The rain had started just as the final bell rang, soft at first, then heavier, drumming steadily against the tall windows of Crescent High. Most students had rushed out, umbrellas flashing under the grey sky, but Aria stayed behind. The thought of facing home—the arguments, the silence, the weight of everything—was more exhausting than any class.
She lingered near the stairwell, notebook in hand, pretending to reread her notes. The halls were mostly empty now, echoing faintly with footsteps that faded one by one until only the rain remained. She told herself she’d leave in a few minutes. Just not yet.
“Still here, Moretti?”
She looked up sharply. Damian stood at the far end of the corridor, leaning against the wall like he owned it. His tie was loosened, his sleeves rolled up, that usua
