Hidden Lines Between Us
1
[Morning – Outside the school gates]
Rowan Hale (MC)
Crowded. Loud. Great.
(He pulls his cap lower, shoulders tense.)
Rowan (thinking):
Just survive the day.
No attention.
No slip-ups.
He steps forward, eyes scanning exits, people, shadows—
habit, not fear.
[He Turned And Bumped Into Someone ]
—THUD—
Shoulders collide, solid — neither moves back.
A silent shock runs through both.
Both straighten.
Rowan Hale (MC)
“Watch where you’re going.”
Adrian Marcer (ML)
“I could say the same.
You walk like the world owes you space.”
Rowan Hale (MC)
“And you talk like you own it.”
Adrian Marcer (ML)
“…Interesting. I don’t remember picking a fight today.”
Rowan Hale (MC)
"then walk.”
They stand there, two strangers refusing to look away first.
A quiet battle of will.
A strange, magnetic tension neither understands—but both feel.
[Nearby students whisper]
Student 1:
“Who are they?”
Student 2:
“weirdo. But handsoms"
Adrian Marcer (ML)
(steps closer, voice low)
“Are you always this rude… or is today special?”
A spark of challenge in his eyes.
Sharp. Controlled. Dangerous.
Rowan Hale (MC)
“I don’t waste special days on strangers.”
Adrian Marcer (ML)
“…Cute.” (smile)
A dangerous word.
Not playful — provoking.
Rowan Hale (MC)
“Say that again.”
Their eyes lock.
A stillness falls over them — heavy, electric, almost physical.
Someone bumps into them from behind]
Student:
“Sorry! Move—!”
Rowan is pushed forward.
Adrian’s hand shoots out — instinct — gripping Rowan’s wrist firmly.
Not gentle.
Not soft.
Just strength.
Rowan Hale (MC)
"Let go" (teeth Gritted)
Adrian Marcer (ML)
(slows, releases)
“don’t block the hallway next time.”
(Sarcastic smile)
Rowan Hale (MC)
"don’t grab strangers.” (sarcastic smile)
Adrian Marcer (ML)
"don’t fall.”
Rowan Hale (MC)
"shut up.”
Adrian Marcer (ML)
(steps past him slowly)
“Try not to get in my way again.”
Rowan Hale (MC)
“Relax. I don’t repeat mistakes.”
Adrian Marcer (ML)
(smirk barely visible)
“We’ll see.”
They walk away…
Both glance back—
quick, unplanned, irritated at themselves for doing it.
2
Teacher
“Class, we have a new transfer student today. Please introduce yourself.”
Rowan steps forward.
Hands in his pockets.
Expression steady, unreadable.
Rowan Hale (MC)
“…Rowan Hale.”
Silence —
That’s all he says.
No details.
No smiles.
No background.
The class stares, a little confused.
Teacher
“…Alright. Rowan, you’ll sit next to Adrian Mercer.”
Adrian looks up from his book for half a second.
Expression cold, bored, uninterested.
Then he looks away, as if Rowan’s existence doesn’t matter.
Rowan Hale (MC)
“…tsk.”
(quiet click of tongue)
[30 minutes]
[Class Time]
No talking.
No sparks.
Just a strange, heavy awareness.
Rowan keeps his head down, writing neatly,
but he can feel Adrian’s presence like a quiet pressure beside him.
Adrian doesn’t glance even once.
The period ends quietly.
Too quietly.
[After a Few Classes]
[Lunch Bell Rings]
Hallway → Cafeteria Corridor
Rowan kept his head slightly lowered, hands in his pockets, moving toward the cafeteria—until—
—THUD—
He bumped shoulders with someone.
Brett
(frowns) “Are you blind or something?”
Rowan Hale (MC)
(lifts his head, unimpressed) “
I could ask you the same question.”
Brett
“You talking back to me?”
Rowan Hale (MC)
“Why? You think I’m not allowed to?”
Brett's Freind
(snorts) “Bro, he shut you up.”
Brett
(jaw tightens, annoyed at his friend) “Say sorry.”
