Chapter 1 “Unnoticed Beginnings”
Sophie sat at her desk, staring out the window. The classroom felt like a cage. The sky outside was pale blue, with the last summer clouds drifting past. A breeze pushed at the windowpane, but the air inside was heavy, dry.
One fucking year, she thought, jaw tight. Just say yes to one fucking year, Sophie. Just survive this one last year.
She hated school hated every hour of it. But what choice did she have? She needed the diploma. For herself. For her family. For the life she wanted so badly.
Her teacher’s voice droned on at the front. Something about history, a date, a battle. Sophie didn’t care. Her mind floated somewhere else. Somewhere free.
“Sophie?”
The voice cut into her thoughts.
She blinked and looked up.
“Sophie,” the teacher repeated, frowning now.
Her cheeks flushed. She hadn’t heard the question. Hadn’t even noticed the teacher walking over.
“S-Sorry,” she muttered, eyes on the desk.
The teacher just sighed and turned back to the board. No pity just the usual tired look, like why can’t you just focus?
When the bell rang, Sophie grabbed her things fast and rushed out.
Outside, Sarah leaned against the school wall, her bag slung over one shoulder.
“You zoned out again, huh?” Sarah teased, falling into step beside her.
Sophie shrugged. “Yeah. What else is new?”
They walked down the street. Sophie half-listened as Sarah talked about a party next weekend. Sophie liked going out she liked the feeling of being alive, of not being stuck behind a desk. But school came first. For now.
When she got home, she dropped her keys on the small table by the door.
“Hi, Sophie!” her mom called from the kitchen.
“Hi, Mom.”
She heard the clatter of dishes. The smell of something frying.
Her dad wasn’t home night shift again, like always. Sometimes he got into trouble with debts, but he worked hard. Her parents didn’t always see eye to eye, but their relationship was... fine. Just fine.
Sophie didn’t stop to chat. She felt the weight of the day pulling at her.
She climbed the stairs, dropped her bag in her room, and flopped onto her bed.
I still have time, she thought, closing her eyes. Just a quick nap before my shift.
---
The alarm on her phone blared. Sophie shot up, heart pounding.
“Shit!” she gasped.
She was late.
She grabbed her black jacket, tugged on her boots, and ran out the door. The air outside was cooler now, the sky dimming.
Her motorcycle waited for her at the curb. She loved that bike the freedom it gave her.
She started the engine and sped off, weaving through the streets, trying to make up for lost time.
That’s when she saw it — a sleek black car parked at the side of the road, hazard lights blinking. A man stood next to it, hood open.
Something about him made her slow down.
He looked... frustrated. His shoulders tense, head down as he stared at the engine. His black suit fit perfectly, like it had been made for him. It hugged his broad chest, his solid arms. Not huge muscles, but the kind that made the suit stretch just enough in the right places.
His face was handsome, but in a way that made her nervous sharp jawline, dark stubble, eyes that seemed too deep, too unreadable. Were they brown? Black? From this distance, she couldn’t tell. There was something almost dangerous about him. Like you’d think twice before getting too close.
But she stopped anyway.
“Need help?” she called over the engine’s noise.
He looked up, eyes narrowing at first — then softening just a little when he saw her.
“This car won’t work,” he said, voice low, rough around the edges. “Be my guest.”
She parked, pulled off her helmet, and walked over. His eyes followed her, but she didn’t notice at first.
She leaned over the engine, fingers moving without thinking. A loose terminal. Easy fix.
“Try it now,” she said.
The car started with a smooth purr.
She stepped back. That’s when she felt his gaze. He’d been watching her the whole time.
Her heart raced, though she tried to act cool.
“I have to go,” she said, slipping her helmet back on. “It was nice meeting you.”
“Wait,” he said quickly. “What’s your name?”
She paused, glanced at him through the visor. “Sophie.”
In her mind: I’m never gonna see him again anyway. So I guess it’s fine.
She revved the engine and sped off.
As the wind hit her face, she realized: I never asked his name.
