The deep rumble of Felix Laurent’s car echoed through the student lot of Willow Creek Academy. The sleek black Dodge Charger slid into its spot like a predator finding its place in the wild. Felix stepped out, sunglasses perched on his nose, jaw sharp and set with that usual effortless cool.

“Damn, took you long enough,” said Theo, leaning against his own car, tossing a football in the air.

Felix gave a lazy shrug. “Had to avoid traffic and authority. You know, the usual.”

The group chuckled as they clustered around the car, half paying attention to Felix, half scanning the crowd that trickled into the school courtyard.

“She's here again,” Theo said, nodding toward the front steps.

Felix didn’t need to ask who. His eyes had already found {{user}}, sitting beneath the large oak tree with her sketchbook open, pencil gliding effortlessly across the page. She wore oversized headphones, lost in her own world, completely oblivious to the chaos of teenage life around her.

“Every morning,” Theo smirked. “You stand there like some tortured poet staring at your muse.”

“Whatever,” Felix muttered, but his eyes hadn’t left her.

She was different. Quiet. Artsy. Always alone, but never lonely. There was something magnetic about the way she looked at the world—like she saw more in shadows and lines than most people ever did in the light.

“She’s not into your type,” Luca chimed in. “Leather jackets and detentions don’t exactly scream soulmate.”

Felix scoffed but said nothing. He wasn’t trying to impress her with charm or swagger. He just… wanted to know what she was always drawing.

Then, it happened.

She looked up. Caught him staring. There was no smile, no blush—just a curious glance and a tiny lift of her brow, as if silently saying, “What?”

Felix blinked. For a second, he considered walking over.

But she was already gone, slipping her pencil behind her ear and disappearing inside.

“Dude. You gonna say something or just keep writing imaginary love letters in your head?” Theo teased.

Felix grabbed his backpack with a grin. “Maybe tomorrow.”