Graymoor Cafeteria — Lunchtime
The dining hall buzzed with chatter and clinking trays. The scent of pasta, coffee, and confusion wafted through the air. Sky maneuvered through the sea of students, holding a tray with salad, a sandwich, and a jet-black coffee.
> First speech of the year? Check.
> First public panic? Delayed.
> First lunch? Hopefully quiet.
He made a beeline for the farthest corner—back turned to the chaos, away from the performance of popularity.
“Sky! Over here!” Venice’s voice rang out like a fire alarm across the cafeteria.
Sky paused mid-step.
“Can I fake a limp and escape?” he muttered under his breath.
Theo smirked from beside her. “Too late. You’re stuck with us now.”
With a resigned exhale, Sky walked over and took the empty seat beside them. Across from him sat someone unfamiliar—a hoodie pulled halfway up, expression unreadable, like a cat deciding whether to stay or bolt.
“By the way,” Venice said, leaning in, “we adopted someone new into the circle.”
The boy across the table gave a slight nod.
“Noah,” he said. “Literature major. Part-time cat whisperer. Full-time introvert.”
Sky raised an eyebrow. “Sky. Part-time extrovert, full-time sarcastic mess.”
Noah grinned. “This feels right already.”
Theo leaned forward, ever the instigator. “So, you’re kind of famous now. Forums are split between ‘Sky is intimidating’ and ‘Sky is mysterious hot rich boy.’”
Sky sipped his coffee, unbothered. “Let them guess. It’s more fun when people don’t know which poison I carry.”
The table erupted in laughter.
---
Outside – Student Council Hallway
Archaell walked the corridor silently, holding a dark red envelope in his hand. The color wasn’t school-issued—it looked personal, intimate. Faint cursive across the back read his full name.
*“Someone left this for you\, addressed in your mother’s handwriting. Found in the alumni archives\,”* the chairman had said.
He stopped in front of the old display cabinet and slowly opened the envelope. Inside was a faded photograph. A small boy—him—with tousled hair and a tentative smile, standing beside a woman whose eyes looked tired, but kind.
Behind the photo, folded once, was a handwritten note.
> If you ever feel alone\, go to the third floor of the East Wing. Ask for Room 3-17. He promised to wait for you there.
Archaell’s brow furrowed.
> That wing’s been sealed since the fire.
> Why now?
He folded the photo back into the envelope, jaw tight, eyes unreadable.
Cafeteria – Moments Later
The group was halfway through lunch when a girl in a crimson beret strode toward them with confident steps and an even more confident smile.
She stopped at their table, hands in her coat pockets.
“Are you Sky Quinn?”
Sky looked up, expression flat. “Depends who’s asking and what level of threat this is.”
“Elira,” she said, unbothered. “Journalism major. I don’t bite—unless it’s for a story.”
Venice immediately leaned forward. “She’s good. She interviewed the mayor once and made him cry.”
“I heard you’re top of your class,” Elira continued, “and I want to interview you.”
Sky tilted his head. “Interview? What do I look like, a celebrity’s kid?”
Venice coughed\, “You literally *are*.”
Elira shrugged. “Five questions, no fluff. I’ll email you.”
Sky narrowed his eyes. “Make it three. And you’re allowed to quote me calling the school cafeteria a war zone.”
“Deal.” She offered him a wink and walked away just as quickly as she came.
Noah blinked after her. “This school is wild.”
Student Council Room – Late Afternoon
The room was quiet except for the rhythmic tapping of fingers on a screen. Cassandra scrolled through the campus feed with a thoughtful hum.
“Sky Quinn now has a fan club forming,” she said. “He hasn’t even met you yet, and he’s already causing waves.”
Across from her, Archaell said nothing. His eyes were focused out the tall council window, dark thoughts threading quietly behind them.
He finally spoke, voice low.
“Maybe it’s time waves met fire.”
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments