Introduction:A New Beginning

Eli never liked being the center of attention.

In fact, he had spent most of his life trying to blend into the background, avoiding unnecessary interactions. But as he stepped into his new classroom, he could already feel the weight of curious stares pressing down on him.

He clutched the strap of his backpack tighter, keeping his gaze low as the teacher gestured for him to introduce himself.

“My name is Eli Hayes…” he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “I just transferred here.”

A wave of whispers followed his introduction.

“He’s so pretty…”

“Look at his eyes—hazel, right?”

“I hope he sits next to me!”

Eli’s shoulders tensed. He hated this kind of attention. Flustered, he quickly turned to the teacher. “Can I sit in the back?” he asked hurriedly.

The teacher, seemingly unfazed, nodded. “Go ahead.”

Relieved, Eli quickly made his way to the last row, trying to ignore the excited glances from his new classmates. He pulled out his chair, exhaling softly—

Only to realize someone was already there.

A boy, tall and broad-shouldered, was sprawled across the desk, his head resting on his arms. His dark hair was slightly tousled, his breathing steady. He was asleep.

Eli hesitated, unsure whether to wake him or not. But before he could decide, the boy suddenly stirred, lifting his head lazily.

Piercing blue eyes locked onto Eli’s.

For a second, neither of them spoke.

Eli swallowed nervously and forced an awkward smile. “Uh… hi.”

The guy simply stared at him blankly, as if debating whether acknowledging him was even worth the effort. The silence stretched, making Eli shift uncomfortably.

Then, without a word, the guy turned his head back and closed his eyes again.

Eli blinked. Well… okay then.

He slowly took his seat, trying to focus on class. But no matter how hard he tried, he could still feel that presence beside him—unbothered, unreadable, and oddly captivating.

And that was his first encounter with Jaxon Reed—the school’s most notorious heartthrob.

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Lunchtime rolled around, and Eli barely had time to escape when a new presence slid into the seat across from him.

“Well, well,” a deep, amused voice drawled. “You’re the new kid, huh?”

Eli glanced up—and immediately regretted it.

The guy in front of him exuded danger. He had sharp features, an undercut, and multiple piercings decorating his ears and brow. His uniform was worn with zero regard for the rules, the tie loose and the sleeves rolled up.

“Zane Carter,” the guy introduced himself smoothly, resting his chin on his hand. “Jaxon’s best friend.”

Eli’s stomach sank. Great. Another one.

Zane smirked at his expression. “You look nervous. Don’t worry, I don’t bite… much.”

Before Eli could think of a response, someone else suddenly dropped a notebook onto the table beside them.

“Teacher told me to give you this,” the new arrival said flatly, not even sparing Zane a glance.

Eli blinked up at him. The boy was neat and polished, with thick glasses and an air of quiet intelligence. He looked like the kind of student teachers adored—studious, reliable, and disciplined.

“Noah Sinclair,” he said curtly, adjusting his glasses.

Eli nodded hesitantly. “Thanks…”

But then, Noah finally turned to Zane, his expression unimpressed. “Shouldn’t you be bothering someone else?”

Zane chuckled. “Shouldn’t you be pretending to be a good person?”

Noah smirked slightly. “At least I don’t waste my time picking up lost puppies.”

Eli blinked between them. What… is happening?

Zane rolled his eyes and leaned back. “Relax, I’m just getting to know our new little classmate here.” He turned his sharp gaze back to Eli, who tensed. “You sure picked an interesting seat, newbie. Sitting with Jaxon? Bold move.”

Eli had no idea what that was supposed to mean, but judging by the way Zane was watching him like he was a puzzle to be solved, he had a feeling his life at this school was about to become very complicated.

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