Elijah Carter stood just outside the grand gates of Kingsley Estate, clutching his worn-out backpack a little too tightly. The sprawling mansion ahead was all gleaming marble and polished windows, the kind of place he'd only seen in movies or the glossy pages of magazines. He glanced down at his threadbare sneakers and faded jeans, then back at the ornate front door, feeling painfully out of place.
This was his first day tutoring Brielle Kingsley, the infamous bad girl of St. Alden's Academy, and the last person Elijah wanted to spend his afternoons with.
He had always been the quiet type. Books were his sanctuary, numbers his language, and solitude his preference. Parties? Noise? Drama? None of that interested him. So when the school counselor handed him Brielle's name and explained the arrangement, Elijah almost begged to be excused.
But here he was, summoned by fate, and the Kingsley family's high expectations.
The door swung open before Elijah could even ring the bell. Brielle Kingsley stood there, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised, the kind of look that could freeze the sun.
"So you're the tutor," she said flatly, voice dripping with bored disdain. "I was expecting someone… less nerdy."
Elijah felt his cheeks heat up, but he forced himself to keep calm. "Elijah Carter. And I'm here to help you pass your exams."
Brielle snorted. "Help me? Please. I don't need help. I've been doing fine without one."
"Except you're failing," Elijah replied evenly, trying to ignore the irritation prickling his skin. "And your father said this is non-negotiable."
Her eyes flashed dangerously. "My dad doesn't get to decide how I live my life."
"Well, your grades say otherwise," Elijah shot back, stepping inside as she reluctantly moved aside.
The house smelled of expensive perfume and fresh flowers, a sharp contrast to Elijah's simple life. He took a cautious step forward, aware of every inch of opulence he was walking into.
Brielle led him to a sun-drenched study room, walls lined with books Elijah recognized, classics, science, history. It was ironic, really, considering the reputation Brielle carried around like a badge.
She flopped onto a plush chair and glared at him. "So, what's the plan, tutor boy? How are you gonna drag me through this nightmare?"
Elijah pulled out his notebook and pen, trying to suppress the frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior. "We'll start with the subjects you're weakest in. Then build from there."
"Sounds boring," Brielle muttered.
"It's necessary."
She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms again, but something flickered beneath her rebellious exterior, a hint of challenge, maybe even respect.
Just as Elijah opened his notebook to write down the tutoring schedule, the doorbell rang again.
A perfectly manicured hand appeared, followed by a voice that was sugar-coated and sharp all at once.
"Is this the infamous Brielle Kingsley's tutor?" Ariana Vale stepped into the room, her smile fixed and flawless. "Elijah Carter, I presume? We've heard so much about you."
Elijah glanced at Brielle, who shot Ariana a look full of warning.
"Just in time for the chaos," Brielle muttered under her breath.
Ariana's eyes sparkled with something that made Elijah uneasy, something he couldn't quite place.
The three of them stood in the room, worlds colliding in the thick, charged air.
Elijah thought to himself: This was going to be a long semester.