"Just because we share the same last name doesn't mean we're related," Endora said, trying to dismiss the idea that she might be connected to Elion.
"Of course not," Luci agreed quickly. "I'm just saying. Honestly, I doubt you two are the only Windsors in this school. It's probably just a coincidence."
"Have a seat," Endora said, sitting on the edge of her bed. Luci settled into the chair nearby.
"Thanks. So, what are you up to?" Luci asked.
"Well, I'm a week late, and Ana mentioned you're a new student like me. I was wondering if I could get some notes to catch up. My major is science, chemistry, to be specific," Endora explained.
"Wow, same as me! I'd be happy to help. Let me grab them for you," Luci said, standing up and heading out of the room. Endora felt a wave of gratitude. Despite the chaos of her first day, she was lucky to meet such kind people.
A few minutes later, Luci returned with some notes and handed them to Endora. She sat back down in the chair and leaned forward, her tone suddenly serious.
"Okay, so Elion is bad, but he's not even the worst," Luci said, glancing around as if someone might be listening. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Zayden is worse. Much worse."
"Who's Zayden?" Endora asked, her curiosity aroused.
"Someone you don't want to meet. Trust me, if you cross paths with him, he'll make your life a living nightmare. Just avoid him at all costs. If you see him coming your way, take a different route. Stay far, far away," Luci warned.
"But how can I avoid him if I don't even know what he looks like?" Endora asked.
"You don't need to know him to avoid him. Just steer clear of anyone with really long hair and a very handsome face," Luci said, her tone turning slightly dreamy.
Endora's mind flashed to the long-haired guy she'd seen with Elion earlier. Could that be him? No, it couldn't be... could it?
"Anyway, if you really want to know what he looks like, I can point him out to you. But remember this warning I was given when I first arrived: 'Be careful of that boy. His heaven has a price, and it can turn into a curse.' Keep that in mind. Whatever you do, don't get involved with him," Luci said, her voice firm.
"Noted," Endora said, and they both burst out laughing at how serious she sounded.
"Are you hungry? You should go eat," Luci suggested, and Endora realized she hadn't eaten since she arrived. Her stomach growled in agreement.
"Okay, let's go," Endora said, standing up. She grabbed her purse and keys, then went to the wardrobe and pulled out a hoodie. "I'm not used to the cold here, especially outside," she explained before Luci could even ask.
"I know, right? This place is never warm. Even when the sun's out, it's like the heat doesn't reach here," Luci said, shaking her head. They both found it strange but shrugged it off.
Luci grabbed a few things from her room, and the two of them headed to the cafeteria. As they walked, Endora couldn't help but wonder about Zayden and the warning Luci had given her.
As they stood outside the cafeteria, Endora pulled up her hoodie to cover her head. She wanted to avoid Elion at all costs, and staying hidden felt like her best bet. When they stepped inside, the place was packed with students.
"Wow, it's so crowded. I didn't expect this many people," Endora said as they made their way to the counter.
"It's dinner time. Everyone's here," Luci explained. They joined the line, waiting their turn. When it was Luci's turn, she grabbed her food and stepped aside. But just as Endora was about to order, chaos broke out.
Someone shoved her hard from behind, and she stumbled sideways, crashing into someone passing by. They both tumbled to the floor. The cafeteria fell silent, everyone gasping in shock.
"She... fell... into him," someone whispered, and the silence deepened. Endora scrambled to her feet, her hoodie still covering her face. She glanced up and froze. It was the long-haired guy. Her heart raced as she tightened the hoodie around her face, hiding as much as she could.
Luci stood nearby, her eyes wide with panic. She mouthed one word as Endora looked in her direction: "Zayden."
Endora didn't need to be told twice. "Time to run," she thought. Zayden stood up slowly, his eyes locked on her. She grabbed her bag and keys from the floor and bolted for the exit. To her surprise, Zayden didn't chase her. He just dusted himself off, picked something up from the floor, and smirked before walking to his table as if nothing had happened.
The cafeteria erupted in whispers.
"Whoever that was, she's dead."
"Zayden's definitely going to come after her. She's gonna regret this."
"It wasn't her fault, though. Someone pushed her."
"I feel so bad for her. Poor thing."
