The hallway buzzed with the usual chaos — laughter, whispers, sneakers squeaking against the tiled floor. I walked through it like I owned the place, because in a way, I did. Everyone knew my name. Everyone knew not to mess with me.
Then he showed up.
The new boy.
Quiet. Calm. Eyes too dark, too unreadable for someone who looked that gentle. He carried his books close, head slightly down, like he was scared to breathe too loud.
"Who's that?" my best friend Maya whispered, leaning on my locker.
I shrugged, pretending not to care — but I was already watching him. Something about him didn't fit here.
"Looks like another transfer kid," I said with a small smirk. "Let's make him feel… welcome."
Maya laughed, and I turned, walking straight toward him. The crowd parted like it always did when I passed. He looked up, surprised — those eyes meeting mine for the first time. Something about them felt sharp, like they saw through me.
"Well, new boy," I said, crossing my arms. "Lost already?"
He didn't answer. He just looked at me, expression blank. No fear. No reaction. Just… silence.
That annoyed me.
I wasn't used to being ignored.
"Hey, I'm talking to you," I snapped, nudging his book from his hand. It hit the floor with a soft thud. A few people laughed.
He slowly bent down, picked it up, and stood tall again — this time, his eyes held mine like a quiet challenge.
Then he said softly, "You done?"
Something inside me froze.
No one had ever talked to me like that. No one dared.
"Watch it," I warned, my voice low.
He gave a faint smirk — small but powerful — then walked past me like I didn't exist.
The hallway went silent for a moment, all eyes on me.
Maya nudged me, whispering, "Did he just—?"
I didn't answer. I just watched his back as he walked away, a strange heat rising in my chest.
It wasn't anger. Not really.
It was something else.
By the end of the week, I made sure everyone knew his name — Ethan Grey.
And I made sure he'd regret ever crossing me.
But what I didn't know then was that the same boy I wanted to break… would be the one to break me.