowd, like stains disappearing into the tile.

For a long second, there was just the sound of Eli’s breathing and the low hum of the fluorescent lights.

Jay turned.

“You good?”

Eli nodded.

His voice didn’t work yet.

Jay looked him over, like checking for damage, then jerked his chin toward the ground.

“Grab your stuff.”

Eli picked up his bag, slinging it over one shoulder.

They stood there awkwardly. Two strangers with nothing in common except this one stupid, brutal moment.

Jay started to walk away, then paused.

“You shouldn’t let them hit you like that.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Eli said, voice dry.

Jay snorted — a sound halfway between a laugh and a grunt — and kept walking.

Eli watched him go, the crowd swallowing him up again.

For the first time in a long time, he wondered if maybe — just maybe — he wasn’t completely alone in this place.

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