The final bell was a beautiful sound. I grabbed my bag and was one of the first out of the classroom. I walked down the hallway with a light step, just glad the boring lectures were over for the day.
Sunlight poured through the big glass doors at the school's main exit. Students streamed out, talking loudly about their plans. I was almost to the doors when I saw her.
Caroline Forbes. She was standing right by the exit, a spot where you couldn't miss her. She was talking to another girl, a brunette I didn't know. But Caroline wasn't really listening. Her blue eyes kept flicking over the crowd leaving the building, scanning faces. She was looking for someone.
Then her eyes stopped. On me.
A sharp, practiced smile appeared on her face. She said a quick word to the other girl, who nodded and walked off. Caroline turned her whole body towards the door, positioning herself right in my path.
I kept walking, not slowing down. When I was a few steps away, she moved slightly, blocking my way out.
"Well," she said, her voice bright and friendly. Her hands moved as she talked. "Alex, right?"
I stopped. I let my eyebrows rise in surprise for a second. Then it clicked. Of course. This was exactly how Caroline operated in the show. New person, handsome face—she had to be the first to make contact, to show she was in the know.
She spoke again in a playful tone."You're confused, right?" she said, the smile snapping back into place. "Wondering how I know your name? Don't be. It's very easy for me to get information about anything in this school."
She said it like she was some kind of mysterious person, unaware that I was infinitely more so.
I looked directly into her bright blue eyes. Then I let out a short, quiet laugh. It wasn't a happy sound.
"You only know my identity," I said, my voice dropping into a lower, darker tone. "But I already know more about you than you know about yourself."
Her smile thinned a little. Her eyes scrutinised, then narrowed, trying to figure me out. She opened her mouth but no words came out.
I didn't wait.I stepped to the left, easily passing her. I had said the words to stop her from leading me, but now, watching her expression, I knew: she was the one being led.
"Hey! Wait!" Her voice called from behind me, sharp and a little too loud.
I paused for a moment, but I didn't turn around. I just stood there on the paved path, letting her catch up. We were in the school's inner courtyard now. Green grass, a few trees, flowers in beds. The sun was lower, making long shadows and painting everything in a golden light.
I heard her quick footsteps on the pavement behind me. She came up to my side, adjusting the strap of her designer bag on her shoulder. She was trying to look casual, but I could see the confusion in her face.
"Alex," she said, forcing a light tone. "You are really bad at jokes. At least try a good one."
I stopped walking and turned to face her. The sunlight made her blonde hair look white-gold and lit up her fair skin. She was objectively beautiful. And right now, very confused.
I took a small step closer to her. Not enough to be threatening, but enough to be in her space. I kept my voice low, mixing a hint of a joke with the dark tone from before.
"It doesn't matter whether you believe me or not," I said, holding her gaze. "After all, what I said is the truth. Not a single word was a lie."
She stared at me. Her eyes searched mine, looking for a sign that I was teasing, that this was all some weird game. She didn't find it. I just looked back, calm and sure.
She unfolded her arms, which had been crossed tightly over her chest. "Well," she said, her voice less sure now. "If what you're saying is not a lie, then answer me some questions. A—"
I cut her off. "Caroline." I said her name softly, but it stopped her. I made sure to look right into her eyes, using whatever new charm I had. "You just have to know this: I know what you don't know about yourself. For the question you want to ask… you'll get the answer and the question both in the future."
I didn't know why I said that last part. The words just came out. It felt like I had to say it, like there was a pressure in my head that released when I spoke. Maybe it was the bloodline, or just me being stupid.
She just looked at me, completely still. The playful, controlling Caroline was gone. In her place was a girl who was suddenly, deeply unsettled.
Then she blinked. She shook her head a tiny bit, and a new, brittle smile appeared on her face. She unfolded her hands, putting them on her hips. "Relax!" she said, her voice too high. "I was just joking. And I know you must also be joking, right? That was your weird, intense new-kid joke."
I didn't answer. A wave of irritation washed over me. I didn't know how her mind worked, but I still maintained my gentle appearance. After all, it was my first day at school.
A small, tight smile appeared on my lips. It didn't reach my eyes. "Let's go," I said, my voice flat. "Otherwise, we'll be the last ones here."
I turned and started walking towards the main gate that led out of the school grounds. After a second, I heard her footsteps follow.
We walked in silence for a minute. The only sounds were our shoes on the path and the distant shout of a coach from the sports field. The low sun was behind us, casting our long, stretched-out shadows ahead on the ground.
***
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