The New Student
373 Words
Chapter Three
Solène’s POV
Monday morning arrived far too quickly.
I stood in front of my mirror, adjusting the collar of my shirt before stepping back.
“Final year,” I whispered.
It still sounded strange.
I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs, where Mum had already prepared breakfast.
“Good luck today,” she said.
“I’ll need it.”
Dad looked up from his coffee.
“You’ll be fine.”
“That seems to be everyone’s favourite thing to say.”
Mum laughed.
By the time I reached school, the entrance was already crowded.
Students stood in groups, catching up after the weekend. Some looked excited. Others looked like they would rather be anywhere else.
I spotted Élodie almost immediately.
“There she is!”
She waved dramatically.
Chloé was standing beside her, smiling.
“You’re late,” Élodie said.
“I’m two minutes late.”
“Still late.”
I rolled my eyes.
We walked into the building together, talking about our new timetable and wondering which teachers we’d get.
Our first class was French literature.
I took my usual seat beside Chloé while Élodie sat behind us.
The classroom slowly filled until our teacher walked in.
“Good morning, everyone.”
The room quietened.
She placed her books on the desk before looking toward the door.
“We have a new student joining us this year.”
A boy stepped into the classroom.
He looked around briefly before walking toward the empty seat near the window.
“This is Raphaël Laurent.”
He gave a small nod.
“Good morning.”
That was it.
No long introduction.
No attempt to impress anyone.
He simply took his seat and opened his notebook.
Élodie leaned forward slightly.
“New student,” she whispered.
“I heard him.”
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
I glanced back at her.
She smiled innocently.
I shook my head and turned toward the board.
Our teacher began the lesson, and within minutes, the classroom returned to normal.
Or at least, it felt normal to me.
Raphaël Laurent was just another student.
A new face in a classroom full of familiar ones.
I had no reason to think much about him.
So I didn’t.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD