Rain hit the car window in slow, uneven drops as Ivy Laurent stared outside without blinking. The town looked grey, lifeless, almost abandoned beneath the storm clouds hanging low in the sky.

 Perfect.

Places like this never ask questions.

Her fingers tightened around the strap of her old backpack resting on her lap. The zipper was broken, and one side was badly stitched with black thread she had sewn herself months ago.

"Blackwood isn't bad," Mrs. Greene said from the driver's seat.

Ivy didn't answer.

She wasn't really listening anyway.

Mrs. Greene sighed softly. "Your new school starts today, so try not to-"

"cause any trouble?" Ivy finished coldly.

Silence filled the car.

Mrs.Greene gripped the steering wheel tighter but said nothing after that. Most people stopped lecturing  Ivy after spending a few minutes with her.

She had that effect on people.

The school gate appeared ahead, tall iron bars with words Blackwood Academy written in silver across the top.

Students crowded near the entrance, umbrellas in hand, and expensive cars parked outside.

Laughter echoed through the rain.

Ivy already hated it.

The moment the car stopped, she grabbed her bag and stepped outside, even before Mrs. Greene could say goodbye.

Cold rain soaked through her hoodie instantly.

Good, at least the weather matched her mood.

-

Whispers started before she even entered the building.

"That's the new girl."

"She's the one who got suspended."

"I heard she made a girl cry so badly that she transferred schools."

"No, someone said she beat up a senior."

Ivy ignored all of it.

People talked too much.

The school hallway smelled like perfume, books, and freshly cleaned floors. Lockers lined the walls while students openly stared at her as she walked past them.

Some curious.

Some nervous.

Some judgmental.

Nothing new.

She reached the administration office and pushed the door open quietly.

A woman with glasses looked up from her desk.

"You must be Ivy Laurent."

Ivy nodded once.

The woman smiled awkwardly. " I'm Mrs. Carter. Here is your schedule."

She handed Ivy a paper before lowering her voice slightly.

"And try to make a good impression here."

Ivy almost laughed.

Too late for that.

-

Class 12 - A was loud when Ivy entered.

The teacher stopped speaking immediately.

So did everyone else.

Thirty pairs of eyes turned towards her.

"Class," the teacher cleared his throat, "this is Ivy Laurent. She transferred here recently."

"There is one empty seat left," the teacher continued."You can sit beside Adria n Cole."

The room somehow became even quieter.

A few girls exchanged shocked looks.

Someone muttered, "Seriously?"

Ivy frowned slightly before walking toward the empty desk near the back window.

The boy sitting there looked up slowly.

Dark hair, Grey eyes, Calm expression.

Too calm.

Unlike everyone else staring at her like she was dangerous, he looked at her like he knew her.

Ivy pulled her chair back and sat down without a word.

But she could feel his eyes on her.

Studying her.

Remembering something.

"You still hate rainy days," he said quietly.

Her fingers froze over her notebook.

Slowly, Ivy turned towards him.

"What?"

The boy leaned back lazily in his chair, though his eyes never left hers.

"Nothing," he said.

But the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

Like he knew something.

Ivy looked away immediately, irritation rising in her chest.

Who even was this guy?

The rest of the class passed painfully slow.

Girls kept glancing at Adrian while glaring at Ivy.

Of course.

Popular boy.

Jealous admirers.

Typical.

When the bell finally rang, Ivy stood quickly and grabbed her bag.

But before she could leave, someone blocked her path.

A blonde girl crossed her arms. "You should stay away from Adrian."

Ivy stared at her blankly. "Move."

The girl looked offended. "Do you know who you're talking to?"

"No," Ivy replied coldly. "And I don't care."

A few students gasped quietly.

The girl's face turned red. "You think acting tough makes you special?"

Ivy stepped closer slightly.

"No," she said softly. "But it usually makes annoying people shut up.

The hallway fell silent.

The blonde girl looked humiliated before storming away angrily.

Ivy sighed tiredly and continued walking.

People immediately moved aside for her.

