Chapter 1: The Girl Who Never Belonged
had never stepped into a classroom before.
Not once.
No crowded hallways. No gossip. No “normal” teenage life. Just me, my books… and silence.
Until now.
Raven High stood in front of me like something out of a movie—too big, too loud, too alive. Students moved in groups, laughing like they had no idea how lucky they were to belong somewhere.
I didn’t.
My name is Fiona… and I’ve never belonged anywhere.
“First day?” a voice asked behind me.
I turned slightly but didn’t answer. I wasn’t here to make friends. I was here because I had no choice.
“Relax,” the voice continued, amused. “You look like you’re about to run.”
Maybe I was.
I tightened my grip on my bag and walked past him without a word. If this place thought it could swallow me whole, it was wrong.
At least… that’s what I told myself.
Because the moment I stepped inside, everything changed.
Eyes followed me.
Whispers started.
“Who is she?”
“New girl…”
“She’s kinda pretty though—”
I ignored them.
I had learned a long time ago—attention always comes with a price.
And I wasn’t ready to pay it.
Not again.
“Fiona.”
My steps froze.
No one here was supposed to know my name.
Slowly… I turned.
And there he was.
Leaning casually against a locker like he owned the entire school. Calm. Confident. Watching me like I was something he had been expecting.
Like I wasn’t new at all.
Like I was late.
“Welcome to Raven High,” he said softly.
My heart skipped.
Not in a good way.
In the kind of way that warned you… something was very, very wrong.
