Aria's POV
The next morning came softly sunlight slipping through the tall dorm windows, landing on polished floors and the faint shimmer of Aubrey's desk lamp. It was quiet, except for the distant hum of laughter from the hallway and the occasional slam of a locker door.
Aubrey yawned, brushing her hair into a messy ponytail. "Ready for your first real morning at Ravenwood?" she asked with a sleepy grin.
I smiled faintly. "As ready as I'll ever be."
We left the dorm together, following the sound of chatter that grew louder the closer we got to the cafeteria. The moment we stepped inside, the warm scent of coffee and baked bread filled the air. Sunlight poured through the glass ceiling, catching on silver trays and crystal cups, making everything gleam.
It wasn't just a cafeteria it looked more like a hotel dining hall. Groups of students sat clustered together, laughing, gossiping, already slotting into their social circles like puzzle pieces.
We grabbed our trays and picked our breakfast waffles, strawberries, and a cup of coffee each then scanned the room for a quiet spot.
"Let's sit over there," Aubrey said, nodding toward a corner table that seemed safely distant from the loud crowd in the middle.
Before we could reach it, a voice called out across the room.
"Hey, Aubrey! Over here!"
We turned to see a familiar face from last night's party tall, with messy blond hair and an easy grin. He waved us over like we were old friends.
Aubrey hesitated, then sighed. "That's Caleb. He's… persistent."
Before I could say anything, she grabbed my hand and walked us over.
As we reached the table, Caleb grinned wider. "Finally! I was starting to think you were avoiding us."
Aubrey gave him a polite smile. "Just been busy."
Liam's eyes flicked up at that moment those deep blue eyes meeting mine for the briefest second. There was a spark there, faint but unmistakable, before he looked away like it hadn't happened.
"Sit," Caleb said, motioning to the empty seats across from them. "You too," he added, pointing at me.
Aubrey sat down reluctantly, and I followed. The moment felt oddly charged maybe it was Liam's quiet gaze that kept brushing past me every few seconds.
Caleb leaned forward looking at me while resting his elbows on the table. "Alright, let's make this formal since Liam here is useless at introductions. I'm Caleb, resident troublemaker."
He gestured to the boy beside him. "That's Ethan. Don't let the nice face fool you he's trouble too."
Ethan shot him a glare but turned to Aubrey with a small smile. "Hey."
Aubrey managed a soft "hi," her eyes dropping almost instantly.
"And you already know Liam," Caleb added, smirking as he leaned back. "The golden boy himself."
Liam didn't deny it. He just looked at me again calm, unreadable, like he was trying to figure something out.
Caleb tilted his head, eyes glinting with mischief. "And who is this gorgeous lady, if I may ask?"
Aubrey rolled her eyes. "Caleb—"
"What?" he interrupted, grinning. "You didn't tell me your new roommate was this stunning. That's unfair, Hale."
I couldn't help a small smile. "I'm Aria," I said simply.
Caleb nodded approvingly. "Aria. Elegant name. Haven't seen you around before. You hiding, or are you new to our little circus?"
"I'm a transfer student," I replied, steady but polite. "Just trying to survive my first week."
"Ah, the brave newcomer." Caleb leaned back dramatically. "You deserve a medal. Or at least a personal tour guide."
Aubrey snorted. "Don't volunteer yourself."
"Why not? I give great tours," Caleb shot back. "Starting with the cafeteria, where the coffee is strong enough to wake the dead and the gossip's even stronger."
That made me laugh, quietly. "Sounds… welcoming."
"Depends on your definition," Liam said suddenly, his voice low but clear.
I glanced at him, surprised. He wasn't smiling but his tone held a trace of something close to amusement.
Caleb grinned, catching the subtle tension. "Don't mind him, Aria. Liam just likes to sound mysterious. It's his way of keeping people guessing."
Liam's gaze shifted to him, then back to me. "And yet you never stop talking."
"Someone has to fill the silence," Caleb said with a wink. "Anyway, Aria word of advice. Stick close to Aubrey. She's one of the few sane people left in this place."
Aubrey smiled lightly. "That's probably the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
"Don't get used to it," Caleb teased. Then, glancing at our trays, he added, "You two have waffles too? Guess we've got good taste."
Aubrey raised a brow. "Or maybe we just picked the only thing that didn't look suspicious."
Caleb laughed. "Touché." He stood, grabbing his cup.
—-
As we all stood to leave, Caleb glanced between us, balancing his cup in one hand.
"So, what's everyone got first?" he asked casually. "Maybe we're heading the same way."
"I've got Literature."Aubrey said
Caleb groaned. "Ouch. I've got Economics. That's my personal nightmare."
He turned to me. "What about you, Aria?"
"History," I said.
Before he could respond, Liam spoke up for the first time since we stood. "Same here."
Caleb's grin widened immediately. "Well, that settles it. You two can walk together. Liam's basically a walking campus map might as well put that big brain of his to use."
Liam shot him a look that said don't push it, but Caleb only smirked.
"Ok," I said quietly, adjusting my bag.
We started toward the exit, the group naturally splitting as Caleb and Aubrey fell into a playful argument behind us. Liam walked beside me, his steps steady, unhurried.
"So," he said after a moment, his voice smooth, low enough that it almost blended with the chatter in the hallway. "How are you finding Ravenwood so far?"
"It's… different," I replied, glancing around at the sea of polished uniforms and expensive watches. "Louder than my old school."
Liam gave a soft chuckle. "That's one way to put it. You'll get used to the noise."
"I'm not sure I want to," I admitted, half teasing.
He looked at me then, really looked, his expression unreadable. "You're not like most people here, are you?"
I hesitated. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
He tilted his head slightly, eyes glinting. "Depends who you ask."
Something about the way he said it made me curious like there was more behind those words, something layered and unspoken.
We reached the staircase that split off toward different halls. Liam slowed his pace glancing at me. "This way," he said, motioning left. "History's in the east wing. I'll show you the way."
"Thanks," I said softly.
"Don't thank me yet," he replied with the faintest smirk. "Wait till you meet the professor."
Despite myself, I laughed quietly, but real. And for a brief second, his eyes softened, the edges of his usual composure fading.
It wasn't much, but in a school full of masks and whispers, that small, genuine moment felt… different.