Leo left Sebastian at the main hall, slipping the folded map into his pocket.
The corridors were buzzing now, groups of students passing by, some chatting loudly, others just stealing glances his way.
"Is that him?" Someone whispered.
"Leo Ashford?" another murmured, not even bothering to lower their voice.
Leo just kept walking, hands in his pockets, He was used to all the stares.
He walked into the cafeteria, and for a second he paused,
It wasn't a cafeteria, it was a banquet hall.
The scent hit first: roasted lamb with rosemary, lobster ravioli dressed in cream, sushi lined like art pieces, glazed pastries.
Students moving around, some laughing in clusters, others eating quietly over open laptops.
Leo grabbed a tray and scanned the counter. He picked seared salmon risotto, a side of grilled asparagus, and a chilled bottle of sparkling water.
He slid into a corner table, setting his tray down.
"Salmon, huh?"
The voice came from across the table, where a boy had dropped into the chair without invitation. He's tie was loose, blazer half-unbuttoned, hair falling lazily into his eyes.
He lounged like he owned the place.
Leo arched a brow "And you are?"
"Felix Kessler". The boy gave a half-hearted salute, leaning back in his chair like gravity had given up on him. "Third year. Professional slacker. Self- appointed expert on Ashbourne's survival guide".
"Leo Ashford"
"I know", Felix said. "Everyone knows. You're basically Ashbourne's headline today"
Before Leo could reply, a sudden crash echoed across the room.
Leo's eyes moved towards the sound. A girl knelt on the polished floor, her tray overturned, Soup dripping down the front the uniform.
Laughter rippled through the tables nearby.
"Careful, Rivers", a tall blonde drawled, leaning back in her chair with a smirk. Her leg had been stretched far enough into the aisle to catch Anya as she walked by.
Anya Rivers pressed her lips together, cheeks burning as she scrambled to gather what was left of her lunch.
Not a single person moved to help. They just watched, some amused, some indifferent.
Leo's fork paused midair. "Who's that?"
Felix leaned back, twirling his fork before pointing it lazily in her direction. "Anya Rivers, First and only scholarship student Ashbourne's ever allowed."
His mouth quirked, though it wasn't exactly a smile. "And because of that, she's fair game".
Anya picked up what she could gather of her lunch and left the cafeteria hurriedly as the laughter trailed behind her.
Leo cut into the salmon on his plate, but the taste had gone flat. He chewed once, twice, then dropped his fork onto the porcelain with a dull clink.
Felix paused mid-bite, giving him a side glance. "Not hungry?"
Leo leaned back, eyes still on the door Anya had disappeared through. "Lost my appetite".
Felix raised a brow, curious. Then he smirked lightly. "Because of her?"
Leo didn't answer. He just wiped his hands with a napkin, pushed his chair back, and stood.
Felix set down his glass. "Want me to come with?"
"Finish your meal", Leo said evenly.
A slow grin spread across Felix's face. "Fair enough. Catch you later, then".
Leo walked out without another word. Hands in his pockets, as he made his way towards the dorms.
He turned a corner and then stopped. Anya Rivers stood by the lockers , still blotting at the stains on her uniform with a handful of tissues.
The soup had dried in uneven patches, and her blazer looked ruined. She froze when she noticed him, her eyes like widened saucers.
Leo didn't say anything. He just slipped out of his jacket in one smooth motion and draped it over her shoulders as he passed.
She blinked up at him, startled. "I-"
But Leo was already walking away, hands back in his pockets, not bothering to look back.
He turned a corner, exiting the main school building, he strolled along the stone path by the courtyard, heading to the boys dorm.
Leo headed towards the entrance, pushing open the wide glass doors; he walked through the front doors into a bright open lobby.
A few students were lounging on the couches, others walking away clutching their books. A couple glanced his way, whispering, others just pretended not to notice.
He headed straight for the elevators at the back, got in and hit the button for the top floor.
When the doors finally slid open, Leo adjusted the strap of his bag and walked out.
There were fewer rooms on the top floor, his room was at the very end.
...
Author's note
Hey everyone 👋, it's Nyra, so sorry I haven't been able to update, kindly forgive me🙏. I've been incredibly busy recently, I'll do my best to update frequently though.
Thanks for reading, hope to see you in the next chapter ✌️💙