As Alex walked back into school after his two-week suspension, he felt the weight of every pair of eyes in the hallway. Whispers trailed behind him, and students parted to make room as he passed, unsure if they should welcome him back or stay clear. The events that led to his suspension still lingered in everyone’s mind—his confrontation with Victor had been the talk of the school. But the principal had made it clear upon his return: Alex needed to stay out of trouble.And so, when Alex walked into the lunchroom, expecting to sit with Samira like usual, he was met with the stern face of Principal Green. “Alex, I’m afraid you won’t be eating here for the next few weeks,” Principal Green said, crossing his arms as he stood in the lunchroom doorway. “Given your history with Victor and the ongoing tension, it’s better that you avoid any potential conflict.”Alex furrowed his brow. “But where am I supposed to go?”“The library,” Principal Hayes replied, not leaving room for negotiation. “
As Alex and Samira walked home together after school, the conversation naturally shifted to the events of the day. For the first time in a while, Alex wasn’t talking about battles, training, or Silas. Instead, he found himself talking about Naomi."You won't believe it," Alex began, glancing at Samira. "I met this girl in the library today."Samira raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh really? A girl in the library? At lunch?""I know, right?" Alex chuckled, shaking his head. "I was expecting the place to be empty, but she was there, completely absorbed in history books. I didn’t even think anyone would voluntarily be in the library during lunch."Samira smiled. "So, what did you talk about?""Well, we started talking about this history project we both have. She’s into it—like, really into it," Alex explained, his excitement evident in his voice. "She told me all about this ancient battle, the Battle of Thermopylae. She made it sound so epic, like something out of a movie or something. Ho
As Alex lay on his bed that night, the room dimly lit by the moonlight filtering through the window, his mind wandered back to Grandma Chen. The familiar ache of missing her settled in his chest, a feeling that had become all too familiar since her passing. He stared at the ceiling, his thoughts swirling, and he couldn’t help but wonder what life would be like if she were still here.*What would she think of all this?* Alex thought, his heart heavy. *Would she have been proud of me? Would things have been different?*There was a part of him that still longed for her presence, her wisdom, and the comfort she used to bring. Grandma Chen had been his rock, raising him after his mother died, teaching him about resilience, about how to survive in a world that often felt too harsh. Even though she never told him about the amulet or the powers that were part of his lineage, Alex understood why. She had wanted to protect him from the dangers that came with such knowledge.*But at what cost?*
The next day, Alex found himself back in the library during lunch, his thoughts still lingering on Naomi. He hadn’t expected to run into her again, but there she was, seated at the same table, surrounded by books. Something about her calm presence in the midst of the busy school day was refreshing to Alex. He felt drawn to her in a way he couldn’t quite explain.“Hey,” Alex greeted as he walked over, trying to sound casual. “Mind if I join you?”Naomi looked up, smiling warmly. “Sure, Alex. I’m just going over some notes for history class. You still working on that research?”Alex nodded, taking a seat across from her. “Yeah, kind of. But I was actually thinking, maybe we could grab lunch together. My treat.”Naomi raised an eyebrow, amused. “You’re offering to take me to lunch? That’s rare for a library regular.”Alex chuckled. “Well, let’s just say I’m trying to branch out. Come on, you’ve been stuck in here all week.”Naomi hesitated for a moment, then closed her book with a grin.
The next day, Alex walked into the principal's office with a sinking feeling in his gut. He had no idea why he'd been called in, but it didn't take long to figure out. Principal Davies sat behind his desk, looking stern, tapping his fingers against a folder in front of him."Alex," Principal Green began, "do you know why you're here?"Alex shook his head, trying to keep his expression neutral. "No, sir."Principal Green sighed and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "It’s come to my attention that you were seen having lunch in the cafeteria during your suspension."Alex’s heart sank. "I wasn’t causing any trouble, sir. I was just—""It doesn’t matter," Principal Green interrupted. "Suspension means no privileges, including lunch in the cafeteria. You’re supposed to be completing your history research in the library, as I instructed. This isn't about you causing trouble. It’s about you following the rules."Alex clenched his fists, frustration bubbling up. He hadn't done an
In the days following his return to school, Alex found himself spending more and more time with Naomi. Their meetings in the library, which had once been occasional, turned into a daily routine. What began as a history project soon evolved into long, easy conversations about books, life, and the hidden stories tucked away in the corners of the school library.Alex had never really imagined himself being so drawn to someone, especially not in the midst of everything else going on in his life. But there was something about Naomi—her quiet confidence, her passion for history, and her ability to make even the most mundane topics seem interesting—that kept pulling him back. When they weren’t studying or working on the project, they’d talk about their favorite books, obscure historical events, or even just random things that crossed their minds.One afternoon, as the sunlight streamed through the library windows, casting a golden glow over the rows of books, Alex found himself staring at Na
As Alex sat next to Naomi in the library, the silence between them was comfortable but charged with something new. Naomi was flipping through the pages of their shared history book, but neither of them had said much in the last few minutes. Alex couldn’t stop glancing at her, feeling the tension between them grow.Naomi broke the silence first. “You’re distracted today,” she teased, her eyes still on the page but a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”Alex cleared his throat, his heart racing. He didn’t want to sound too eager, but he couldn’t hide it anymore. “I’ve been thinking... about you. About us, actually.”Naomi looked up, eyebrows raised. “Oh? What about us?”“I don’t know,” Alex said, shifting in his seat. “It’s just... being around you is different now. It’s like I’m always looking forward to these moments.”Naomi tilted her head, her smile growing a little. “I noticed something had changed. I mean, you’ve been spending a l
Victor's jealousy had always been something he could control, a quiet simmer beneath his otherwise dominant persona. He had a way of keeping everything in check, maintaining his reputation as the untouchable guy at school, the one nobody dared challenge. But ever since Alex came back, and especially after seeing him with Naomi, Victor's composure was slipping, unraveling in ways that shocked even him.At lunch, Victor sat at his usual spot, surrounded by his loyal followers, Jake and Emily. His eyes, however, were glued to the far end of the room where Alex and Naomi sat, laughing together. The sight of them made his blood boil, the tight grip on his fork threatening to bend the metal."Look at them," he muttered through clenched teeth, his voice dripping with disdain. "It’s disgusting."Emily, ever the observant one, raised an eyebrow. "You’re really letting this get to you, huh? I thought you didn’t care about that whole Alex thing."Victor’s eyes darkened as he watched Naomi lean i