Bridgette's POV
I arrived at school earlier than usual. The crisp morning air felt refreshing, yet my heart carried a weight heavier than ever. Today was the first day I would truly try to change... no more arrogance, no more cruelty. I had to take the first step.
As I walked toward the school gates, I noticed a familiar figure ahead. A girl with soft brown curls tied loosely behind her back, her eyes warm and gentle.
Anabella.
She turned at the sound of my footsteps and smiled, her voice light and sweet. "Good morning, Bridgette!"
For a moment, I was stunned.
She always greets me like this, doesn't she? Even though I treated her horribly before.
Still, I forced a small smile. "Good morning, Anabella."
Her eyes flickered with concern. "Are you feeling okay? You left early yesterday... I was worried."
I blinked.
She was worried about me? After everything?
A bitter taste filled my mouth. I had spent so long seeing her as my enemy, but the truth was... she was never against me. I was the one who painted her as a villain, when in reality, she was just kind.
Anabella had always been kind.
I clenched my fists, summoning my courage. "Anabella..." My voice wavered, but I pushed through. "I—I just wanted to say... I'm sorry."
Anabella's eyes widened. "What?"
I lowered my head. "For everything. For how I treated you before." I took a shaky breath. "You've always been nice to me, even when I didn't deserve it. I was awful to you, and yet, you never fought back. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I just... I wanted you to know that I regret it."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then, to my surprise, Anabella giggled softly.
I looked up, confused, only to see her eyes shining—not with anger, not with resentment, but with warmth. "Bridgette, I've wanted to be your friend for so long," she said softly. "Of course, I forgive you."
A warmth bloomed in my chest. So this is what it feels like... to be forgiven.
Anabella reached into her bag and pulled out a small wrapped bread. "Here! It's from our family bakery. I brought an extra one for you."
I hesitated before accepting it, feeling an unfamiliar lightness in my heart. "Thank you," I murmured.
Just as I was about to take a bite, a sharp voice cut through the air.
"Bridgette, what are you doing?"
I turned just in time to see Travis storming toward us, his golden-brown hair tousled as if he had been running. His amber eyes glared at me with suspicion. Behind him, Collin followed with a worried expression, his gaze lingering on me.
Of course.
Even if I wanted to change, the world still saw me as the same villain.
"Are you bothering Anabella again?" Travis demanded, stepping in front of her protectively.
"Travis, wait—" Anabella tried to explain, but he didn't listen.
"Stay away from her, Bridgette," he warned. His voice was firm, but not cruel. He was simply someone protecting his cousin.
I knew then that no matter how much I tried to change, my past would always follow me.
I looked at Collin, expecting disgust, but instead, his eyes were unreadable. He wasn't glaring. He wasn't angry. He was simply watching with concern eyes.
But I didn't have the strength to explain myself—not when no one would believe me.
Without another word, I turned and ran.
"Bridgette!" Anabella called after me, but I heard Travis stop her.
I didn't turn back.
I had taken my first step toward change, but it seemed fate wasn't going to make it easy for me.
I had no idea how long I had been running. My legs burned, my heart pounded, and my mind was screaming at me for being a coward.
Why did I run?
I only stopped when I realized I was somewhere unfamiliar. The air was musty, and the dim lighting sent an eerie chill down my spine. Blinking, I looked around—old metal lockers lined the walls, a dusty exit sign flickered weakly above a closed door, and a set of stairs led upward.
"Wait... where am I?" I whispered to myself.
Then it hit me.
The old emergency exit near the gym.
I barely even noticed where my feet had taken me. Wow. Great job, Bridgette. Ran straight into a horror movie setting.
I sighed heavily, rubbing my temple. "I can't go back now. How embarrassing would that be?"
I leaned against the cold wall, exhaling. I just wanted to apologize. I wasn't even doing anything wrong, but of course, Travis had to show up and be Anabella's personal knight in shining armor.
I frowned. "Tch. I should be the protagonist here..."
Shaking my head, I took a deep breath. "Come on, Bridgette. Get it together."
Then, with all the strength I could muster—SLAP!
I smacked my own cheeks.
"For what it's worth, I'm Bridget La Rue, the DIVA of this school. I am NOT going to cry over something like this. I have to be strong. Elegant. UNBOTHERED."
My little pep talk gave me just enough courage to stand tall again.
That is, until I noticed how dark it was.
A shiver ran down my spine.
Slowly, I pulled out my phone and turned on the flashlight, feeling my heartbeat pick up. The bright glow illuminated the dust in the air, casting eerie shadows across the empty hallway.
"Okay... just find the exit and get out of here," I muttered, stepping carefully toward the stairs.
Then—
I saw him.
Perched on the stairs, knees bent, head hanging low, was Lucien.
And—hold on—
Was he... was he CRYING?!
My breath hitched. My flashlight pointed straight at his face, exposing the way his usually cold, unreadable silver-blue eyes were now glassy with unshed tears.
Wait. WAIT.
L-LUCIEN?? THE Lucien?? The Dark Prince, the silent menace, the untouchable king of the shadows??
TEARS?!
My brain short-circuited. My jaw hung open.
Lucien blinked, clearly stunned by the sudden spotlight I had cast on his misery. His eyes widened. His expression froze.
I could hear my own heart pounding in my ears.
Then, the worst thing happened.
Lucien's gaze flickered to my phone—more specifically, the flashlight. His breath hitched, realization dawning in his eyes.
He thought I took a picture.
A dangerous aura instantly replaced his vulnerable state. His entire body stiffened, and in that moment, I knew—I am going die AGAIN!
Panic shot through me.
"N-NO, WAIT—EXCUSE ME—I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING!!!" I shrieked.
In the most dramatic and utterly stupid move possible, I hide my phone behind me in terror, as if that would erase everything.
Lucien just sat there, his entire body unmoving, as if he had completely ascended from reality.
We both stared at each other.
The silence stretched.
Then—
I RAN.
LIKE HELL.
I turned and BOLTED out of there at full speed, my shoes clacking against the old tile floor.
No second thoughts. No hesitations. Survival mode ACTIVATED.
And Lucien?
He just sat there. Completely frozen.
What... just happened?
For the first time in his life, Lucien was too stunned to speak.