Chapter 4: The Start of Something New
210 Words
Over the next few weeks, Aeris found herself noticing Lucian more and more. He wasn’t like the other boys—he didn’t try to impress people, didn’t care about popularity, and didn’t seem to need anyone.
Yet, somehow, he always seemed to cross paths with her.
At first, their conversations were brief—small exchanges in the library, quiet nods in the hallway—but little by little, something shifted.
“You don’t belong here, you know,” Lucian said one afternoon as they sat on the school rooftop, overlooking the city.
Aeris frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You’re different,” he said simply. “You don’t fit in with the rest of them.”
She wasn’t sure if that was supposed to be a compliment or an insult. “And you do?”
Lucian chuckled softly. “No. But I’ve never tried to.”
Aeris looked away, unsure of what to say. For years, she had done everything she could to blend in, to follow the rules and expectations set for her. But Lucian made her question things—made her wonder if there was more to life than just being “good.”
And that was the moment everything started to change.
To be continued…
- Writer