Rowan Hale (MC)
(small scoff, amused) “Yeah… that’s not happening.”
Brett
Brett: “You little—”
He grabbed Rowan’s collar and raised his hand to strike.
Rowan Hale (MC)
(quick reflex) “Don’t.”
He caught Brett’s wrist mid-air—then THAP —punched him with the other hand.
The Fight Breaks Out
A circle of students formed around them.
Shouting. Whispering. Phones out.
___
And leaning casually against a wall…
Adrian.
Arms crossed.
Expression unreadable—until Rowan threw another punch.
His eyes lit up.
A spark. A subtle, entertained smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
______
Oh? So his hands move as fast as his mouth.💭
Brett
Brett: “You’re dead!”
(He lunged).
Rowan dodged, twisted Brett’s arm, shoved him back.
The hallway erupted with noise.
Adrian continued watching—calm, curious, almost amused.
-----
During the commotion, Brett stumbled backward—
—straight into Adrian.
Adrian: (raises a brow) …
Rowan, thinking someone else was attacking him from behind, whipped around and—
—THUD—
Rowan punched Adrian straight across the cheek.
Silence crashed over the hallway.
Even Brett froze.
Rowan: (eyes widen slightly, breath catches)
He hadn’t meant to hit Adrian—
but he didn’t apologize.
Adrian: (touches his cheek slowly, eyes darkening with growing anger) …
He exhaled sharply through his nose—
A clear sign he was losing control.
Rowan Hale (MC)
(steps back, ready to walk away) “Whatever. I’m done here—”
Suddenly—
Adrian grabbed Rowan’s collar like a predator catching prey.
Adrian Marcer (ML)
(low voice, dangerous tone) “You hit the wrong person.”
—BAM!—
A hard punch slammed into Rowan’s face.
Students:
“Holy sh*t—”
“Adrian?!”
“No way—”
-------
Rowan wiped blood from his lip.
His expression hardened.
Rowan Hale (MC)
Rowan: “hoh. So that’s how we’re doing this” (Smirk)
—WHAM—
His knee slammed into Adrian’s stomach.
Adrian staggered, but quickly blocked the next blow—
A half-smirk appearing through the pain, as if he was enjoying this too much.
The fight turned brutal—fast, sharp movements, crowd yelling louder.
Then finally—
Random Student: “Teacher! Someone call a teacher!”
The teacher stormed into the hallway, scolding all three—Rowan, Adrian, and Brett—before anyone could say a word.
Students were immediately chased back to their classrooms, leaving the three boys standing there like culprits.
Brett’s friends had already run off, so only he ended up getting caught with them.
By the end, the verdict was simple and strict: one week of after-school cleaning duty for all three.
A two-minute fight… and now they were stuck together for days.
3
The moment the punishment was announced, Rowan left the school grounds without looking back. His steps were heavy, fast, annoyed.
Rowan Hale (MC)
(muttering under his breath, head lowered)
“I thought… this time I’d finally enjoy a peaceful school life.”
He rubbed his face with both hands, frustration spilling out.
Rowan Hale (MC)
"I thought I’d make a few good friends.”
Rowan Hale (MC)
“I thought I wouldn’t get into fights anymore.”
His voice cracked slightly.
Rowan Hale (MC)
“But everything got ruined… again.”
He suddenly tilted his head back toward the sky and let out a raw, frustrated scream.
People walking nearby turned to stare.
Some whispered “weirdo” before walking off.
Rowan Hale (MC)
“It’s all because of that bastard—Adrian Mercer.”
Rowan Hale (MC)
"I swear, I’ll kill him. I’ll actually kill him.”
he kept walking, anger pushing his steps forward—
yet never once admitting he’d thrown the first punch.
Adrian stepped out of his car, his jaw tight with irritation.
Adrian Marcer (ML)
“That bastard… I’m going to kill him.”
He had thought the fight was entertaining.
But the slap?
And the punch?
Unforgivable.
All the way home, his mind replayed Rowan’s face—
not with fear or guilt…
but with challenge.
As soon as he entered, the butler bowed politely.
Butler
“Young master, welcome home.”
