Chapter 2 THE NEW GIRL

............................................................................. BLACKWOOD ACADEMY 🖋️

Chloe pulled her through the hallway just as the warning bell rang. Students were already rushing toward their classrooms, their voices filling the corridor.

"Come on," Chloe said. "Unless you want your first day to begin with a late slip."

"I've barely been here ten minutes."

"And you've already stopped to admire the library, the courtyard, the trophy room and that fountain."

"It's a beautiful fountain."

Chloe laughed. "You're impossible."

They reached their classroom just before the bell rang.

Elena slipped into the seat beside Chloe and placed her bag on the floor.

"Relax," Chloe whispered.

"I am relaxed."

"You're gripping your pen like you're about to fight somebody."

Elena looked down and loosened her fingers.

"I just don't want to mess up."

"You won't."

Before Elena could answer, the teacher walked in.

"Good morning, everyone."

The class settled down.

"Good morning, Mrs. Carter."

Mrs. Carter placed a few books on her desk before looking toward Elena.

"We have a new student joining us this year."

Elena immediately felt every eye in the room turn toward her.

"Elena Hayes?"

She stood.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Why don't you introduce yourself?"

Elena swallowed.

"My name is Elena Hayes. I'm a scholarship student."

A few whispers traveled through the room.

She pretended not to hear them.

"I'm looking forward to the year."

Mrs. Carter smiled.

"Welcome to Blackwood Academy, Elena. You may sit."

Elena sat down.

Chloe leaned closer.

"You survived."

Elena smiled.

"Barely."

The lesson began.

For the next hour, Elena forgot about everything else.

She took notes, answered questions and quickly discovered that Blackwood Academy's reputation wasn't based only on its buildings and expensive uniforms. The students were genuinely competitive.

By the time the bell rang, Elena already had three pages of notes.

Chloe stared at her notebook.

"Are you trying to finish the whole textbook today?"

"I like being prepared."

"You're going to fit in perfectly."

They left the classroom with the rest of the students.

As they walked down the hallway, Chloe pointed toward a group of girls standing near the lockers.

"That's Victoria."

Elena followed her gaze.

Victoria Ashford stood with two girls. One of them was Sienna Laurent.

And beside them was Isabella Monroe.

Elena recognized her immediately.

Isabella was beautiful in a way that seemed almost effortless. Her uniform looked perfectly tailored, her hair was flawless, and even the way she stood made people notice her.

"That's them?" Elena asked.

"Yep."

"The famous trio?"

Chloe nodded.

"They've practically ruled this school since freshman year."

Elena glanced at them again.

"Why?"

"Money. Popularity. Family connections. Take your pick."

Isabella suddenly looked in their direction.

Their eyes met.

For a second, neither girl looked away.

Then Isabella smiled politely.

Elena returned the smile.

Nothing more.

Chloe tugged her arm.

"Let's go."

"Why?"

"Because I know that look."

"What look?"

"The look that says you're about to ask questions."

Elena laughed.

"I wasn't."

"You were."

They continued walking.

At the other end of the hallway, three boys were coming toward them.

Adrian Cole was saying something that had Sebastian laughing.

Damon walked between them, looking completely uninterested in whatever conversation they were having.

Students moved aside as they approached.

Elena noticed it.

"Does everyone always move out of their way?"

Chloe nodded.

"Pretty much."

"Why?"

"Because they're them."

"That still doesn't explain anything."

Chloe smiled.

"You'll learn."

Damon passed them without saying a word.

Elena barely looked at him.

But Adrian did.

He glanced at Elena, then at Damon.

"That's the new girl."

Damon didn't respond.

"The scholarship student," Adrian added.

"I heard you the first time."

Sebastian smirked.

"You seem interested."

Damon looked at him.

"I'm not."

"Didn't say you were."

Damon continued walking.

"Good."

Adrian laughed.

"You're defensive for someone who doesn't care."

Damon stopped.

"I don't care."

"Okay."

"Adrian."

"I'm quiet."

"You're never quiet."

Sebastian laughed.

The three continued toward their next class.

Meanwhile, Elena and Chloe reached the cafeteria.

Elena stopped when she saw the size of it.

"This is a cafeteria?"

Chloe nodded.

"Unfortunately."

"This place is bigger than my entire neighborhood."

Chloe laughed.

"Come on."

They collected their lunch and found a table near the windows.

Elena was just opening her drink when someone dropped into the empty chair across from her.

Adrian.

He smiled.

"Hi."

Chloe sighed.

