A DANGEROUS ENCOUNTER
1309 Words
Chapter Two
Lucien's POV
By the time I got back to the student lounge, the video had already spread across half the academy.
I wasn't surprised.
Westbridge students loved gossip almost as much as they loved pretending they were above it.
Adrian was sitting on one of the leather couches when I walked in. The moment he saw me, he held up his phone with a grin.
"I think you're famous."
I dropped into the armchair opposite him.
"I already was."
He laughed.
"Not you."
He pressed play.
The video filled the screen.
There she was.
Standing in the middle of the courtyard with a delivery bag hanging from one shoulder, looking completely out of place.
Yet somehow...
She'd been the only person there who wasn't afraid to look me in the eye.
"...Because humiliating someone for entertainment says more about you than it does about him."
The clip ended.
Adrian shook his head.
"I still can't believe she said that."
Neither could I.
Not because she'd insulted me.
People insulted me all the time.
Usually behind my back.
Usually when they thought I couldn't hear.
But she'd stood in front of hundreds of students and said it to my face.
That was different.
Matteo walked over and took the phone from Adrian.
"Watch this part."
He replayed the video.
Not the insult.
The few seconds before it.
The delivery girl looked around first.
She saw the crowd.
She saw the four of us.
She saw everyone recording.
Then she stepped forward anyway.
Darius leaned against the wall.
"She knew exactly what she was walking into."
"I know," I said.
Adrian frowned.
"So why did she do it?"
I looked out the window toward the courtyard below.
"Because she thought she was right."
Nobody spoke.
That answer seemed to surprise all of them.
Including me.
Silence settled over the lounge.
Adrian was the first to break it.
"So... what happens now?"
I looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"You told her, 'Welcome to Westbridge Academy.'"
He leaned back in his chair.
"Last time I checked, she doesn't even study here."
"She doesn't," Matteo agreed.
"Not yet," I replied.
Three pairs of eyes landed on me.
Darius let out a quiet laugh.
"I knew it."
Adrian sat up.
"You weren't joking?"
I slipped my phone into my pocket.
"No."
Matteo frowned.
"Lucien, she's a delivery girl."
"I noticed."
"No, I mean she doesn't belong here."
I looked at him.
"And who decides who belongs?"
He hesitated.
"That's not what I meant."
"I know exactly what you meant."
Westbridge had always been predictable.
Everyone came from the same world.
Old money.
Political families.
Business empires.
People who had spent their entire lives surrounded by privilege.
Nobody challenged anyone.
Not really.
Everyone understood where they stood.
Until today.
Until a girl wearing faded jeans and carrying a delivery bag walked into the courtyard and acted as though my name meant absolutely nothing.
Adrian folded his arms.
"So this is because she embarrassed you?"
"No."
"Then why?"
I thought about it for a moment.
"Because she didn't."
He frowned.
"Didn't what?"
"She didn't hesitate."
The room fell quiet again.
"She looked around first," I continued.
"She saw the crowd."
"She saw us."
"She saw everyone recording."
"Then she stepped forward anyway."
Darius nodded slowly.
"I noticed that too."
Matteo still looked unconvinced.
"Maybe she's just reckless."
"Maybe."
I stood and walked toward the window.
"But reckless people usually regret their decisions halfway through."
I looked down at the courtyard.
"She never did."
Adrian smiled.
"So you've decided."
"I have."
He sighed dramatically.
"I almost feel sorry for her."
I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed a number.
The call connected after the first ring.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Vale."
"I need a student admitted."
The administrator didn't sound surprised.
"Of course."
"Her name is Elena Reyes."
Keys clicked rapidly on the other end.
"I don't see an application under that name."
"There isn't one."
A brief pause followed.
"In that case, we'll prepare a full scholarship offer."
"Good."
"When would you like it delivered?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"It will be done."
I ended the call.
Adrian stared at me.
"That was easy."
"It usually is."
Matteo shook his head.
"I still don't understand."
"You will."
"No, I won't."
He looked genuinely confused.
"You've never done anything like this before."
"That's because I've never met anyone like her before."
The words left my mouth before I thought about them.
Adrian grinned immediately.
"I knew it."
I shot him a look.
"Don't misunderstand."
"Oh, I won't."
He laughed.
"I know exactly what this is."
"Do you?"
"You've finally found something that isn't predictable."
For the first time that afternoon...
I couldn't argue with him.
Adrian pushed himself off the couch.
"So that's it?"
I looked at him.
"What?"
"You're just going to throw a scholarship at her and see what happens?"
"I'll see if she accepts."
"And if she doesn't?"
I shrugged.
"She will."
Matteo laughed quietly.
"You're unusually confident."
"I'm realistic."
He folded his arms.
"Why?"
"Because people don't turn down opportunities like Westbridge."
Darius looked thoughtful.
"Unless they don't trust the person offering them."
I glanced at him.
"You think she'll refuse because of yesterday?"
"I think most people would."
Adrian nodded.
"If I were her, I'd assume it was a trap."
"It isn't."
"No?"
I looked out the window again.
"No."
It wasn't a trap.
At least...
Not in the way they imagined.
I wasn't trying to embarrass her.
I simply wanted to know what would happen if someone like Elena Reyes walked into a place like Westbridge.
She had challenged me once.
Would she challenge everyone else too?
Or would Westbridge eventually change her?
There was only one way to find out.
The following morning...
My driver stopped outside the academy gates at exactly eight-thirty.
I stepped out of the car and adjusted my blazer.
Students moved aside as I walked past them.
Some greeted me.
Others lowered their voices until I was out of earshot.
Nothing about it felt unusual.
This was Westbridge.
People knew exactly who I was.
I had barely reached the main building when my phone vibrated.
A message from the administration.
**Scholarship offer delivered to Elena Reyes.**
Right on time.
I slipped the phone back into my pocket.
Adrian caught up with me near the fountain.
"Well?"
"It's done."
He smiled.
"So when does the new student arrive?"
I looked toward the academy gates.
"Soon."
"You sound certain."
"I am."
He chuckled.
"I don't know whether to admire your confidence or question your sanity."
"You've been questioning it for years."
"Fair point."
Before either of us could say another word, my phone buzzed again.
I frowned.
Two messages from the administration in less than five minutes wasn't normal.
I unlocked the screen.
My eyes settled on the first line.
**Scholarship offer declined by Elena Reyes.**
For a moment...
I simply stared at the words.
Adrian noticed.
"What happened?"
Without saying anything, I handed him my phone.
His eyebrows shot up.
"No way."
Matteo and Darius joined us.
"What is it?" Matteo asked.
Adrian turned the screen toward them.
The three of them read the message in silence.
Then Darius smiled.
"I honestly didn't expect that."
Matteo looked genuinely surprised.
"She rejected Westbridge?"
"No," Adrian corrected.
"She rejected Lucien."
There was a difference.
A very big one.
I took my phone back and read the message again.
**Scholarship offer declined.**
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Everyone wanted something from me.
A recommendation.
An invitation.
A favor.
A chance to be noticed.
Elena Reyes had just done the exact opposite.
She wanted nothing from me.
For the first time in a very long time...
Someone had surprised me.
Adrian watched me carefully.
"So..."
"What now?"
A slow smile found its way onto my face.
"Now..."
"I find out why."
- Writer
