I couldn't stop thinking about him.
No matter how hard I tried.
It followed me home. Sat with me in silence. Crawled into my thoughts when I was supposed to be focusing.
The way he walked in.
The way everyone froze.
The way no one stopped him.
Kael Draven.
The name alone felt… heavy.
I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling, replaying everything like a scene from one of those intense high school movies—except this wasn't a screen.
This was real.
And somehow, that made it worse.
How can one person be feared… and still admired?
It didn't make sense to me.
It shouldn't make sense.
And yet—
I couldn't deny it.
He was… attractive.
Dangerously so.
The kind of attractive that didn't feel safe.
I frowned, turning to my side.
"No," I whispered to myself.
I wasn't going to be like those girls.
I didn't care how "hot" he was. I didn't care what people said about him. A bully was a bully.
And I had not come to this school for distractions.
I came here for one thing.
To be the best.
With that, I pushed the thoughts away and focused on my assignment.
Or at least… I tried to.
The next morning, I got to school earlier than usual.
This time, I didn't need directions. My steps were more confident, more certain—but the stares?
Still there.
I ignored them.
Or at least, I pretended to.
First period passed.
Then second.
Nothing unusual—just classes, notes, and an overwhelming amount of work.
And honestly?
I liked it.
It grounded me.
It reminded me why I was here.
By the third class, the teacher assigned us into pairs for a group task.
"Join someone beside you."
I glanced to my right.
A girl smiled at me almost immediately.
"You can join me."
Her voice was warm. Easy.
I hesitated for a second before moving my chair slightly closer.
"Thank you."
"You're the new girl, right?" she asked, her eyes lighting up with curiosity—not judgment.
I nodded. "Yeah."
"You're really pretty," she added casually, like it wasn't a big deal.
I wasn't used to compliments that felt… genuine.
"Thank you," I said softly, pulling out my pen.
"I'm Talia."
I opened my mouth to introduce myself, but she cut in with a grin.
"Seraphina Vale. I already know."
I blinked, slightly surprised.
She laughed. "News travels fast here."
For the first time since I got to that school—
I smiled properly.
We exchanged numbers not long after and got into the assignment. It was surprisingly easy working with her. We flowed well. Understood each other without trying too hard.
And for a moment…
Everything felt normal.
Almost like I could actually belong here.
Break time came faster than I expected.
The classroom emptied quickly, students rushing out in groups, laughter echoing through the hallways.
I took a breath before standing.
Cafeteria.
Just thinking about it made my stomach tighten slightly.
But I couldn't hide forever.
So I went.
The walk there was quieter this time. People were too busy with their own conversations to pay much attention to me.
Good.
I liked it that way.
I got my food—a cheeseburger and a milkshake—and turned to leave.
And that's when I felt it.
That shift.
That awareness.
Like something had locked onto me.
Slowly… I looked up.
A group of boys stood not too far away.
Laughing. Talking. Watching.
My chest tightened.
And then I saw him.
Kael Draven.
He wasn't doing anything.
Not speaking.
Not moving.
Just… looking at me.
But it wasn't normal looking.
It was focused.
Intent.
Like he had already decided something.
My grip on my tray tightened.
No.
This was exactly what I didn't want.
I broke eye contact immediately and started walking faster, my heart picking up speed.
Don't look back. Just leave.
I could feel it though.
His presence.
Heavy.
Following.
Then—
"Hey."
A voice beside me.
I stopped.
Slowly.
One of his friends stood there.
Not as intimidating. Not as intense. But still—
Connected to him.
"My guy wants to see you," he said calmly, like it was a normal thing.
My stomach dropped.
I didn't even need to ask who.
"I'm not interested," I replied quickly, trying to keep my voice steady.
I moved to walk past him.
He stepped in front of me again.
Still calm. Still smiling.
"You don't understand," he said, pulling out a small piece of paper and a pen. "Just write your number."
I stared at it.
Then at him.
Then back at the paper.
"No."
The word came out firmer this time.
His smile didn't fade.
It just… changed.
Slightly.
"Do you know who you're saying no to?"
I stayed silent.
That was safer.
"He doesn't chase," the guy continued. "He attracts."
My fingers tightened around my tray.
"And now that he's noticed you…" he added, his voice dropping just a little, "…you don't really have a choice."
Something in me snapped.
Not fear.
Something else.
"I do have a choice," I said quietly. "And I'm not interested."
For a second, he just looked at me.
Then he laughed softly.
"I see you're new."
I didn't respond.
"Pretty too," he added, his eyes scanning me in a way that made my skin crawl. "You'll understand soon."
He stepped aside.
Just like that.
Letting me go.
But it didn't feel like freedom.
It felt like a warning.
I didn't walk back to class.
I ran.
My heart was racing by the time I pushed the door open and rushed inside.
Talia was already there.
She looked up immediately.
"Hey—what hap—"
"Kael," I cut in.
That was all it took.
Her expression changed instantly.
"What did he do?" she asked, sitting up straight.
I told her everything. Fast. Breathless.
By the time I finished—
She was staring at me like I had just stepped into something irreversible.
"Seraphina…" she said slowly. "That's not good."
"I didn't even do anything!" I whispered.
"That doesn't matter."
Her tone was serious now.
Too serious.
"Kael doesn't need a reason," she continued. "If he wants something… he gets it."
A chill ran down my spine.
"I'm not something to get," I said, more to myself than to her.
Talia didn't argue.
That scared me more.
"He's in the next class," she added quietly.
Right next door.
Closer than I thought.
Closer than I wanted.
I swallowed hard, my mind racing.
I didn't come here for this.
I didn't ask for this.
And yet—
It had already started.
Because somewhere… not too far away—
Kael Draven had seen me.
And something told me…
He wasn't going to look away.