Lunch at St. Augustine's Academy was a runway of privilege, Gucci bags, trust fund whispers, and diamond-studded gossip. Brielle strutted through the courtyard like she owned it. Because honestly? She kind of did.
Until Sydney Lawson; head cheerleader and queen of fake smiles, decided to speak.
"Nice outfit, Kingsley. Thrift stores must be feeling generous."
Brielle smiled coldly. "And you must be feeling bold. That cheap perfume giving you courage?"
Gasps flew. Phones came out. The air turned electric.
Sydney lunged.
Brielle sidestepped; just in time for her iced coffee to crash into the wrong person.
Elijah Carter.
He stood frozen, soaked shirt clinging to his chest, tray of untouched food sliding to the ground.
Brielle blinked. "Crap."
Sydney grinned. "Aww, your tutor's here. Want him to wipe you down?"
Elijah stared at them both, face unreadable. The courtyard buzzed around him, like he wasn't human, just the latest scene in the Brielle Show.
Then Brielle stepped between him and Sydney, eyes burning. "Call him that again and I swear..."
She shoved her.
Sydney shrieked as she stumbled back, heels scraping on concrete.
"Miss Kingsley!" A teacher's voice cut the air. "Office. Now."
Brielle didn't flinch. Just tossed Elijah a glance, not quite sorry, not quite thankful. Just... watching.
And as she walked off, head held high and chaos in her wake, Elijah had one thought:
This girl would be the end of him.
And maybe... that was already starting.