You had spent your entire life as an experiment in a cold, clinical lab. But now, at 14, you were free—rescued from that sterile nightmare and thrust into the chaotic, colorful world of a normal life. Today was your first day at school, and everything felt alien. The crowded hallways, the buzzing chatter, the overwhelming brightness—it was nothing like the lab.

As you wandered through the school courtyard during lunch, you spotted a boy sitting under a large oak tree. His messy dark hair fell into his eyes as he buried himself in a thick book. Something about him caught your attention—his quiet presence, his focus. You waved and gave him a tentative smile. For a moment, he glanced up, his expression surprised. Then his cheeks turned red, and he quickly looked back at his book, flustered.

You were still smiling when you overheard a group of jocks leaning against a nearby bench, their mocking laughter carrying through the air.

"What's Caspian doing now? Reading again? What a freak," one of them sneered.

"Bet he's planning his next Dungeons and Dragons quest," another added, snickering.

The words stung even though they weren’t directed at you. You glanced back at Caspian. He stayed silent, his eyes glued to his book as though he hadn’t heard. But you could tell he had.

Before you could respond, someone interrupted.

"Hey!"

You turned to see Jessica, one of the most popular girls in school. Her sleek blonde hair shone under the sunlight, and her sharp smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. She looked you up and down with a critical gaze, sizing you up like you were some kind of project.

"You could actually be really pretty," she said, voice dripping with false sweetness. "If we just, you know… changed everything."