The girl who can't be read.

Hayley stepped into Blackwood Academy, her heart pounding with a mix of nervousness and curiosity. The halls buzzed with students, but the atmosphere felt cold, like she didn’t quite belong. Hayley felt the weight of every sideways glance and whispered word as she walked through the halls. The strange looks weren’t just because she was new—they seemed to carry something darker, like a warning. As she made her way to her class, she noticed groups of students whispering and casting quick glances her way. Hayley stepped past them and into the doorway of her class room. A tall, quiet boy sitting alone caught her eye, his gaze intense and unreadable. Just then, everyone ran to their seats including the whispering group she just stepped past. Everyone fumbled and whispered, pointing at the chair next to him. No one wanted to sit there. Hayley overheard a boy say "No way are you insane" to one of his mates pointing at the chair. Hayley realized that the only open chair left in the room was right next to the tall mysterious boy. Hayley took a deep breath and slid into the seat next to the tall boy. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and she caught a flicker of something—curiosity? Warning? She thought.Who was this boy, and why did everyone seem so tense around him? why did they all avoid this chair? The first day at Blackwood Academy was proving to be much more than she expected. Before she could think more about it, the teacher began the lesson. As the teacher’s voice faded into the background, Hayley stole another glance at the boy. He finally spoke in a low voice, “I’m Liam.” His tone was calm but carried a hint of something unspoken. Hayley smiled nervously and whispered back, “Hayley.” Liam shifted in his seat, his jaw tightening as if holding back words he didn’t want to say. He didn’t meet Hayley’s eyes, instead staring out the window with a brooding intensity. Hayley tried to read his expression, hoping for some sign of what he was thinking, but it was like hitting a wall. The teacher cleared her throat, breaking the quiet tension in the room. “Alright, everyone, for your first project, I’m pairing you up. Hayley, you’ll be working with Liam.” Hayley’s heart skipped a beat as she looked over at him. He didn’t say a word, just gave a small nod, his expression unreadable. She had no idea who he really was or what he was thinking, but now they were stuck together—at least for this project. Hayley cleared her throat nervously and glanced at Liam. “So, for this law project, I was thinking maybe we could start by dividing up the research? Maybe you could look into criminal law, and I’ll handle civil law?” Liam barely looked up, his voice low and clipped. “Fine.” Hayley tried again, hoping for more. “Do you have any ideas on how we should present it?” He shrugged. “Just the facts.” His short answers made it clear he wasn’t interested in small talk, but Hayley was determined to make this project work—even if Liam wasn’t making it easy. like hitting a wall. He seemed closed off, distant, as if guarding something deep inside. Hayley wanted to say more, to break through that tough exterior, but the moment passed. The classroom noise returned, and the mystery of Liam only grew stronger in her mind. Hayley’s focus sharpened as she scribbled down notes, determined to make progress even if Liam stayed distant. The quiet scratch of her pen was a small rebellion against the uneasy silence between them. She hoped her effort might eventually crack through his guarded exterior. The Teacher addressed the class, cutting through the noise. "Have a 30 minute break and we will then resume class". Liam’s hand suddenly closed around Hayley’s wrist, pulling her away from the other students. Hayley was shocked. “Come with me,” He said quietly, his eyes scanning the corridor as if expecting someone to appear at any moment. They stopped in a quieter corner, and Liam’s gaze locked onto hers, intense but guarded. “You’re different,” he said, voice low. “I don’t usually get this... blank.” He let the words hang, careful not to reveal too much. “Tell me, have you ever felt like you don’t quite fit in? Like there’s something about you even you don’t understand?” Hayley blinked, unsure how to answer. She had no idea what he meant, but something about his urgency made her want to trust him, even if she didn’t fully get it. Hayley squinted her eyes, as if to try and read him. "What do you mean?" She asked. Liam’s eyes flicked around again, then he released her wrist gently. impossible to read. He gave a small shake of his head, as if deciding how much to reveal. “Never mind. Just... be careful. Not everyone here is who they seem.” Liam and Hayley both stared at each other for a minute. Both looking like they are trying to read each others thoughts. Hayley thought, Was that a threat or a warning? but for some reason Hayley felt like she could trust Liam. How insane is that. For absolutely no reason and just meeting him I feel like he is the most trustworthy person I know. Then, without another word he disappeared down the hall, leaving Hayley in shock, and with a swirl of questions. 30 minutes later Her phone alarm went off, signaling the end of break. As they walked down the hallway heading into class, their eyes met briefly—Liam looked at her with a confused look in his gaze. She gave a small, encouraging smile before sliding back into her seat next to him. “So, about the project… do you have any ideas?” she asked. Liam didn’t look up. “Not really.” Hayley frowned but pressed on. “Do you think we should meet after school to work on it?” Liam’s eyes finally met hers for a brief second. “If you want.” She hesitated, then tried one more time. “Are you okay? Have I done something?You seem like you don't want to talk to me about our project.” Liam shrugged, looking away. “Just tired.” The cold distance in his short answers made Hayley’s heart sink, leaving her wondering what was really going on with him. As the teacher began wrapping up the class, gathering papers and giving final instructions, Liam leaned over the desk toward her, his voice low and steady. “If you want to meet, come to my house after school. It’s quiet there, and we can talk without anyone watching.” He scribbled the address on a small piece of paper and slid it across the desk to her, eyes locking with hers for a moment. “Just don’t tell anyone, okay? No one knows where I live, and no other student has ever been invited there.” Hayley stared at the note for a moment, a strange feeling twisting in her stomach. This all felt so sudden, so secretive—like stepping into something she wasn’t sure she was ready for. Why was Liam so guarded? Why his house? The whole thing felt oddly intense, and yet, part of her couldn’t help but be drawn in. Hayley closed her book, gathered up her papers and pens, and placed them all in her bag including her laptop. Walking out of class that day, Hayley felt a mix of nerves and curiosity twisting inside her. The secretive invitation from Liam lingered in her mind. She couldn’t shake the strange feeling like she was stepping into unknown territory, unsure if it was exciting or risky.