Forbidden Equation

It's been a week since I moved here to Oakridge with my family. I could already feel the quiet embrace of the town weaving its way into my soul. The town seemed to breathe with a slow rhythm, like the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze. It was full of life in its own subtle way.

We had come to Oakridge after my dad's company transferred him here. I had no choice but to tag along and continue my high school here. Speaking of school, it's opening tomorrow, and I have no idea what to expect. Looking at the coolness of this place, I hope Oakridge High has that same vibe. I hope to make at least one friend since it’ll be my only year at this new school.

"Good night, Mom and Dad," I say as I make my way to bed, hoping to sleep off the fears of tomorrow.

I stood in front of the mirror, my fingers nervously adjusting the collar of my blouse for the third time like the blouse had suddenly become my enemy. Something about Oakridge High made my heart race in a way I couldn’t quite understand. Maybe it was the small town feel, or maybe it was the fear of never fitting in, but I couldn’t help feeling the weight of the unknown pressing down on me.

"Bye, Mom!" I called out as I got out of the car after she dropped me off at the school gate.

"Bye, honey. Make sure to take care of yourself. You can do it!" she smiled.

I sighed and glanced up at the school sign: Welcome to Oakridge High. My heart skipped a beat, but I forced myself to take a deep breath. It was just a school... right?

"Here's your timetable. Enjoy your first day," the principal said as she handed me my schedule with a forced smile. I couldn’t tell if she was excited for me or just relieved to see a new student.

I made my way to my first class, mentally rehearsing my "first day" face that is neutral, approachable, nonchalant. But that all went out the window the moment I stepped into the classroom.

"Seems we have a new student joining us," the teacher said in a tone that could have been warmer but wasn’t. "Why don’t you introduce yourself?"

I froze for a moment. Was she serious? All I wanted was to blend in, not be the centre of attention.

"Hi, I’m... I’m Eira Monroe," I stammered, "I just moved here last week…" I gave a weak smile, hoping it didn’t come off as more awkward than it already felt. I stood there, wishing the floor would open up and swallow me whole.

Thankfully, the rest of the morning classes went without incident. I was starting to relax, getting used to the routine. It wasn’t that bad. It was lunch now, and as I entered the cafeteria, I faced the dreaded task of finding somewhere to sit.

"Hi! Eira, right?" a voice said behind me. I turned to see a girl with short, bright hair and a friendly smile.

"Uh, yeah," I nodded.

"Cool! I’m Ashley. I sat in on Mrs. Everstone's English lesson with you."

"Oh, right, hi," I said, feeling slightly less nervous.

"You can sit with me," Ashley offered, pointing at a nearby table. "Thanks," I said, following her.

Lunch was surprisingly easy. Ashley told me about herself, family and she seems really cool, so i don't mind having her as a friend.

"So, which lesson do you have next?" Ashley asked as we finished lunch.

"Math with Mr Valerius," I replied, unsure if I was dreading it or looking forward to it.

"Good, you’re with me," she said excitedly.

We were seated in the math classroom when the door opened, and a tall figure stood in the doorway. He had messy dark hair that fell just over his forehead, and a broad, imposing frame that made everyone in the room quiet. His sharp suit was perfectly pressed, and his demeanour? Utterly intimidating.

He scanned the room with cold, calculating eyes before stepping to the front of the class. "Welcome everyone," he began, his voice low, controlled, and like a whip. "As you already know, I don’t tolerate mediocrity here." He swept his gaze over the students, making them straighten in their seats. "There will be no time for distractions, no time for those who can’t keep up. If you have questions, they better be relevant and intelligent, not just some childish attempt to fill time."

I swallowed hard. This guy was intense.

"You’re not here to argue with me," he continued, his tone sharpening. "If you think you have a different opinion, keep it to yourself. This is my class, and my rules are the only ones that matter. If anyone feels the need to comment or challenge what I say, feel free to leave. I’m not here to waste time on those who can’t follow simple instructions."

He paused, letting the words sink in. The room was dead silent, and I’m pretty sure the guy’s gaze had literally frozen time.

"Any questions?" His voice was like ice. No one moved. I just blinked, wondering what kind of math teacher this was.

Just as I turned my head to glance at Ashley, she shrugged, clearly unbothered. But then, something odd happened. Mr. Valerius’s eyes locked onto mine. I froze. Why was he looking at me?

"Do you have a question, Miss?" His voice was a chill that cut straight through me. I looked around. Was he talking to me? Surely not. But there was no one else he could be staring at like that.

I shook my head as to say no. "Can’t you speak?" he asked, his gaze narrowing.

"I...I..um.." I stammered, not knowing which question to answer, the one of 'can't you speak' or 'do you have a question, miss.'

"Well, we don't have time for you, miss. I'll take the class register." He begins to call Aaron Harper, who responds and raises his hand.

"Ashley Sinclair."

"Here," she raises her hand.

"Eira Monroe."

I made the mistake of looking at his eyes before answering. Those dark, demeaning eyes bore straight into mine. How does he know I'm Eira? New name would mean the new student, obviously, yeah. I don't know why but I couldn't say a word.

"Don't we have Miss Eira Monroe in this class," he says without breaking his gaze from me. I felt Ashley’s hand on my shoulder, a silent comfort, and finally managed to squeak, "Here."

Mr. Valerius's gaze lingered on me for what felt like an eternity, but he didn’t say anything else. He moved on with the register, his face still unreadable.

"Thanks," I mumbled to Ashley as we left the class.

"Don’t stress about him," Ashley said with a small smile. "He’s Harlan Valerius, the youngest richest CEO and this school worships him." She rolls his eyes.

I couldn’t tell if I was relieved or just scared out of my mind. My last lesson went by in a blur, and by the time the bell rang, I was emotionally drained. As if it wasn't enough for today, my eyes land on my schedule for tomorrow. My first lesson is math! What the hell! So my first two days of the week are always going to be like this together with the last day?