🌹 THE ROSEGLID INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Episode 11 — "Too Close"
At
Roseglid International High School
distance was supposed to be easy.
Especially for
Damien Alexander Sinclair
Distance meant control.
Control meant clarity.
And clarity meant he wouldn't make mistakes.
But lately—
distance didn't feel like distance anymore.
Morning came with the usual noise.
Section F never changed.
Blake was loud.
Kai was laughing.
Jett was arguing.
Noah was typing.
And Ash—
walked in like nothing in the world could shake her.
Ashylene Rae Valyne
"Morning, chaos," she said, dropping her bag.
Blake pointed. "That's our line."
"Upgrade your lines," she replied.
She sat down.
Right beside him.
Like always.
Damien didn't move.
Didn't speak.
She glanced at him.
"…you're getting boring again."
Silence.
She leaned slightly closer.
"Did someone mute you?"
He turned his head slowly.
Looked at her.
For a second—
everything paused.
Then—
"Maybe I just don't feel like entertaining you."
She smirked.
"Then stop looking at me like I am."
That hit.
Because it was true.
He looked away first.
Again.
Noah noticed.
Of course he did.
His eyes moved between them quietly.
Analyzing.
Something was changing.
And it wasn't subtle anymore.
The class started.
No one paid attention.
Ash tapped her pen on the desk.
"You ever think we're wasting time here?"
Noah replied, "Statistically, yes."
She nodded.
"Good. Just checking."
Damien listened.
Without looking.
Because even now—
he couldn't stop noticing her.
The way she spoke.
The way she deflected.
The way she avoided anything real.
Just like the file said.
His jaw tightened slightly.
Lunch came faster than expected.
Or maybe time just blurred.
The cafeteria buzzed again.
Ash sat with Section F.
Like she belonged.
Because now—
she did.
Blake pushed a tray toward her.
"Peace offering."
She looked at it.
"…for what?"
"Existing," he said.
She laughed.
Took a bite.
"…acceptable."
Kai leaned back.
"You're getting comfortable."
She shrugged.
"Don't get used to it."
Jett smirked.
"Too late."
Noah sat beside her.
Silent.
But present.
Damien sat across from her.
Watching.
Again.
"You're staring," she said without looking up.
He didn't deny it.
"You don't get tired of pretending?" he asked suddenly.
The table went quiet.
Ash looked up slowly.
"…pretending what?"
"That nothing matters."
Silence stretched.
Blake leaned back.
"…okay this got deep."
Ash's eyes stayed on Damien.
Sharp.
Focused.
"Why do you care?" she asked.
He didn't answer immediately.
Because he didn't have one.
Not a real one.
"Answer," she said.
He leaned forward slightly.
"Because it's not real."
That hit.
Harder than expected.
Her expression shifted.
Just slightly.
Then—
she smiled.
That same careless smile.
"Reality is overrated," she said.
And went back to eating.
Conversation resumed.
Slowly.
But the tension—
stayed.
After lunch—
Ash didn't go to class.
She walked.
Alone.
Toward the back grounds.
Rose River.
Her place.
She sat on the grass again.
Music playing softly.
But today—
she wasn't relaxed.
Her fingers tapped against her arm.
Restless.
"…why does he keep saying things like that?" she muttered.
Footsteps approached.
She didn't look.
"You're predictable," she said.
"Then stop coming to the same place," Damien replied.
She sighed.
"…you again."
He sat beside her.
Closer than before.
She noticed.
But didn't move.
Silence settled.
Not awkward.
Not calm.
Just—
there.
"You think I'm pretending," she said.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you avoid everything that matters."
She turned her head.
Looked at him.
"And you don't?"
He didn't answer.
Because he did.
They both did.
That realization sat between them.
Heavy.
A breeze passed.
Soft.
For a moment—
everything slowed.
Then—
she spoke.
Quieter this time.
"What if I don't remember what matters?"
His breath caught.
Just for a second.
But he hid it.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
Careful.
She looked back at the water.
"Nothing."
Deflection.
Again.
But this time—
it wasn't sharp.
It wasn't confident.
It was uncertain.
And he saw it.
For the first time—
he saw the crack.
Not the chaos.
Not the attitude.
The doubt.
"You don't remember," he said quietly.
She stiffened slightly.
Then laughed it off.
"Wow. Now you're diagnosing me?"
He didn't react.
"Answer me," he said.
She stood up suddenly.
"I don't answer to you."
He stood too.
"Then stop acting like you don't care."
That hit.
Because she did.
She just didn't show it.
Her eyes locked with his.
"You don't get to decide how I act," she said.
"And you don't get to lie about who you are."
Silence.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
For a second—
it felt like everything would break.
Then—
she stepped back.
Putting distance between them.
"Careful, Sinclair," she said quietly.
"You're crossing lines you don't understand."
He didn't move.
"Then explain them."
She shook her head.
"You wouldn't get it."
"Try me."
She paused.
For a second—
it looked like she might.
Might say something real.
Something honest.
But then—
she smiled again.
That same smile.
And turned away.
"Not today."
And walked off.
Leaving him standing there.
Again.
But this time—
it didn't feel like control.
It felt like loss.
Of something he didn't even have yet.
Back near the building—
Noah stood watching.
He had seen everything.
The tension.
The shift.
And he didn't like it.
Because now—
this wasn't just a plan anymore.
This was something else.
Something unpredictable.
And unpredictable things—
broke systems.
Damien stood alone at the river.
His phone buzzed.
Another message.
"You're getting too close."
Another.
"Don't forget why you started."
His grip tightened.
His eyes darkened.
But his mind—
wasn't clear anymore.
Because now—
the plan wasn't simple.
The truth wasn't simple.
And Ash—
wasn't simple.
Far away—
on the rooftop—
Ash stood alone again.
Wind brushing past her.
Her hand rested over her chest.
Right where her necklace sat.
"…why does it feel like something is missing?" she whispered.
Her fingers tightened around the star.
And for a second—
a flash.
A memory.
A voice.
"Don't forget me—"
She gasped softly.
Stepping back.
Heart racing.
"…what was that?" she whispered.
The feeling vanished.
Just like before.
Leaving nothing behind.
But this time—
it didn't feel like nothing.
It felt like the beginning of something.
🌹 END OF EPISODE 11