Title: Hit Me Hard & Soft
Chapter One: New Blood
The black gates of Avondale Academy stood tall and proud, the golden crest of the school glinting under the morning sun. Elena Vasquez stepped out of the taxi, her worn sneakers crunching against the perfectly graveled driveway, a stark contrast to the polished shoes that surrounded her. At eighteen, this was her first time in a school that didn't smell like old books and chalk here, even the air reeked of money and influence. Her scholarship covered most of the tuition, but not the eyes filled with judgment that followed her every step. As she clutched the strap of her bag tighter, she reminded herself why she was here: for her future, not their approval. She didn't have time for crushes or distractions not when her past kept whispering threats behind every memory.
The halls were a maze of clean marble and subtle luxury, portraits of alumni watching like silent judges from above. Elena's new homeroom was already buzzing when she entered, students draped in designer clothes and entitlement. She sat near the back, eyes scanning for danger out of habit more than interest. No one knew her here
no one knew what she left behind in the dusty streets of her old neighborhood. She liked it that way. When the tall guy with a scar above his lip glanced her way, she didn't blush she took mental notes.
Rumors moved fast at Avondale, faster than secrets stayed buried. By lunchtime, Elena already knew who was dating who, which teacher had mob ties, and that the school's student council was more of a private mafia than a leadership board. She ate alone by choice, not because she wasn't invited she was but because her gut said to watch first, act later. Behind the cafeteria's glamorous sparkle, something dark moved quietly, unnoticed by most. She'd seen it before in her father's dealings the smooth talk, the sharp glances, the silent power games. The last thing she wanted was to be tangled in anyone's web again.
Her roommate, Jade, was the first to break through Elena's wall. With bright pink hair and a fearless attitude, Jade walked like she owned every hallway she stepped into. "You're not from around here," she said with a grin, tossing a protein bar at Elena. Elena smirked and caught it midair, replying coolly, "Neither are you, I'm guessing." They clicked, not like best friends in a movie, but like two girls who knew life could be cruel and had no time for fake smiles. Still, even Jade seemed cautious when she mentioned the name "Lucien Moretti."
Lucien Moretti was the crown prince of Avondale dangerous, charming, and the only son of one of the most feared mafia families in the city. He wasn't just popular; he was powerful, his reputation laced with rumors of violence and secrets buried beneath the school's pristine surface. Elena hadn't met him yet, but his name echoed in every hallway like a warning. She didn't care who he was she wasn't here to be scared, or seduced. But fate, as always, had a wicked sense of humor. And when she accidentally crossed his path after school, the air around them shifted like a storm rolling in.
He looked at her, really looked, and for a moment the world felt too still. She raised her chin, refusing to be the first to look away. "You don't belong here," he said softly, but not unkindly like a fact, not an insult. Elena's lips curled into a half-smile. "Neither do you," she whispered back, walking past him without a second glance. That was the moment everything began to change.