Same as always.

But then-

'You haven't changed a bit."

That voice again.

Ivy stopped walking and turned around sharply.

Adrian stood a few feet away, hands in the pockets, watching her.

Like he'd been watching her for years.

"I think you've mistaken me for someone else."

Ivy said coldly.

For a second, unreadable crossed his face.

Then he smiled faintly.

"No," Adrian said quietly.

"I definitely haven't."

The cafeteria was louder than Ivy expected.

Trys slammed against tables, students laughed too loudly, and gossip spread faster than wildfire through the crowded room. The moment Ivy stepped inside, conversations lowered into whispers.

She ignored them.

Again.

Keeping her hood up, she walked towards the farthest corner of the cafeteria with a coffee and a sandwich she probably wouldn't eat.

People stared openly.

Some curious.

Some cautions.

Others looked almost disappointed, like they expected her to punch someone already.

Ivy sat down alone and pulled out her phone, pretending not to notice.

But years of surviving taught her one thing-

People always talked louder when they thought you couldn't hear them.

"That's her?"

"She doesn't look scary."

"My cousin went to her school. Apparently, she made girls cry for fun."

"No, I heard she threw a chair at a teacher."

Ivy took a slow sip of coffee.

Idiots.

Across the cafeteria, Adrian Cole leaned back in his chair while his friends argued over basketball practice. But unlike them, Adrian wasn't paying attention to the conversation.

His eyes kept drifting towards Ivy.

Mason noticed immediately.

"You've been staring at the new girl since morning," he said, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

Adrian looked away casually. "Have I?"

"Yes," Mason deadpanned. "It's creepy."

A girl sitting nearby sighed dreamily. "Maybe he just thinks she's pretty."

"She threatened Chloe in less  than five minutes."

Another girl whispered. "That's terrifying."

Mason smirked slightly. "Honesty? impressive."

Adrian stayed quiet.

Because none of them understood.

None of them remembered the small girl sitting alone in the corner of an orphanage years ago,

holding a broken storybook with bruised hands.

None of them remembered the girl who stood between them and the three older boys, despite being terrified herself.

But he did.

Every detail.

Even after all these years.

As if sensing his stare, Ivy suddenly looked up.

Their eyes met across the cafeteria.

Adrian didn't look away.

Ivy frowned instantly.

"What was wrong with this guy?" she thought.

Before she could think further, someone slammed both hands on her table.

Chloe Bennett.

Of course.

The blonde girl crossed her arms while three of her friends stood behind her like backup dancers.

"You think embarrassing me this morning was funny?" Chloe snapped.

Ivy looked back down at her phone. "You're blocking my sunlight."

The girls behind Chloe gasped dramatically.

Chloe's face reddened. "Listen carefully. Adrian doesn't associate with people like you."

Ivy sighed tiredly. "Violent girls with a trashy reputation."

For a moment, the cafeteria became strangely quiet.

Everyone was listening now.

Ivy slowly put her phone down.

The dangerous thing about her wasn't anger.

It was how calm she became when hurt.

"You done?" she asked softly.

Chloe laughed sarcastically. "Aw, did I hit a nerve?"

Ivy stood up slowly.

Even Chloe looked nervous for a second.

"I don't care about your little school drama," Ivy said quietly. "So if your entire personality revolves around a guy who barely notices you, that sounds like your problem. Not mine.

A few students choked trying not to laugh.

Chloe looked humiliated.

"You-"

"Chloe."

Adrian's voice cut through the tension instantly.

The entire cafeteria turned silent.

He walked towards them calmly, hands inside his pockets.

Chloe immediately changed expressions.

"Adrian, I was just-"

"You're causing a scene," he interrupted.

Her face fell.

"But she insulted me!"

Adrian glanced briefly toward Ivy before looking back at Chloe.

"And?"

The single word hit harder than shouting.

Chloe stared at him in disbelief while whispers exploded around the cafeteria.

Ivy frowned slightly.

Why is he defending her?

Adrian looked toward Ivy again. "Come with me."

