Unapproachable Horizon

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

The bell rang, signaling the start of the day, and Zavierra made her way to Room 204, where she was greeted by her friend, Alisha. The two had been inseparable since seventh grade. Alisha, the quintessential “social butterfly,” thrived on making friends at every turn, a stark contrast to

Zavierra’s reserved nature.

“Hey, Zav! Did you see the new guy?” Alisha asked, her grin as bright as ever as Zavierra settled into her seat by the window.

“I noticed him,” Zavierra replied, her tone indifferent. Alisha’s enthusiasm only confirmed what Zavierra had already deduced—the boy she’d seen earlier wasn’t just passing through.

“He’s cute, right? I heard he’s from the city. You should totally talk to him!” Alisha teased, nudging her friend playfully.

“Not interested,” Zavierra replied flatly, brushing off the suggestion. Alisha pouted but quickly moved on, accustomed to Zavierra’s cool demeanor.

“Good morning, class!” Miss Carter’s voice rang out as she entered the room. The students quickly found their seats. Zavierra turned her attention to the window, as was her habit, letting the teacher’s words wash over her.

Aiden stood awkwardly at the back of the room, unsure of what to do.

“Alright, you at the back,” Miss Carter called out, gesturing for him to step forward. “Introduce yourself.”

Aiden cleared his throat, flashing a nervous but genuine smile.

“Hi, my name is Aiden Anderson. I’m from Fairview City, and I hope to get along with you all,” he said. His voice carried a warmth that momentarily hushed the murmurs in the room.

Zavierra didn’t spare him a glance, her focus drifting back to the shifting clouds outside.

“Welcome to Springwood High, Aiden,” Miss Carter said with a nod. “Take the empty seat by the window.”

As Aiden walked to his new seat, whispers rippled through the classroom. Alisha leaned closer to Zavierra, a mischievous glint in her eye.

“Looks like fate,” she whispered with a giggle. Zavierra ignored her, flipping open her notebook.

Aiden, oblivious to the subtle undercurrents, settled into his seat and pulled out a notebook. As the teacher began the lesson, he couldn’t help but steal a glance at the girl in front of him. She seemed even more enigmatic up close, her focus entirely elsewhere. He wondered what she was thinking about, but for now, he kept his curiosity to himself.

As the day goes by, Aiden noticed that Zavierra is actually diolized by everybody, she is approached left and right, everybody is talking to her about the school works, he though that Zavierra is unapproachable because of her demeanor.

The truth is Zavierra is unapproachable, the people who approaches her are students who have guts to approach her, or they are very in need of Zavierra's help, she is talented, clubs want her left and right, but she stays loyal with the Springwood High Gazette, the school's journalism club, she has been with the club since she started at the school and quickly rose ranks, she's the first student at the school to ever rise in ranks that fast, coming to her second is Kaelion Vance, he is the Gazette's Photographer. Kaelion, or Kael, as most called him, was sharp, witty, and the type of person who thrived in the fast-paced environment of the club. Despite being just as admired as Zavierra in his own way, he was her opposite in demeanor—approachable, outgoing, and known for his serious attitude when it comes to everything he does. He'd been the one to convince Zavierra to join Gazette in the first place, back when she preferred keeping to herself.

“Don’t forget the meeting after school,” Kael reminded her during lunch, leaning casually against the edge of her table. His tone was light, but there was an unmistakable weight behind his words. The Gazette’s upcoming issue was critical, and everyone knew Zavierra’s contributions were essential.

Zavierra gave a small nod, her focus on her half-eaten sandwich. “I’ll be there.”

Kael smirked, tapping the table before walking away. “You’d better. The club can’t survive without its star.”

Aiden, sitting at a nearby table, overheard the exchange. His interest piqued as he watched the interaction. The girl he thought was aloof and indifferent seemed to have a world of responsibilities he hadn’t expected.

She wasn’t just unapproachable; she was in demand.

“She’s kind of intimidating, huh?” one of the boys at Aiden’s table remarked, catching Aiden staring.

“Yeah,” Aiden replied, not looking away. “But she’s interesting.”

The boy laughed. “Good luck with that, man. Zavierra doesn’t exactly make time for people outside her circle.”

Aiden smiled faintly, his mind already forming plans. He didn’t need her time now. He just needed to find a way to be in the same orbit. Maybe the Gazette wasn’t such a bad place to start.