The afternoon sun was bright, but Aria barely noticed as she hurried toward the rehearsal studio. Her schedule was packed: school in the morning, group rehearsal in the evening, and a mountain of homework waiting somewhere in between.
She pushed open the studio doors and was immediately met with chaos.
"Aria! You won't believe what happened!" one of her group members exclaimed, waving a smartphone.
Aria raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
The boy handed her the phone. It was a short video taken in the cafeteria—her rival girl, the one who had been giving her trouble, whispering to some other students and pointing at Aria in a mocking way.
Aria's lips pressed together. "She's trying to start something, isn't she?"
"Yep," said another member. "And we're not letting her mess with our Queen."
The rehearsal began, but the energy was tense. Aria's thoughts kept drifting back to school—the rival girl, the whispers, and most of all… Lucien.
During a break, Aria checked her phone again. A new message from him appeared:
Are you okay? She didn't bother you too much, right?
Aria smiled faintly. He had watched the entire cafeteria scene? She quickly typed back:
I'm fine. Don't worry.
Almost immediately, he replied:
Meet me tomorrow before class. I want to talk.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Later that evening, the group gathered around her, teasing and pampering her as usual.
"You should have seen him!" one boy said, nudging her shoulder. "Cross was practically ready to fight anyone who looked at you wrong!"
Aria chuckled, shaking her head. "I don't need a bodyguard."
"Maybe not," another said with a grin, "but it's fun watching him squirm."
Even with the teasing, she felt grateful. Her group's support made her feel safe in a world that constantly demanded perfection, attention, and poise.
The next morning, she met Lucien near the courtyard as arranged. He was leaning against a tree, sunglasses in hand, looking impossibly composed.
"Good morning," she said, trying to keep her voice casual.
"You're already late," he replied with a faint smirk.
Aria rolled her eyes. "I wasn't late. I'm exactly on time."
He tilted his head, studying her. "You're… different."
Aria blinked. "Different?"
"Yes. Calm under pressure, confident, and… untouchable. Even when everyone's whispering behind you."
Her chest fluttered. "I've had a lot of practice."
Lucien's lips curved slightly, just enough to show that he was amused. "I can see that. But remember, not everyone at this school is as harmless as they appear."
Aria's eyes flicked toward the rival girl across the courtyard, laughing with a group of students. She swallowed. "I'll handle it."
Lucien's hand brushed lightly against hers as he passed by. She felt a spark, quick and startling. He didn't comment, didn't react—he simply walked away.
He's always so calm, she thought, but I know he notices everything.
That evening, at rehearsal, Aria practiced tirelessly. Her group noticed her distraction.
"Focus on us, Queen Aria," one teased. "School can wait. The stage can't."
She smiled, shaking her head. "You're right. The stage is mine. And don't worry… I'll show them all who I am."
Her group cheered, echoing her determination. Together, they were unstoppable—both on the stage and off it.
And somewhere across campus, Lucien watched silently, already thinking about how he could make sure Aria stayed safe… and how to make her notice him more.