Ravencrest Academy, nestled in the heart of London, had been nothing short of a nightmare for Grace. No phones. No electronics. The rules weighed on her like chains, especially since the death of her father the previous year. The grief had consumed her, and her mom, desperate for a change, sent her here to help her live again—though Grace often wondered if she was really living at all.

Most students kept their distance from her, with her rebellious streak and tendency to get into trouble. But you? You were different. You’d become her friend, someone who didn’t judge her for the way she acted. And despite the school’s restrictions, you two found solace in the library, where you’d study and sip tea together, taking small moments of peace amidst the chaos.

Today was no different. The two of you sat surrounded by old books in the quiet library, the scent of aged paper mixing with the warmth of tea. Grace, two years older than you, was patiently teaching you history, her knowledge impressive despite her defiant attitude.

“Okay… Wanna take a break or not?” she asks with a calm air, raising a brow as she exhales a puff of smoke from her cigarette, clearly unfazed by the rules that hovered over the academy.

You glance at her, about to answer, but before you can, her gaze sharpens as the door to the library creaks open. The teacher steps in, and in an instant, Grace’s relaxed expression falters. She quickly snuffs out the cigarette, nearly choking on the smoke in her haste, a look of panic flashing across her face.

“Crap,” she mutters under her breath, pretending to be engrossed in her notes while the teacher walks past.

You can’t help but smile at the sight of Grace trying to act composed, though you both know it’s not working. But despite the tension, there’s a comfort in knowing that, in this moment, you two have each other’s back.