She blinked once. "Excuse me?"

"You haven't eaten," he said.

"...Were you watching me?"

"A little."

"What a creep."

Mason nearly spit out his drink, laughing from across the room.

But Adrian only smiled slightly.

"You still skip meals when stressed."

Ivy's expression changed instantly.

Again.

That strange feeling.

Like he knew things he shouldn't.

Her chest tightened uncomfortably.

"Who are you?" she asked quietly.

For the first time, Adrian's smile faded.

Something softer appeared in his eyes.

"You really don't remember me," he murmured.

Before Ivy could respond, the bell rang loudly across campus.

Students immediately began moving toward the exits.

Adrian stepped aside slowly."We have literature next."

Ivy grabbed her bag carefully without taking her eyes off him.

"You're weird," she muttered.

A small laugh escaped him. "Yeah. probably.'

Then she walked away.

But this time, for some reason, she couldn't explain-

Ivy Laurent could still feel his eyes following her long after she disappeared into the hallway.

The literature class was painfully boring.

At least, that was what Ivy felt kept telling herself as she stared blankly at the words written across the whiteboard. Around her, students whispered, passed notes, and occasionally glanced in her direction before quickly looking away.

Like she might attack them for staring too long.

Ivy rested her chin on her hand and ignored everyone.

Especially Adrian.

Yet somehow, she could still feel his presence beside her.

Calm.

Quiet.

Watching.

It was irritating

The bell finally rang, and students rushed out instantly. Ivy stood up quickly, throwing the notebook into her bag before heading towards the hallway.

"Ivy."

She stopped walking.

That voice again.

Slowly turning around, she found Adrian leaning casually against the classroom door, one hand in his pocket.

"What?" she asked flatly.

"You skipped lunch."

"That concerns you because?"

"You look tired."

Her expression hardened slightly. "You always this annoying?"

A small smile appeared on his face. "Only around you."

Weird.

Definitely weird.

Ivy turned away and continued walking, hoping he'd finally leave her alone.

He didn't.

"You still walk too fast when you're upset,"

Adrian said behind her.

Her steps slowed.

That feeling returned.

Uneasy.

Heavy.

"How do you know things about me?" she asked quietly without turning around.

For once, Adrian didn't answer immediately

.

The silence bothered her more than words would have.

Finally, he spoke softly.

"Because you used to talk to me,"

Ivy frowned and turned towards him. "I've never met you before."

A strange sadness crossed his face.

"You did," he murmured.

Before she could ask anything else, loud laughter echoed down the hallway. A group of girls approached, immediately surrounding Adrian with bright smiles.

"Adrian, are you coming to practice later?"

"Did you finish the history assignment?"

One girl glanced at Ivy and lowered her voice dramatically. "Why are you talking to her?"

Ivy rolled her eyes instantly.

There it was again.

The judgement.

The whispers.

The assumptions.

Without another word, she walked away.

This time, Adrian didn't follow.

--

The rooftop door creaked softly as Ivy pushed it open.

The cold wind hit her face immediately.

Finally.

Peace.

The rooftop was empty except for the grey sky hanging above Blackwood Academy. Ivy walked towards the edge carefully and sat down, pulling her knees close to her chest.

This was better than people.

People lied.

People left.

The wind brushed through her dark hair as she closed her eyes briefly.

For the first time that day, her chest loosened slightly.

Then--

"You still hide on the rooftop."

Ivy's eyes snapped open.

"How did you find me?" she asked coldly.

"You disappeared after class."

"That doesn't answer my question."

He walked closer slowly before sitting beside her, leaving enough distance so she wouldn't feel trapped.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The silence wasn't awkward.

Which somehow felt worse.

Adrian looked toward the cloudy sky. "You used to say rooftops were the only places quiet enough to think."

Ivy stared at him.

No one knew that.

No one.

Her heartbeat slowed painfully.

"Who are you?" she whispered.

This time, Adrian looked directly at her.

And for the first time since meeting him--

His calm expression cracked.

"You really forgot me," he said softly.