2
The cafeteria buzzed with the usual mix of laughter, clinking trays, and idle chatter, but Zara Collins carved through the noise like a blade—confident, polished, utterly untouchable. Her heels clicked against the polished floor with the kind of rhythm that made people turn their heads, a silent announcement: she owned this space.
She spotted him—Sky—sitting alone at a corner table, his presence an anomaly amid the clatter of silver spoons and glossy smiles. His posture was rigid but somehow calm, eyes locked on the plain tray in front of him, as if the meal held the weight of a thousand secrets. He seemed out of place, like a shadow cast over a glittering world he didn't want to be part of.
Without hesitation, Zara slid into the seat opposite him, a bright, unapologetic smile playing on her lips. "Hey, Sky. Hungry?"
No response.
Her smile faltered for a moment but then doubled down on the challenge. She flagged down a waiter and ordered the most expensive thing on the menu, making sure everyone nearby saw the little power move.
When the bill arrived, Zara didn't hesitate—she pulled out her sleek card, pushing it across the table toward him with a grin that said, This is how it's done.
Sky's eyes lifted, sharp and unreadable. Not a word. No thanks, no refusal—just cold, silent judgment. The kind of silence that felt heavier than any insult.
Then he stood.
Slow, deliberate. No explanation, no glance back. Just a quiet exit, leaving Zara blinking at the empty space he'd left behind.
The chatter around her grew louder, but everything felt muted, as if his absence had sucked the life out of the room. Zara sat frozen for a moment, the weight of his silence pressing down on her chest.
Curiosity, frustration, and something darker stirred inside her—a challenge she wasn't prepared for.
She watched from the cafeteria window as Sky disappeared down the hallway, the echo of his footsteps swallowed by the building.
Later, she caught sight of him slipping into an empty classroom, headphones pressed tight against his ears. Music poured out—a private sanctuary where Sky could hide from the world's bright lights and sharp edges.
Zara leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. His silence wasn't just cold—it was a wall, built brick by brick from pain, pride, and secrets she wasn't sure she wanted to uncover.
But beneath the shock and the bruised pride, a spark flickered—an unspoken promise that this game was far from over.
And deep down, Zara knew she was already hooked.
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