🌹 THE ROSEGLID INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Episode 7 — "Lines You Shouldn't Cross"
At
Roseglid International High School
the tension didn't fade overnight.
It settled.
Like something waiting.
Watching.
Morning came with noise, as usual.
Section F wasn't known for silence.
Blake was arguing with Hunter about something pointless, Jett spinning a ball again, Kai laughing too loud.
Everything looked normal.
But it wasn't.
Because
Damien Alexander Sinclair
was quiet.
Too quiet.
He sat in his usual seat, the envelope inside his bag, untouched since last night.
Or maybe not untouched.
His mind replayed it constantly.
Photos.
Headlines.
Ash.
Questions he couldn't answer.
The door opened.
And she walked in.
Ashylene Rae Valyne
Same walk.
Same confidence.
Same energy like nothing in the world could shake her.
"Morning, disasters," she said, dropping her bag.
Blake pointed. "She's insulting us with affection now."
Ash sat beside Noah, not even glancing at Damien.
"Don't get used to it."
Noah slid a drink toward her again.
"Boba."
She took it without hesitation.
"…consistent. I respect that."
From across the room—
Damien noticed.
Every small thing.
Every interaction.
Every laugh.
And something twisted again.
Unfamiliar.
Annoying.
Kai leaned forward.
"So, Ash, you coming to the after-school hangout?"
She raised a brow.
"Depends. Is it boring?"
Jett scoffed. "It's us. It's never boring."
Blake added, "We're going near the Rose Bridge."
Ash paused for half a second.
Then shrugged.
"Fine. But if it's lame, I'm leaving."
"Deal," Kai grinned.
Damien spoke for the first time.
"She's not coming."
Silence.
Everyone looked at him.
Ash turned slowly.
"…excuse me?"
He leaned back.
"It's not your kind of place."
Blake frowned. "Since when do we have 'types'?"
Damien ignored him.
His eyes stayed on Ash.
"You won't like it."
Ash stood up.
Walked toward him.
Stopped right in front of his desk.
"Or," she said calmly, "you don't want me there."
The class went quiet.
Watching.
Damien didn't look away.
"Believe what you want."
She smiled.
"I will."
Then leaned slightly closer.
"See you there."
And walked back to her seat.
Like she just accepted a challenge.
The day passed slower than usual.
Or maybe it just felt like it.
Because something was building.
Afternoon.
The Rose Bridge.
Section F gathered like always.
Laughing.
Messy.
Alive.
Ash arrived last.
Hands in pockets.
Eyes scanning.
"You better not waste my time," she said.
Blake raised his hands. "We're entertaining people."
She looked around.
"…where's the entertainment?"
"Us," Jett said proudly.
She stared at him.
"…we need better marketing."
Laughter broke out.
Even Noah's lips curved slightly.
Damien stood a little away from them.
Watching.
Again.
But this time—
he wasn't just observing.
He was deciding.
Vanessa watched too.
From the other side.
Hidden.
Not alone.
Two girls stood with her, whispering.
"Now?" one asked.
Vanessa smiled slowly.
"Now."
Back near the group—
Ash leaned against the railing.
Looking at the water.
For once—
quiet.
Kai nudged her.
"You're not talking. That's new."
She shrugged.
"Enjoy it while it lasts."
Blake grinned. "We're witnessing history."
Then—
it started.
A voice from behind.
Loud.
Clear.
"So this is where the troublemakers hang out."
Everyone turned.
Vanessa.
Walking toward them.
Phone in hand.
Live recording.
Ash's expression didn't change.
But her eyes sharpened.
Vanessa stopped in front of them.
Smiling for the camera.
"Guys, look who I found," she said sweetly. "Our favorite violent new student."
Murmurs started.
Phones came out.
Recording.
Again.
Ash pushed off the railing.
"Obsessed much?"
Vanessa tilted her head.
"Just exposing the truth."
Ash laughed softly.
"Then expose something interesting."
Vanessa's smile didn't drop.
"Oh, I will."
She stepped closer.
Lowered her voice just enough—
"People should know what kind of person you are."
Ash didn't move.
"Go ahead."
Vanessa raised her phone slightly.
"Say that again. Louder."
Silence stretched.
The air shifted.
This wasn't just petty anymore.
This was planned.
Damien stepped forward.
"Enough."
Vanessa glanced at him.
"Oh? Protecting her now?"
He didn't answer.
Just looked at her.
Cold.
Sharp.
"Turn it off."
Vanessa smiled wider.
"Or what?"
Ash stepped in.
Between them.
"Relax," she said casually. "Let her talk."
Damien's gaze snapped to her.
"Don't."
She didn't look at him.
"I said it's fine."
Vanessa laughed softly.
"See? Even she knows she can't hide forever."
Ash tilted her head.
"Hide what?"
Vanessa's eyes gleamed.
"That's the fun part."
For a second—
something flickered across Ash's face.
Gone quickly.
But Damien saw it.
Vanessa turned the camera back toward herself.
"Let's see how long this act lasts," she said.
Then—
she stepped back.
Still smiling.
Still recording.
The group stood tense.
Blake muttered, "I don't like her."
Kai nodded. "No one does."
Noah glanced at Ash.
"You okay?"
Ash shrugged.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
But her voice—
wasn't as light as usual.
Damien watched her.
Closely.
Too closely.
The envelope in his bag felt heavier than ever.
The sun dipped lower.
The group slowly started moving again.
Trying to ignore what just happened.
But the mood had changed.
Ash stepped away from them.
Walking toward the edge of the bridge.
Alone.
Damien followed.
Without thinking.
She didn't turn when he stopped beside her.
"Say it," she said quietly.
He frowned.
"Say what?"
"Whatever you've been thinking all day."
Silence.
Then—
"You're hiding something."
She let out a soft breath.
"…you really don't let things go, do you?"
"No."
She turned to face him.
Eyes steady.
"And what if I am?"
He stepped closer.
"Then I want to know."
"Why?"
"Because—"
He stopped.
Didn't finish.
Because what?
Because of the plan?
Because of the past?
Because of something else?
Ash waited.
Then smirked faintly.
"Exactly," she said.
And turned away again.
His hand moved before his mind caught up.
He grabbed her wrist.
Again.
But this time—
tighter.
"Don't do that."
She looked at him.
At his grip.
Then back at his eyes.
"Do what?"
"Act like nothing matters."
Something in her expression shifted.
Slightly.
"Maybe nothing does."
"That's not true."
"You don't know that."
Their voices were low.
Close.
Too close.
He let go slowly.
But didn't step back.
"You're lying," he said quietly.
She held his gaze.
"And you're digging where you shouldn't."
Silence.
Heavy.
From a distance—
Vanessa watched.
Still.
Recording everything.
A slow smile forming.
Ash stepped back.
Putting space between them.
"Careful, Sinclair," she said.
"You're starting to care."
That hit.
Hard.
Damien didn't reply.
Couldn't.
She turned.
Walking away again.
But this time—
slower.
He watched her go.
Again.
But something felt different now.
The line between plan and reality—
was starting to blur.
And for the first time—
Damien wasn't sure
which side he was on.
Behind the trees—
the hooded figure appeared again.
Watching.
Phone raised.
A message sent.
"She's reacting. Move to next step."
🌹 END OF EPISODE 7