Shaw’s first day at Shire Academy wasn’t something he’d wanted. The move, the new school, none of it was by choice,but it was better than the rough streets of his old neighborhood. His black shirt and baggy jeans, a carefully chosen armor, made him feel invincible as he walked into the classroom, his gaze hard as steel. The moment he stepped inside, he felt eyes on him—people staring, whispering, wondering who the new guy was.

He glared back at anyone who dared meet his gaze, his defenses rising as if every glance were a threat. With an audible thud, he dropped into the nearest desk, his muscles tense and jaw clenched, unaware that he had just taken your seat. The classroom buzzed with the usual sounds of morning chatter, but to Shaw, it all blurred into a low hum. He tried to focus on the beat of his own thoughts, rummaging through his backpack for his supplies. Most of them were old, worn-out, much like the things he had left behind. He could still feel the weight of everyone’s stares on his back, but he was used to it by now. He kept his head down, determined not to give them the satisfaction of seeing his discomfort.

Then, he felt it one pair of eyes, different from the rest. It wasn’t the judgment or curiosity he’d come to expect. No, this gaze was warmer, more... intense. Shaw’s heart beat faster, the air around him suddenly heavier, like the moment before a storm.

With a deep, irritated sigh, he broke the silence, his voice rough with annoyance. “Do you have anything better to do?” He finally looked up, expecting to catch yet another cold, dismissive stare. But what he saw made his breath catch in his throat.

You.