Weeks passed, and Luna had finally settled into her new school and made a small circle of friends. Life was beginning to feel comfortable again. One crisp morning, she dressed neatly in her school uniform, tied her hair back, and set off for class with her usual cheerful energy.
As she walked along the narrow street, humming softly, her foot landed squarely on the tail of a stray dog dozing by the roadside. In an instant, the dog's peaceful nap turned into fury. It leapt up with a snarl, barking ferociously. Luna's eyes widened in horror.
"Oh no… what did I just do?!" she whispered, her heart racing.
Without thinking, she broke into a run, clutching her schoolbag to her chest. The dog chased her with relentless speed, its teeth bared. Luna dared a glance backward to see how close it was — but that mistake cost her. She crashed into someone, hard.
The impact sent her tumbling to the ground. The tall figure she had collided with — a boy on a motorcycle — stumbled but caught himself, while Luna's knee scraped against the pavement, blood trickling down her leg.
"I–I'm so sorry!" she cried, trying to stand, but her injured leg refused to hold her weight. She winced in pain, tears brimming in her eyes.
The boy, towering at nearly six feet, removed one hand from his bike and looked down at her with an unreadable expression. He didn't speak. He simply reached down, his grip firm but emotionless, and pulled her up onto her feet.
Before Luna could thank him, the dog lunged closer, barking wildly. Without hesitation, the boy bent, grabbed a handful of stones, and hurled them with precise force. The dog yelped and fled into the distance.
Panting, Luna finally caught her breath. She turned to the boy, noticing for the first time that he was wearing the same school uniform as hers. Relief washed over her. "Thank you so much," she said warmly, her voice soft and sincere. "I'm Luna Ashley. You really saved me back there."
The boy didn't respond. His sharp eyes flicked over her briefly, but his lips stayed pressed in a thin line.
Awkward silence settled between them. Luna shifted nervously, her smile faltering. Did I say something wrong? she wondered. Feeling a sting of rejection, she turned slightly, ready to limp away.
But then his voice, deep and cold, cut through the morning air. "Stop. You can ride with me. I'm heading the same way."
Luna froze, startled by both the command and the chill in his tone. She turned back, unsure, but nodded. Carefully, she climbed onto the back of his motorcycle. The seat was wide, yet the closeness made her heart race. Something about him felt distant, unapproachable — and yet magnetic.
"I'm Landon Parker," he said flatly, his tone carrying no warmth, no smile.
Luna blinked, taken aback. She had expected kindness after such help, but his words felt like ice. "Oh… it's nice to meet you, Landon," she replied softly, trying to mask her unease.
He didn't answer. His silence spoke louder than words, leaving Luna with the bitter impression that he was a boy who preferred walls over bridges.
When they reached school, Landon pulled over, parked his bike, and without a word removed his helmet. For the first time, Luna saw his face clearly. Sharp features, unreadable eyes — handsome, but distant.
As she stood there, still trying to process the encounter, one thought lingered in her mind: Why does he feel so bitter?