The air in Crescent High seemed thicker than usual that morning, charged with tension and hushed speculation. Aria walked through the corridors with careful composure, her eyes scanning faces that lingered too long in curiosity, eyes that followed her every step. After the events of the previous week—the public scandal, the whispered gossip, and the relentless attention toward her family—she had developed a careful armor. Every smile, every nod, every polite word was measured, designed to keep the chaos at a distance.
Yet no matter how hard she tried to focus, she felt an undercurrent pulling at her attention. Damian had been unusually quiet since the cafeteria incident the day before, not teasing, not prodding—but still present, always nearby, always observant. His calm, deliberate demea
