Later, as Shylie passed the music room, the soft strains of a piano melody drifted out. Her fingers twitched involuntarily at the sound. She paused at the door, the familiar tune tugging at her memories. She had played that piece before, many times, in fact. The smooth, intricate flow of the notes seemed to call out to her.
Shylie's lips parted in a small smile. Maybe it's time to remind them of what I'm capable of.
No longer would she sit on the sidelines, unnoticed and overlooked. This time, she would show them exactly who Shylie Reed was.
The old rules no longer applied. The game had changed. And this time, she would play by her own rules.
The scent of freshly printed test papers filled Room 204 at Rooseville Academy. The clock ticked steadily, each second an echo of the weight she carried in her chest. It was just another exam, but Shylie Reed's mind was far beyond the classroom walls. Every question she answered seemed to slice through the fog, her focus sharpened like a laser.
She had already been through it all, college, corporate battles, financial markets, but now, in this 16-year-old body, she felt like she had an edge over everyone. Her heart raced with a quiet thrill as she finished the last question. No careless mistakes. No time wasted. Just precision.
The final bell rang, and Shylie was the first to stand, her paper spotless. She walked out of the room with the same quiet poise she'd been perfecting all her life.
Her classmates? They weren't so quiet.
"Did you see Shylie's math test score?" one student whispered in the hallway.
"Top of the class. No one's ever done that before," another added.
Shylie didn't need to bask in their praise, she already knew.
She'd come to Rooseville Academy to change the game, and she was only getting started.
Later that week, the school held its usual mixer for seniors and juniors, a social event where students could mingle outside of the academic grind. It was an event that everyone else seemed to attend for fun, but Shylie had other plans.
Stepping outside her comfort zone felt right, like it was time to lay the groundwork for the new version of herself.
The gymnasium was filled with laughter, chatter, and the clinking of punch glasses. The usual noise. Shylie stood in the corner, detached but fully aware. Her eyes scanned the crowd, indifferent to the familiar cliques.
And then she saw him.
Darren Tan.
Two years her senior, with a reputation that made him Rooseville's golden boy. Popular, athletic, charming, with an easy grin that made girls swoon. Shylie couldn't help but notice how effortlessly he moved through the crowd, like the air was just a little lighter when he was around.
His eyes found hers across the room, and for a moment, there was something unspoken. A flicker of curiosity. He moved toward her, his stride confident, like he was used to people stepping aside.
"Hey, you're Shylie, right? I've heard you're pretty unstoppable with numbers," he said with a friendly smile.
Shylie didn't let her guard slip. Her voice was steady. "That's what they say."
He chuckled, and without waiting for an invitation, sat next to her. "Mind if I join you?"
Shylie considered for a moment. In her past life, she would've avoided this, hidden in the shadows. But this was a new beginning. She wasn't here to remain invisible. "Sure," she said, her voice calm.
They fell into conversation easily, talking about school projects, upcoming tests, and the stress that came with being at Rooseville. Darren was surprisingly genuine, interested, and down-to-earth. He didn't seem to have an agenda. It was just two people talking.
Still, Shylie kept her distance. She wasn't here to chase teenage romance or indulge in small talk. She had bigger plans.
The night wore on, and as they parted ways, Darren glanced back at her. There was a thoughtful look in his eyes. "You're different, Shylie," he said. "Not like the others."
She smiled, just a little. "Maybe because I've seen more than most."
The midterm season hit Rooseville Academy like a storm. For most students, it meant sleepless nights, frantic cramming, and the usual anxiety that came with exams. For Shylie? It was just another stepping stone, a small hurdle on her way to something much bigger.
No longer the girl who faded into the background, Shylie was now front and center. Her pen moved with the speed and certainty of someone who had already lived through decades of academia, business, and success. Each solution came effortlessly, each answer an extension of knowledge she had accumulated over lifetimes.
Her teachers couldn't help but take notice. They paused, raised eyebrows, and exchanged glances as they saw her finish the exams long before anyone else. Word spread fast.
Her peers whispered behind her back, incredulous.
"Is she cheating?" one whispered.
"No way," another responded. "She finishes before anyone else. She even solved that bonus calculus question, university-level stuff!"
The whispers followed Shylie like a shadow, but she didn't care. Let them talk.
The one person who didn't need to whisper, though, was Leah.
Leah was watching, watching with that unmistakable glint of jealousy in her eyes. Her usual confident, easy smile had faltered. Shylie's ascent was challenging everything Leah had taken for granted, especially her place at the top. It didn't help that Shylie was already outscoring her in the midterms.
Shylie was a junior. Leah was a senior. And for the first time, the hierarchy was being tested.
Lunch Break: The Calm Before the Storm
Shylie often retreated to the cherry blossom tree outside the cafeteria during lunch—away from the clatter, the gossip, and the constant noise. It was her quiet space, a place where she could recalibrate, focus, and plan.
But today, someone else had found her refuge.
"Always eat alone?" Darren's voice broke the calm, warm and teasing. He stood beside her, a bento box in each hand.
Shylie raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Don't you have a fan club to entertain?"
Darren smirked as he sat beside her without waiting for permission. "They'll survive."
Shylie eyed the extra box in his hand. "That's not mine."
"I made it," Darren said casually. "Figured with exams coming up, you might forget to eat."