The moment the bell rang the classroom filled with whispers.
Lyra could feel it immediately. Eyes were on her from every corner of the room. Students leaned toward each other, speaking in hushed voices that were not nearly quiet enough.
"Is she crazy?"
"She actually sat next to him."
"She has no idea what she just did."
Lyra sighed softly as she closed her notebook and slipped it into her bag. She had been at Ravenscroft Academy for less than an hour and somehow she had already become the center of attention.
Beside her Adrian Vale had not moved.
He sat back in his chair staring out the window with the same bored expression he had worn during the entire class. It was like the whispers the staring and the tension in the room did not exist to him.
Lyra glanced at him.
"Do people always talk about you like you are some kind of monster?" she asked.
No response.
Adrian did not even look at her.
Lyra tilted her head slightly.
"You know ignoring people is kind of rude."
Still nothing.
Then suddenly Adrian stood.
His chair scraped loudly against the floor cutting through the noise of the classroom.
The whispers died instantly.
Everyone watched him.
Adrian grabbed his bag and started toward the door without a single glance at anyone.
But when he reached Lyra's desk he stopped.
For a brief moment he looked down at her.
His eyes were calm but there was something cold behind them.
"You should move seats tomorrow," he said quietly.
Lyra blinked.
"Why?"
Adrian leaned slightly closer his voice low enough that only she could hear.
"Because people who sit next to me usually regret it."
Then he straightened and walked out of the classroom.
Lyra watched the door close behind him.
"Well," she murmured "that was dramatic."
A girl approached her desk moments later. She had curly hair and curious eyes.
"Hi," she said leaning casually against the desk. "I'm Mira."
Lyra smiled and stood up slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Lyra."
Mira glanced toward the door Adrian had just left through.
"You have been here one day and already broken the biggest rule in the school."
Lyra raised an eyebrow.
"What rule?"
"Never sit beside Adrian Vale."
Lyra shrugged.
"He did not seem that bad."
Mira stared at her like she had just said something ridiculous.
"You clearly do not know the story."
They stepped out into the hallway together.
Students crowded the corridor lockers slamming and voices echoing off the walls. But as Lyra walked past them she noticed something strange.
People were watching her.
Whispering.
Some looked amused.
Others looked nervous.
Mira noticed too.
"Yeah sitting next to Adrian kind of makes you famous here."
Lyra groaned softly.
"Great."
Then a voice behind her said her name.
"Lyra."
Her stomach tightened instantly.
She knew that voice.
Slowly she turned around.
Jaxon Hale stood a few feet away leaning casually against a locker with a familiar crooked smile on his face.
Lyra felt a wave of irritation immediately.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
Mira looked between them confused.
"You know him?"
Lyra did not take her eyes off Jaxon.
"Unfortunately."
Jaxon pushed himself off the locker and stepped closer.
"You disappeared without saying goodbye," he said lightly. "That was not very nice."
Lyra crossed her arms.
"You followed me here?"
Jaxon smiled.
"I prefer the word found."
Mira shifted awkwardly beside her.
"Okay I feel like I am missing something."
Lyra ignored her.
"You should not be here Jaxon."
Jaxon leaned closer.
"You really thought you could just leave me behind?"
Lyra's voice hardened.
"Stay away from me."
Jaxon laughed softly and reached out grabbing her wrist.
The hallway went quiet.
Lyra's eyes flashed with anger.
"Let go."
"Relax," Jaxon said. "We are just talking."
A voice behind him spoke calmly.
"Let go of her."
Jaxon froze.
Slowly he turned around.
Adrian Vale stood there.
Behind him another boy leaned casually against a locker watching the scene with mild interest.
Darius Kane.
Adrian's expression was calm but his eyes were sharp and cold.
Jaxon released Lyra's wrist.
"We were just talking," he said.
Adrian did not move.
"You touched her."
The hallway felt suddenly tense.
Students had started backing away.
Jaxon smirked slightly.
"And what are you going to do about it?"
Adrian stepped forward until they were standing face to face.
"Try me," Adrian said quietly.
For a moment it looked like a fight might break out right there in the hallway.
Mira whispered nervously "Oh my God."
Jaxon studied Adrian carefully.
Then he raised his hands in mock surrender.
"Relax Vale."
He glanced at Lyra.
"This is not over."
Then he turned and walked down the hallway.
The tension slowly faded as students began whispering again.
Darius pushed himself off the locker and walked over.
"First day and you are already causing problems," he said to Lyra.
Lyra exhaled slowly.
"Not exactly my plan."
Adrian looked briefly at her wrist where Jaxon had grabbed her.
"You attract the wrong kind of attention," he said.
Lyra met his gaze.
"And you do not?"
For a split second Adrian almost smiled.
Then he turned and started walking away.
"You really have no idea what kind of trouble you have stepped into," he said.
Lyra watched him go.
And for the first time since arriving at Ravenscroft Academy she began to wonder if sitting beside Adrian Vale had been a mistake.
Or the beginning of something much more dangerous.