The halls of Crown Ridge High whispered with tension. Whispers turned into looks, and looks into silence when Lynn passed. Her heels tapped rhythmically down the polished marble hallway—sharp, composed, untouchable.
But inside, her heart beat differently now.
It wasn't fear or anxiety.
It was him.
Alex had told her he loved her. Just like that. Bold. Quiet. Devastating.
And since that night, the world had rearranged itself in her mind. She wasn't just Lynn Kay, daughter of the richest man in City Z. She was Lynn—the girl who had someone who truly saw her.
She paused by her locker, mechanically spinning the lock.
"She's still dazed," Fanshia whispered behind her.
Dianne leaned beside her, sipping a cold chai. "She's not dazed. She's in love. Look at that dainty little smile. Girl's been kissed right out of her mind."
Lynn blushed. "Would you both shut up?"
Gallagher smirked as he leaned in. "So? When are we meeting the boy who cracked the Kay ice heart?"
"Cracked?" Dianne scoffed. "Alex practically melted her."
Lynn laughed despite herself, shutting her locker. "You guys are unbearable."
But her eyes wandered.
Down the corridor.
There he was.
Alex stood by the window, sunlight gilding his brown skin in soft gold. His jacket hung off one shoulder, hair tousled like he hadn't tried, but somehow looked like a magazine cover. He leaned against the window frame, sketchpad in hand, headphones around his neck.
Lynn took one step.
Then paused.
Her palms were sweating.
"Go," Gallagher nudged her.
"You're Lynn Kay," Dianne added. "You don't hesitate. You conquer."
She rolled her eyes, but her smile gave her away. She strode forward, heels silent now.
Alex noticed her. His lips twitched. "Hey."
"Hey," she said, stopping just a breath away.
He looked at her. Just… looked.
She could feel it—how much he saw her.
"How's your cheek?" she asked, brushing her fingers lightly across the bruise near his jaw.
"It's nothing. Jamy's punches are mostly noise," he said.
Lynn frowned. "He was out of line. I'm sorry."
"You didn't throw the punch."
"No. But he's still—my family."
"Your step-family," Alex said, a shadow in his voice. "You don't owe them your peace."
That made her pause. No one ever said that to her.
They stood in silence.
"Want to get out of here?" he asked.
"Where?"
"Anywhere that's not filled with people whispering about us."
Lynn glanced back—her friends were watching, pretending not to.
She turned to him and nodded. "Yes."
---
They sat under the massive willow tree in the old courtyard—the one no one went to anymore since the science wing was remodeled. It was quiet, secluded. Just wind, leaves, and birds.
Alex lay back on the grass. Lynn sat beside him, hugging her knees.
"I've never liked anyone like this before," he said suddenly. "With you, it's different."
She looked at him.
"How?" she whispered.
"It's not just attraction. It's chaos. Like you're a storm I want to run into, not away from."
Lynn felt her breath catch.
"I don't know how to do this," he admitted. "I don't come from your world. I'm not rich. I don't wear designer shoes. I've got two hoodies and one leather jacket."
Lynn laughed. "You think I care about that?"
He sat up, turning to her. "You should."
"Why?"
"Because people like you don't end up with people like me."
She reached forward, took his hand, and laced their fingers.
"I don't care what people expect. I only care about what I feel. And I feel like I want to kiss you again," she said boldly.
Alex blinked. "That's a dangerous thing to say."
"I don't do safe," she whispered, leaning in.
This time, there were no hesitations.
He kissed her like he'd been waiting his whole life for this moment.
When they pulled apart, the wind shifted. The quiet lingered.
Lynn rested her head against his shoulder. "Do you believe in fate?"
"I believe in you," he said.
---
That evening, back in her room, Lynn stared out her window.
City Z glowed like a painting—gold, white, silver. Her father was in Tokyo for meetings. Suzie was at the spa. Serene was at ballet. The house was quiet.
Her phone buzzed.
Jordan: You looked amazing today.
She frowned.
Jordan: Still thinking about you. Even if you're with him.
Lynn exhaled sharply. Her fingers hovered over the screen.
Then she deleted the message.
Across the city, in a penthouse apartment, Sera stared at her computer screen. Fresa leaned against the door. Pauline chewed gum. Serenity paced.
"Are we really letting them win?" Fresa muttered.
Sera's eyes glinted. "No."
She clicked open an encrypted file.
"Because now… we stop playing nice."