The school didn't wake up quietly.
It never did.
The morning bell rang sharp and loud,
Cutting through laughter, half-slept faces,
and the sound of shoes running late.
Lockers slammed.
Friends Called out names .
Someone complained about homework.
Someone else complained about life.
Normal chaos.
Christopher Hale walked through the main corridor with his friends, his blazer slightly loose, tie ignored like a suggestion rather than a rule.
"Tell me again why we chose science, " Nathan said dramatically.
"Because we're stupid, " Christopher replied without missing a step.
Laughter followed him---easy ,natural.
He laughed a lot at school.
People notice that.
Christopher was the kind of boy
Who looked like he had everything figured out.
Rich .
Good-looking.
Surrounded by friends.
He moved like he belonged there.
Leo walked beside him,quieter than the others,listening more than speaking. Even followed, already talking about an upcoming test.
Christopher didn't mind the noise .
He liked it.
Noise kept thoughts away.
On the other side of the campus,
a black car stopped near the entrance.
Zia Harrington stepped out.
The chatter around her softened for a second.
Not because she demanded attention ---
but because attention came anyway.
Her school uniform was neat,
every button in place,
but it was her hair that made people look twice.
Soft Grey strands fell freely over her shoulders,catching the morning light in a way that felt unreal .
Elegant .
Different.
Mia leaned closer.
"You know everyone's staring ,right ?"
Zia smiled faintly .
"I don't care."
And she meant it.
She had grown up with eyes on her,expectations following her like shadows.
Mayor's daughter.
Perfect student.
Perfect girlfriend.
At least that's what the world thought.
Their classroom were on the same floor.
Christopher dropped into his usual back-bench seat, stretching his leg comfortably.
"This seat is going to miss me when I graduate,"he said.
"It'll celebrate, "Evan replied.
More laughter.
Zia entered a few moments later.
She paused for half a second, her eyes moving instinctively toward the sound of laughter.
She saw him.
Christopher Hale.
Relaxed.
Smiling.
Completely unaware.
Something about that made her curious.
She looked away before anyone noticed.
The teacher walked in.
Books opened.
Pens moved.
A normal school day.
Yet ,somewhere between equations and notes, between jokes whispered under breath and glances stolen without reason,
Two lives shared the same space
Without knowing
how slowly,
how quietly,
things were about to change.