The morning air at Crestwood Academy felt different.
Inside Section X, chaos ruled like always. Boys arguing over basketball, girls laughing loudly, someone sleeping at the back.
And at the center of it all - Zack Montiero.
Leaning back on his chair, tie loose, sleeves folded, looking like he owned the school.
"Oi, bet five hundred she cries before lunch," one boy joked.
"Transfer students never survive Section X", another laughed.
The classroom door opened
Silence.
Ariana Vale stepped in.
Not dramatic, not flashy, just calm.
Long dark hair resting softly on her shoulders, clean uniform. Eyes that didn't look nervous, just observant.
Class teacher smiled, "Class this is Ariana Vale, she'll be joining us starting today."
Whispers filled the room.
"She looks too soft"
"She won't last"
Zack tilted his head slightly, studying her
Ariana scanned the room once. There was only one seat empty
Beside him.
The class exchanged looks, some even smirked.
Poor girl.
She walked forward slowly. Each step confident.
She stopped beside Zack's desk. He didn't move his bag. Didn't shift his leg blocking the chair. Just looked at her, challenging.
For a few seconds, neither spoke.
Then Ariana calmly said, "Excuse me." Her voice wasn't shaking.
Zack smirked, "seat is taken".
She looked down at his bag. Then back at him, "No, it's not."
A few students gasped quietly. No one talks back to Zack. He stared at her longer.
Then slowly, without breaking eye contact, be removed his bag.
"Be my guest, Miss Perfect."
She sat down. No anger, no fear, no reaction.
📚 First Test
Halfway through the class, the math teacher announced a surprise quiz.
Groans filled the room.
Zack leaned towards Ariana, "Hope you are good at math. Section X average is below embarrassing. "
She didn't answer. Just focused.
Fifteen minutes later, papers were collected.
The next day, results come back.
"Highest score," the teacher said, adjusting her glasses, "Ariana Vale"
Silence.
"What?" Someone whispered
Zack sideways at her papers.
Perfect score.
He leaned back slowly.
"Well," he murmured " maybe, you are not as soft as you look"
She finally glanced at him. And for the first time she spoke directly to him. "Maybe you shouldn't judge so quickly."
Then she faced forward again.
Zack blinked. No one talks to him like that. No fear, no flirting, no attitude. Just calm, and for some reason his chest felt slightly tight.
🌧After school
Later after that afternoon, rain started pouring heavily, most students rushed out.
Zack stayed back, waiting for his driver.
As he walked past the junior Halfway, he heard something.
Crying.
He frowned and turned slightly.
There was Ariana
Standing between two senior girls and a younger student who was clearly being bullied.
"Give it back" Ariana said softly.
"Or what?" One girl mocked.
"You're new here, don't act brave."
Ariana didn't shout, didn't threaten. She just looked at them steadily. "If you are stronger, you don't need to pick on someone smaller."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried weight.
The seniors scoffed but eventually threw the notebook back at the junior and walked away.
Ariana knelt and handed it to the younger girl.
"It's okay now."
Zach watched everything from the corner.
She didn't know he was there. She wasn't pretending. She was just… like that.
When she stood up, she noticed him.
For a second, something flickered in her eyes.
Embarrassment?
No.
Just awareness.
He shoved his hands into his pockets.
"You trying to be a hero?"
She walked past him.
"I don't like unfair things."
Simple.
Direct.
She continued walking down the hallway.
Zach stayed there for a few seconds.
Thinking.
For the first time in a long time…
Section X didn't feel entertaining anymore.
It felt… interesting.
Because of her.
And he didn't even know why.
✨ END OF EPISODE 1