Adrian Marcer (ML)
“Where are Mom and Dad?”
Butler
“They went to meet a client. And Miss Elvira is already home.”
Before Adrian could say anything else, a pretty girl hurried down the stairs, excitement glowing on her face.
Elvira Marcer
(grinning):
“Good news or bad news!”
Adrian Marcer (ML)
“…Bad news.”
Elvira Marcer
“I broke your laptop.”
Adrian jolted upright from the couch, eyes wide—
but froze when she added:
Elvira Marcer
“Good news — the guy Mom and Dad wanted to engage me to… ran away.”
She was only a third-year high schooler, but her parents insisted on a business marriage.
She cried, begged, protested—
but no one listened.
Adrian had tried to refuse on her behalf too,
but he’d been scolded and told to stay out of it.
Now, hearing the news…
Adrian Marcer (ML)
(relieved, ruffling her hair):
“Good. I would’ve killed him myself anyway.”
Reaching school, Rowan opened his locker—folded notes to fall straight to the floor.
Rowan Hale (MC)
💭Seriously? It’s only my first day and I’m already getting love letters?💭
He thought with an exhausted sigh.
He picked one up, muttering under his breath, and unfolded it. His eyes widened.
Rowan Hale (MC)
"Wow. This is the first time I’ve received a challenge letter instead of a love letter…"
He opened the second one —another challenge.
Back in his old school, his locker would be overflowing with confessions.
But this? This was new.
Why?
Then he remembered—
in his last school, he had held himself back for months because his parents demanded it.
But here?
No one stopped him.
He’d started a fight on the very first day.
Just then, a loud thwick—thwick—thwick echoed down the hallway. Rowan turned.
Adrian stood in front of his locker… while dozens of letters poured out like a waterfall. Some hit the ground, others stayed inside, and the hallway fell into stunned silence.
Students turned—
first toward the letters,
then toward Adrian.
He looked like someone who didn’t need an introduction to steal attention.
No wonder the letters kept coming.
After seeing his face, everyone understood immediately.
Of course this was possible.
This was Adrian.
Adrian picked up one letter between two fingers and held it toward Rowan.
Adrian Marcer (ML)
“You want one?”
Rowan Hale (MC)
“Get lost.”
He slammed his locker shut and headed for class, irritation simmering.
Rowan Hale (MC)
Even after getting beaten yesterday, he still stands in front of me like nothing happened…💭
Rowan thought as he pushed open the classroom door.
Rowan Hale (MC)
I mean, I fought on the first day… but I’m handsome too. That should count for something.💭
Adrian Marcer (ML)
“Who told you you’re handsome?”
Rowan rolled his eyes and dropped into his seat.
Rowan Hale (MC)
“Hey, girls,”
he asked, not bothering to look up,
“am I handsome or not?”
The girls stared for a moment… then flushed and nodded quickly.
Adrian Marcer (ML)
“He’s not handsome… he’s pretty.”
He placed a friendly hand on Rowan’s shoulder and flashed a warm, easy smile.
Rowan blinked. This was not the same guy from yesterday.
A smiling Adrian?
Did he hit his head overnight?
Rowan Hale (MC)
“Be honest—did I hit you too hard yesterday? I didn’t aim for your head. So why are you acting like this?”
Adrian Marcer (ML)
“Nothing happened. I was just thinking… we’re going to spend a year or two in the same school. Why not be friends?” (Smile)
Adrian made a dramatic gagging sound and scooted his chair away, pulling out his books.
The teacher walked in, finally forcing him to quiet down—
though not entirely.
Every few minutes, he found an excuse to bother Rowan.
Adrian Marcer (ML)
“Hey, I forgot my book—share yours.”
Adrian Marcer (ML)
"Wait, I didn’t understand this question—explain.”
Adrian Marcer (ML)
"Move your hand, I can’t see.”
Since the teacher was nearby, Rowan couldn’t even refuse.
He just endured silently as Adrian kept poking, whispering, leaning over his shoulder, pretending not to notice Rowan’s growing irritation.
It was going to be a long day.
A very long day.
---
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