The comments swirled around the room, and soon, the incident was the talk of the entire cafeteria.
Endora ran as fast as she could, her legs carrying her all the way back to her dorm. She fumbled with the keys, her hands shaking, and finally managed to unlock the door. She rushed inside, locked the door behind her, and collapsed onto her bed.
"Why me? Why does this keep happening to me?" she muttered, her voice trembling. "It was him, the guy with Elion. So that's Zayden. What do I do now? It wasn't even my fault! Someone pushed me!" She buried her face in her hands, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "Please, please tell me he didn't see my face."
After a while, there was a knock on the door. Endora froze, but then she heard Luci's voice. "It's me, Lucinda."
Endora got up, quickly pulled off her hoodie, and stuffed it into the closet. She opened the door, and Luci hurried inside, closing the door behind her. She dragged Endora to the bed.
"What just happened?" Luci asked, her voice filled with concern.
"I don't know. I'm freaking out right now," Endora admitted, her voice shaky.
"I know you're scared, but try to calm down. Eat first, then we'll talk," Luci said, handing her the food she had grabbed after Endora fled.
"Thank you," Endora said, taking the food. She opened it and started eating immediately. "This tastes amazing," she said between bites. Luci nodded in agreement, smiling slightly.
After finishing her meal, Endora felt her body relax a little. The hunger had been fueling her anxiety, and now that she'd eaten, the tension in her chest began to ease. She took a deep breath, ready to figure out what to do next.
"Now that you're calm, I think you don't need to worry. I'm sure Zayden didn't see your face; heck, no one did. So relax, you're safe," Luci said, trying to reassure her.
"Thank God. But honestly, that wasn't the first time I've seen him," Endora admitted. She went on to explain everything that had happened earlier that morning, from her encounter with Elion and Zayden at the director's office.
"Girl, it sounds like trouble has officially proposed to you," Luci said, chuckling. "You've got the two hottest, most dangerous seniors after you. You're the main character, aren't you?"
"Luci, stop! It's not funny. I never wanted any of this. The weight of not being loved by my father has been crushing me, and now all this? I hate my life!" Endora shouted, burying her face in a pillow.
"I'm so sorry to hear that," Luci said, her tone softening as she placed a comforting hand on Endora's shoulder.
"I can barely remember my childhood. I was only three when I attended my mother's funeral. I didn't even understand what it meant for someone to die. I kept waiting for her to come back, but as I grew up, I realized she was gone forever. Ever since then, my dad changed. He stopped caring about me. I wasn't his daughter, I was just... something he had to deal with. He'd leave me alone for hours, and when he came back, he wouldn't even look at me. Don't even get me started on high school. I just... I hate myself so much. It's like I'm cursed to never be loved or have peace," Endora said, her voice breaking.
Luci pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, gently patting Endora's hair. "Everything will be okay. I promise."
Endora pulled away from the hug, wiping a drop of tears that fell on her cheek. "I'm sorry. I don't even know why I'm dumping all this on you. It's not your fault."
"It's okay to let it out sometimes," Luci said with a small smile. "And besides, we're friends now, right?"
"But I just met you," Endora said, her voice shaky.
"I know, but sometimes you just click with people. And guess what? I'll help you catch up on your notes," Luci said, trying to lighten the mood. They both smiled, the tension easing a little.
"Thank you," Endora said softly.
Luci stood up from the bed. "I need to take care of something in my dorm, but I'll be back later, okay?"
Endora nodded. "Thank you for today. Your kindness means a lot. And say hi to Ana for me, I haven't seen her since this morning."
Luci smiled and walked out, leaving Endora alone in the room. She sighed and sat down at her desk, pulling out her notes to start catching up. After what felt like hours of writing and studying, she stood up to stretch. As she turned toward the door, she noticed a white envelope lying on the floor.
Curious, she walked over and picked it up. Inside was a letter. Her heart sank as she read the words:
"I have your phone. Meet me at exactly 7:00 in the backyard of the school if you want it back."
"Shit," Endora muttered, frantically searching the room for her phone. It was nowhere to be found. "Shit! Too much trouble for one day! Seriously?" she exclaimed, rubbing her temples in frustration.
Her mind raced. Who had her phone? And what did they want from her? One thing was clear: her first day at Nightshade University was far from over.