More Than What They See

CHAPTER 1: Just The Beginning

Rhian's POV

I gripped the strap of my bag tightly as I walked slowly down the long hallway. My heart beat fast and hard against my chest like it wanted to leap right out. I was new here and I knew absolutely no one. All I hoped for was a quiet peaceful first day where no one would notice me and I could just get through the day without any trouble.

But as I kept walking, everything suddenly changed. The usual noise and laughter shifted instantly. Almost everyone turned at the same time. Some whispered excitedly, others gently pushed each other to get a better look, and a few could not help but call out softly toward the end of the hall.

“They’re here!”

“It’s them!”

“Francis, Gio, and Jace! They really are so handsome!”

“Of course they are. They’re the most famous ones here and their families are so wealthy too!”

“Look at everyone’s reaction. They all stop just to see them!”

I felt confused for a moment because those names meant nothing to me yet. I turned to see what all the excitement was about and there they were. Three boys walking with so much ease and confidence like they were used to this kind of attention every single day. It was obvious they came from well-off families. Their uniforms were neat, they carried themselves with pride, and it felt like nothing could touch them. All three of them were wealthy and you could tell just by looking. But since I was new I had no idea what they were really like or which one was in charge.

I was so focused on watching them and surprised by how everyone acted that I did not realize I had stepped right in their path. We stopped facing each other all of a sudden and for a moment it felt like time stood still while every eye in the hallway turned toward us.

The boy walking at the front spoke first and his voice was cold and sharp cutting right through me.

“Look who’s blocking the way,” he said looking me up and down slowly with no kindness in his eyes at all. “Can’t you see people are passing through or do you just not know how to stay in your place and move aside?”

I stepped back quickly almost stumbling in panic while everyone watched. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I didn’t see you coming and I was just surprised by the crowd.”

Another boy stepped closer staring at me with nothing but disgust. “You didn’t see us or are you just trying to get attention? Do you really think you can just stand in our way like that?”

“Just look at yourself,” the third one added with a mocking laugh that echoed around us. “You clearly don’t fit in here definitely not around us. It feels like you’d only bring us down.”

I looked around and saw that instead of helping me most people just looked away or stared because they were afraid to interfere or afraid they would be the next target. My chest tightened and it felt like something pulled sharply inside me. I had hoped that people who looked so put-together and were admired by everyone would be kind but I was wrong. I was even smaller in their eyes than I thought.

“Get out of our sight,” the boy at the front said firmly his eyes never leaving mine. “Before we decide to make this even more embarrassing for you in front of everyone.”

They walked past me like I was nothing at all and the whispers and excited murmurs went right back to how they were before like nothing had happened. I stood there trembling all over watching them disappear into the crowd and holding back tears that burned my eyes. I knew right then that this was not going to be easy. And this was only just the beginning of everything I would have to face.