The New Girl

The morning air was crisp as Celeste Vega stepped off the bus and stared up at the grand iron gates of St. Orion’s Academy. The towering stone walls, covered in ivy, seemed to mock her with their opulence. A scholarship student at a school for the elite. What could possibly go wrong?

Celeste adjusted the strap of her worn backpack and inhaled deeply. Blend in, stay unnoticed, and don’t let anyone figure out who you really are. That was the plan.

“Move it, newbie!”

The shout jolted her out of her thoughts as a sleek black car screeched to a halt in front of the gates. Out stepped a boy who looked like he belonged on the cover of a fashion magazine—dark hair perfectly tousled, sharp features, and an air of arrogance that made Celeste’s skin crawl.

“Adrian Blackwood,” a girl nearby whispered to her friend, giggling. “He’s so dreamy.”

Great. Just what I need. Another spoiled rich kid who thinks the world revolves around him. Celeste rolled her eyes and kept walking, pretending not to notice the stares directed her way.

Inside the main building, the hallways buzzed with energy. Students in designer uniforms clustered in groups, laughing and chatting. Celeste felt their gazes linger on her thrift-store blazer, her scuffed shoes.

“Hey, you’re in my way,” a voice drawled behind her.

Celeste turned to see Adrian again, leaning casually against a locker with an amused smirk.

“Excuse me?” she said, arching an eyebrow.

“You’re blocking my locker,” he said, pointing to the one behind her.

Celeste stepped aside, her cheeks burning. “Sorry, Your Highness.”

Adrian chuckled. “Feisty. I like that.”

Before she could retort, the warning bell rang. Grateful for the excuse, Celeste hurried off to find her homeroom.

The first few classes passed in a blur of introductions and syllabus handouts. Celeste kept her head down, avoiding unnecessary attention. But during lunch, she couldn’t avoid the inevitable.

“Hey, you’re the scholarship girl, right?”

Celeste looked up to see a girl with platinum blonde hair and a sharp smile standing over her. Behind her was a posse of equally intimidating girls.

“I’m Bianca. Welcome to St. Orion’s,” the girl said, her tone dripping with fake sweetness. “Just a little advice—stay in your lane, and you won’t have any problems.”

Celeste clenched her fists under the table. “Thanks for the warm welcome, Bianca. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Bianca’s smile faltered, but before she could respond, a shadow fell over their table.

“Bianca, don’t you have anything better to do?”

Adrian again.

Bianca’s face turned red. “Mind your own business, Adrian.”

Adrian smirked. “You’re making it my business.”

With a glare, Bianca and her posse stalked off, leaving Celeste bewildered.

“Don’t read too much into it,” Adrian said, sliding into the seat across from her. “I just hate bullies.”

Celeste narrowed her eyes. “And what do you call what you were doing this morning?”

Adrian laughed, a genuine sound that caught her off guard. “Fair point. Truce?” He held out his hand.

Reluctantly, Celeste shook it, feeling the spark of something she couldn’t quite place.

“Good. See you around, scholarship girl,” he said with a wink before walking away.

As Celeste watched him go, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Adrian Blackwood was going to be a problem.

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