"No."

Adrian frowned.

"I haven't even said anything."

"I know you."

Sebastian sat beside him.

"You don't know him well enough to say that."

"I know enough."

Adrian looked at Elena.

"You're Elena, right?"

"Yes."

"I'm Adrian."

"I know."

He raised an eyebrow.

"You know me?"

"You're always with Damon."

Sebastian laughed.

Adrian placed a hand over his chest.

"Wow. I'm famous."

"No. You're just loud."

Chloe burst out laughing.

Sebastian looked away, trying not to smile.

Adrian stared at Elena for a moment before grinning.

"I like you."

Elena raised an eyebrow.

"You don't know me."

"Exactly. That's why I like you."

Before she could respond, Damon appeared beside the table.

He looked at Adrian.

"Move."

Adrian looked at the empty chairs around them.

"Why?"

"I want to sit."

"There are plenty of seats."

"I want that one."

Adrian sighed dramatically and moved.

Damon sat down.

Elena looked at Chloe.

Chloe looked at Elena.

Neither said anything.

Damon glanced at Elena.

"You're the new student."

Elena nodded.

"Yes."

"Scholarship."

It wasn't a question.

"Yes."

He picked up his drink.

"Okay."

Elena frowned.

"Okay?"

Damon looked at her.

"What do you want me to say?"

"Nothing."

"Then we're good."

Elena looked away.

Adrian suddenly laughed.

"What?"

"Nothing," Adrian said. "You two are funny."

"We're not doing anything," Elena said.

"I know."

Damon gave Adrian a warning look.

Adrian immediately became quiet.

For the rest of lunch, Elena mostly talked with Chloe while the boys discussed basketball.

She learned that Damon was captain of the school team and that they had an important game coming up.

She also learned that Damon had apparently won almost every major school competition he had participated in.

She didn't find that particularly impressive.

At least, she wasn't going to tell him that it was.

After lunch, the afternoon passed quickly.

By the time the final bell rang, Elena felt exhausted.

She and Chloe walked toward the school gates together.

"So?" Chloe asked.

"So what?"

"Your first day."

Elena smiled.

"I survived."

"And?"

She looked back at the school.

"I think I like it here."

Chloe smiled.

"I knew you would."

Elena adjusted her backpack.

"Except for one thing."

"What?"

"Everyone acts like Damon Blackwood is some kind of king."

Chloe laughed.

"He basically is."

Elena rolled her eyes.

"He's just a boy."

"Keep telling yourself that."

They reached the gate.

A car stopped in front of Chloe.

"My ride."

Elena nodded.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Definitely."

Chloe hugged her before getting into the car.

Elena watched the car disappear before turning toward the road.

She started walking home.

For the first time since receiving her acceptance letter, she allowed herself to smile.

Maybe her father had been wrong.

Maybe Blackwood Academy wasn't something she needed to fear.

Maybe she could actually build the future she'd always wanted here.

Behind her, the school gates slowly closed.

ADRIAN POV🖋️

And somewhere inside the school, Damon Blackwood was standing near the basketball court with Adrian and Sebastian.

Adrian glanced toward the gates.

"You know what I think?"

Damon bounced the basketball once.

"No."

"I think the new girl is going to be interesting."

Damon caught the ball.

"She isn't."

Sebastian looked at him.

"You noticed her, though."

Damon gave him a cold look.

"I notice everyone who walks into my school."

Adrian smiled.

"Sure you do."

Damon turned toward the court.

"Can we play now?"

Adrian laughed.

"Fine."

The ball hit the ground.

Once.

Twice.

Then Damon suddenly stopped.

His eyes moved toward the school entrance.

For just a second, he looked thoughtful.

Then the expression disappeared.

"Forget it," he muttered.

"What?" Sebastian asked.

"Nothing."

He threw the ball toward Adrian.

But as they started playing, one thought stayed at the back of his mind.

He didn't know why.

He didn't know how.

But somehow, he had a feeling Elena Hayes wasn't going to be as easy to ignore as he thought.

ISABELLA POV🖋️

Inside the classroom, Isabella stood beside Elena's desk. Victoria and Sienna stood behind her.

Isabella looked down at the small white envelope lying neatly on Elena's table.

Her name was written across the front.

ELENA HAYES.

Victoria frowned. "Are you sure about this?"

Isabella didn't answer. She picked up the envelope and turned it over.

There was no name. No explanation.

Just a small black crown drawn on the back.

Sienna's expression changed.

"You're actually doing this?"