The town hadn't changed much—same narrow streets, same quiet shops. It was like walking through a memory he couldn't quite connect to anymore. Years abroad had blurred the edges of what this place used to mean to him. It wasn't home, not really. It was just where his parents decided to land next.

The academy felt just as distant. Polished floors, perfect uniforms, and students with practiced smiles—all of it screamed privilege. Adrian kept his head down, slipping through the hallways like a shadow, unnoticed by most. Just the way he liked it.

He wasn't here to impress anyone, just to get through the day. New places, new faces—it all blurred together after a while. He'd learned how to move through unfamiliar spaces without leaving a trace. The only thing that mattered was keeping to himself and staying out of trouble.

But trouble, as always, had a way of finding him.

At the far end of the hallway, a group of girls laughed too loudly, the sound sharp against the quiet hum of conversation. Adrian glanced toward them out of habit, just to gauge his surroundings. Three of them, perfectly put together—expensive clothes, easy smiles, and a glint of something else in their eyes. The kind of confidence that came from knowing the world would always work in their favor.

He knew the type. Girls who played games, just because they could.

One of them whispered something to the others, and the tallest—her expression dripping with amusement—shot a glance his way. Adrian looked away before their eyes could meet, brushing it off. Just another group of bored students looking for entertainment.

He turned back to his locker, twisting the combination without much thought. Blending in wouldn't be hard, he told himself. He just had to keep his distance. Keep his head down.

But as he heard the echo of clicking heels coming closer, he knew one thing for sure:

It was already too late for that.