chapter 7
1009 Words
Aria pov
Waking up felt like a chore in Redwood.
But today was different.
I woke up feeling light. Rested. Almost… happy.
That alone made me pause.
I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, waiting for the heaviness to catch up with me. It didn’t. No tight chest. No dragging limbs. Just quiet.
I shut off my alarm and sat up.
The cut on my knuckle the one I remembered clearly was gone. No scab. No mark. I stared at it, then shook my head.
Stress did weird things to the body. That’s what I told myself.
I dressed quickly and went downstairs.
Marcus was already awake.
He stood by the counter with a cup of coffee, watching me the moment I stepped into the kitchen.
“Morning,” he said.
“Morning.”
I grabbed toast and ate standing. He didn’t say anything at first, just observed in that way of his present but careful.
“How was your night?” he asked.
“Good,” I said. “I actually slept.”
“That’s good.”
We left together.
The air outside was cool, sharp enough to wake me fully. Marcus waited until I got into the car before walking around to the driver’s side.
The drive was quiet, but not awkward.
“How’s school settling in?” he asked.
“It’s fine,” I said. “Busy, but fine.”
He nodded. “Anyone bothering you?”
“No.”
His hand tightened briefly on the steering wheel. Then relaxed.
When we pulled into the school lot, he didn’t drive off right away.
“Dinner’s at seven,” he said.
“I know.”
I reached for the door.
“Aria.”
I looked back. “Yeah?”
“Just… pay attention. To people.”
“I always do.”
“I know.”
I got out.
The moment I stepped inside, the air changed.
The hallway smelled like disinfectant layered over sweat and heat and too many bodies packed together. Whatever coolness the morning had brought stopped at the door.
It was loud. Rowdy. Normal.
I moved with the flow of students, adjusting my bag. People shifted to make space without thinking about it. Not enough to stare. Enough to notice.
I told myself it meant nothing.
By the time lunch rolled around, my stomach overpowered my thoughts.
The cafeteria served meat. A lot of it. Thick portions. Heavy trays.
“School policy,” the girl beside me said, already holding hers. “They feed us like we’re preparing for war or something.”
I huffed. “Feels excessive.”
“I’m Lena,” she said.
“Aria.”
We sat together.
Halfway through, I slid my bread toward her. “You want this?”
Her eyes lit up. “You’re serious?”
“Take it.”
“You’re officially my favorite person.”
We talked. Teachers. Schedules. Which hallways to avoid between bells.
Normal things.
Then she paused.
“You smell different,” she said.
I froze. “Different how?”
She shrugged. “I’ve got a sensitive nose. Always have.”
“That’s… unsettling,” I said.
She laughed. “I hear that a lot.”
The bell rang.
We packed up.
“Turns out we’ve got the same next class,” she said, checking her schedule. “Room 214.”
“Great,” I said. “At least I won’t get lost.”
We walked together.
When we got there, I scanned the room without meaning to.
The back seat was empty.
So was the one across the divider.
He wasn’t there.
Relief came first. Then embarrassment maybe I read too much on what happened yesterday.
I sat down, choosing the middle again, but it felt less deliberate now. Less defensive.
Class started. Notes. Lecture. Normalcy.
And slowly, the tension I’d carried since yesterday began to loosen.
Maybe I’d read too much into it.
Maybe he’d just been another intense guy with a reputation and nothing else behind it.
By the time the bell rang, I was almost convinced that everything was fine.
They ended up talking more than listening.
It started with notes passed between desks. A comment about the teacher talking too fast. A quiet laugh when Aria dropped her pen for the third time.
By the middle of the class, Lena had shifted her chair slightly closer.
“So,” she murmured, eyes still on the board, “are you always this quiet or am I just intimidating?”
Aria huffed softly. “You’re not intimidating.”
“Good,” Lena said. “That would’ve been awkward.”
Another pause. Then Lena added, casual, “You settling in okay?”
“I think so,” Aria said. “My dad’s just… a lot.”
Lena smiled faintly. “Overprotective?”
“Very.”
“That explains it,” Lena said. “I was wondering who was guarding the school gates this morning.”
Aria laughed before she could stop herself.
The bell rang, sharp and loud, but neither of them stood immediately.
Lena tilted her head. “Hey. I don’t want this conversation to end.”
Aria hesitated. “It doesn’t have to.”
“Good,” Lena said. “How about a sleepover?”
Aria blinked. “A what?”
“A sleepover,” Lena repeated easily. “We can both come to school together tomorrow. Less awkward first-week energy.”
She paused, then added, quieter, “And if your dad’s really that protective, staying at yours might be easier.”
Aria considered it. “He is. Protective, I mean.”
Lena grinned. “Perfect. Then tonight I can tell you everything you need to know about Redwood Ridge High.”
“Everything?” Aria asked.
“Everything,” Lena said. “The rules, the teachers… and the queen bees.”
Aria smiled, then shook her head slightly.
“I’ll tell my dad tonight,” she said. “I’ll give you the answer tomorrow.”
Lena’s smile didn’t fade. “Fair. I’ll be waiting.”
- Writer
