The hallway after lunch was unusually calm, sunlight spilling through the tall windows as students wandered in small groups. For the first time in a long time, Aarvin wasn't walking alone.
Kade and Troy flanked him on one side, casually arguing about who messed up the last shot in practice.
Liam walked ahead, spinning a basketball on his finger.
And beside Aarvin… John.
The new transfer student had slipped into the Wolves' orbit more naturally than anyone expected, thanks to yesterday's fight. Something about standing together in the middle of chaos had quietly bonded them.
John nudged Aarvin lightly.
"So… yesterday. Those guys who came at me— that happens often here?"
Aarvin shrugged. "Not always. But some groups like to test new faces."
John smirked. "Well, they picked the wrong new face."
Troy whistled. "Bro, the way you handled that punch? Respect."
"Respect?!" Kade laughed. "The real demon was Aarvin. My man didn't stop after knocking that guy down—he kept punching like he was possessed."
Liam added with a grin,
"Yeah bro, you were like— 'What? You wanna get up? NOPE.'"
Everyone laughed.
But the laughter faded when they remembered the key detail—
how everyone had whispered after the fight:
"That's Riyan's brother."
Aarvin blinked, slightly embarrassed.
"I… just lost control, I guess."
John tilted his head, genuinely studying him.
"Not control. Instinct. You're stronger than you think."
Aarvin didn't reply, but something warm flickered in his chest.
For once, the chaos inside him didn't feel like weakness. It felt… powerful.
The Conversation Turns Serious
They reached the outdoor benches, the cool breeze brushing past them. John leaned back against the railing.
"I've been trying to understand this school," he said.
"Riyan Hale… Adrien… you. Are you three friends? Rivals? Or what?"
The group fell quiet.
Aarvin took a second before answering.
"Riyan's my real brother," he said simply.
"And Adrien… he's not blood, but he's connected to us in his own way.
He and Riyan clash all the time, but… they care. Even if they don't admit it."
John raised an eyebrow. "And you?"
"I stand between both of them."
Aarvin breathed out.
"Whether I like it or not."
John nodded slowly, absorbing every word with a deeper seriousness than before.
"So basically," he concluded,
"You're the balance in a broken storm."
Aarvin didn't know why, but that sentence felt… true.
The Wolves Officially Grow
Liam suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Okay, enough emotional therapy. We need a name."
"For what?" Aarvin asked.
Kade put an arm around Aarvin's shoulder dramatically.
"For us, bro! Now that John joined, we're officially a group inside the Wolves."
Troy grinned.
"Wolves ke Wolves."
Liam thought for a second.
"How about… Storm Pack?"
Everyone froze.
John smirked.
"Aarvin's the storm. We're the pack. Works for me."
Aarvin shook his head with a shy laugh.
"You guys decide whatever you want."
6"Storm Pack it is then!" Troy declared.
A Sudden Reminder
Just as they started walking back toward class, Liam snapped his fingers again.
"Oh wait—
John, Zane, Aarvin, Kade, Troy… listen up."
Everyone turned.
"We've got a basketball match tomorrow. Against Ridgehall High."
Kade groaned. "They're crazy strong, man."
Troy added, "And after what happened between Riyan and Adrien yesterday… they're definitely not coming."
Liam sighed.
"So we'll need to pull guys from other classes to complete our lineup."
John cracked his knuckles.
"I can play."
Aarvin raised an eyebrow. "You can?"
John smirked.
"You'll see tomorrow."
Kade clapped his hands.
"Great! Then we've got at least one powerhouse on our side."
The group exchanged excited looks—
nervous, but energized.
A new team.
A new match.
A new chapter.
And for the first time in a long time, Aarvin felt something he rarely felt at Oakridge:
He wasn't alone.