Later that day, Riley found herself sitting in one of the lavish classrooms at Crestwood Elite, trying her best to blend in. As usual, she felt out of place surrounded by students who seemed to have everything handed to them. Her focus wavered as she tried to push the thoughts of Zayden out of her mind.
But it was impossible.
A sudden noise at the door caught her attention, and she looked up to see Zayden standing in the doorway, his eyes scanning the room. The students around him immediately fell silent, clearly intimidated by his presence. Even Riley couldn't help but notice the way he commanded the room without saying a word.
He spotted her immediately, his gaze locking with hers across the classroom. For a split second, she felt a strange connection—something magnetic, something she couldn't explain. But then Zayden broke the spell by tilting his head and giving her a mocking smile.
"Did you forget something, Adrian?" Riley asked, her voice louder than she intended, trying to deflect the sudden unease creeping into her chest.
He didn't reply. Instead, Zayden walked to the teacher's desk, slinging his backpack over one shoulder as if he owned the place. The class settled down, and Riley tried to refocus on the lesson, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Zayden was constantly watching her.