Chapter 1
Rain tapped softly against the tall windows of Blackthorn Academy’s music hall, the sound uneven and restless, like nervous fingers drumming against a desk. Inside, the orchestra room smelled of polished wood, sheet music, and old varnish.
Elias Whitmore preferred it that way.
The rest of the school was loud. Cruel. Exhausting.
But here?
Here, everything made sense.
Every note had a place. Every pause meant something.
Elias adjusted the violin beneath his chin, ignoring the sting in his fingertips as he drew the bow carefully across the strings. The melody rose through the empty room — delicate, aching, beautiful enough to make his chest hurt.
“Still hiding in here, Whitmore?”
The music snapped apart.
Elias froze.
Of course.
He turned slowly to find Rowan Hayes leaning against the doorway, broad shoulders filling the frame of it. His school tie hung loose around his neck, dark hair damp from the rain outside. Even standing still, Rowan carried the kind of presence that made people move out of his way in the corridors.
Football captain. Detention regular. Professional menace.
And unfortunately for Elias, his personal nightmare since year eight.
“You know,” Rowan continued, stepping into the room, “normal people go home after school.”
Elias lowered his violin carefully. “Normal people don’t spend lunch throwing apples at first years.”
“That was one time.”
“It was three times.”
Rowan grinned lazily, like he was proud of it.
Elias hated that grin.
Mostly because it made Rowan look unfairly handsome when he absolutely did not deserve it.
“You done?” Elias muttered.
Rowan ignored the question entirely, wandering between music stands like he owned the place. “You’ve been in here every day this week.”
“And?”
“And,” Rowan said, picking up a sheet of music from a chair, “you’re either practicing for something big, or you’re avoiding humanity.”
Elias snatched the paper from his hands immediately. “Don’t touch those.”
For a brief second, Rowan looked surprised.
Then amused.
“There he is,” Rowan said softly. “Tiny violin boy’s got claws.”
Elias rolled his eyes hard enough it hurt. “Can you leave?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Coach locked the gym.”
“That sounds like a you problem.”
Rowan dropped into the chair beside him backwards, arms folded over the backrest. “You always this friendly?”
“You always this annoying?”
“Yes.”
At least he was honest.
Elias turned away before Rowan could notice the smile threatening at the corner of his mouth. He tightened the bow again instead, focusing carefully on the strings.
Anything except the fact that Rowan Hayes was voluntarily spending time with him.
Which was weird.
Rowan usually bothered him in hallways, laughed when Elias dropped books, called him “Mozart” loud enough for everyone to hear.
But lately…
Lately he kept showing up.
Music room. Library. Bus stop once, somehow.
Like a stray dog that refused to leave.
Elias lifted the violin again. “I’m practicing.”
“Obviously.”
“So stop talking.”
Rowan mimed zipping his lips.
The silence that followed should have been awkward.
Instead, Elias found himself playing again.
Slowly at first.
Then fully.
The melody spilled through the room, rich and trembling, wrapping around the rain outside. Elias forgot, briefly, that Rowan was there at all. Forgot school. Forgot people whispering about him behind his back. Forgot the constant tight feeling in his chest whenever crowds got too loud.
Music made him disappear into something softer.
Safer.
When the final note faded, the room fell quiet.
Elias exhaled carefully.
Then realized Rowan was staring at him.
Not mockingly.
Not bored.
Just… staring.
“What?” Elias asked sharply.
Rowan blinked like he’d been caught doing something embarrassing. “Nothing.”
“You’re staring.”
“You’re good.”
The words landed strangely.
Because Rowan Hayes had never sounded sincere toward him before.
Elias looked away first. “I know.”
Rowan laughed quietly under his breath. “Cocky too. Cute.”
Cute.
Elias nearly dropped the violin.
“What is wrong with you?”
“Lot of things,” Rowan admitted.
That earned another reluctant smile.
A dangerous one this time.
Because Elias could already feel it — the shift underneath their usual arguing. Something quieter. Warmer. Worse.
And judging by the look in Rowan’s eyes, he felt it too.
Outside, thunder rolled across the sky.
Inside the music room, Elias realized with growing horror that the school bully was flirting with him.
And somehow…
He didn’t entirely mind it.
