Rewrite the stars with you

Chapter Two: A Knight in the Classroom

The soft hum of chatter filled the classroom as Becky walked in, clutching her books tightly to her chest. Her heart pounded as the sea of unfamiliar faces turned to glance at her. The morning’s encounter with Carlos lingered in her mind, making her even more anxious. She hated being the center of attention, and transferring in the middle of the semester only made things worse.

“Over here,” Anil called from the back of the room, waving her over with a friendly smile. Becky’s shoulders relaxed slightly as she made her way to the empty seat beside him. At least she had one ally in this intimidating new world.

As she settled into her chair, she couldn’t help but notice Carlos lounging a few rows away. He was laughing with his friends, his feet casually propped on the desk in front of him. When he spotted her, his smirk returned, and Becky’s stomach twisted in dread.

The classroom door swung open, and a tall figure walked in, exuding an air of authority. It was Karl, the class representative. With his neatly combed hair, sharp features, and glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, he looked every bit the responsible leader he was rumored to be. As his eyes scanned the room, they landed on Becky, and something flickered in his gaze.

“Ah, you must be the new student,” Karl said, walking over to her desk. His tone was warm, and his smile genuine. “Welcome to our class. I’m Karl, the class rep. If you need help with anything, feel free to ask.”

“Thank you,” Becky said softly, her cheeks warming under his kind attention.

Before Karl could say more, Carlos’ voice cut through the room. “Oh, look, the new girl’s already getting special treatment.”

Becky winced, her face flushing as the class erupted in muffled laughter. Carlos leaned back in his chair, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Hey, Becky, do you even know how to take notes? Or are you just here to look lost?”

“Carlos,” Karl said sharply, his voice calm but firm. The room fell silent, all eyes on the class rep. He walked over to Carlos’ desk, standing tall and unwavering. “That’s enough.”

Carlos shrugged, his smirk unwavering. “Just joking, class rep. No need to get worked up.”

Karl turned to Becky, his expression softening. “You don’t have to sit here,” he said gently. “There’s an open seat near the front. It’ll be quieter, and you won’t have to deal with distractions.” He shot a pointed glance at Carlos, who raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Becky hesitated, glancing at Anil, who gave her an encouraging nod. “It’s okay,” Anil whispered. “You’ll be fine.”

Gathering her courage, Becky stood up and followed Karl to the front of the room. He pulled out the chair for her, his chivalrous gesture earning a few murmurs from the class. Becky sat down, feeling a mix of gratitude and embarrassment.

“Thank you,” she said softly, her voice barely audible.

Karl smiled, his eyes kind. “Don’t mention it. Just focus on settling in. If anyone bothers you, let me know.”

The rest of the class passed uneventfully, though Becky could feel Carlos’ gaze on her back the entire time. She tried to focus on the lecture, but her mind kept drifting to the strange dynamic forming around her—Carlos’ teasing, Anil’s quiet support, and Karl’s protective kindness.

As the bell rang and students began to file out, Becky gathered her books quickly, hoping to avoid any further encounters. But as she stepped into the hallway, Karl was waiting for her.

“Hey,” he said, falling into step beside her. “How was your first day so far?”

“It’s… okay,” Becky said, unsure of how to sum up the whirlwind of emotions she had experienced.

Karl chuckled. “Don’t worry. It gets easier. And if you need anything, just let me know. I’ll make sure you feel at home here.”

Becky glanced up at him, surprised by his genuine kindness. “Thank you,” she said again, feeling a small spark of hope.

As Karl walked off to his next class, Becky couldn’t help but smile. Maybe, just maybe, this new school wouldn’t be so bad after all.

But as she turned the corner, she caught sight of Carlos leaning against a locker, his arms crossed and his smirk firmly in place. “Enjoying your little rescue, library girl?” he said, his tone dripping with mockery.

Becky said nothing, her heart pounding as she hurried past him. Behind her, Carlos watched her go, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face.

Little did she know, her arrival had already set off ripples in the lives of those around her, and her story at Milton University was only just beginning.