The cafeteria buzzed with idle chatter as students gathered in their usual groups, discussing trivial matters of the day. Lucien sat alone at his usual spot by the window, his posture relaxed but his eyes observant. He stirred his drink absentmindedly, ignoring the occasional glances thrown his way. It had been a full day since the incident behind the school, yet not a single word had surfaced about it.
It was strange. Five students had been beaten to the ground, yet no rumors, no accusations, no retaliations. The silence was unsettling.
Evelyn, seated a few tables away with Lena, stole a glance in his direction. She couldn't shake the feeling from yesterday. The way he had moved—effortless, calculated—it wasn't normal. She was certain now. Lucien Falkner wasn't just a transfer student. He was something else entirely.
"Hey, you're spacing out." Lena nudged her with an elbow, following her gaze. "Don't tell me you're into him now?" she teased, smirking.
Evelyn scoffed. "Hardly."
Lena chuckled, sipping her drink. "I don't blame you, though. He's got that whole 'mysterious lone wolf' vibe. But I doubt he's interested in anyone."
Evelyn hummed noncommittally, her mind elsewhere. If no one was talking about the fight, that meant Lucien had somehow silenced them—whether through fear or something else, she wasn't sure. But why?
As she pondered, the doors to the cafeteria swung open, and a group of students walked in, their presence immediately commanding attention. They weren't just anyone. These were the elites—the ones with family names that carried weight beyond the walls of the school. Among them was Victor Aldridge, a student known for his connections and influence.
Victor's gaze swept across the cafeteria before landing on Lucien. A slow smirk formed on his lips. He approached Lucien's table, his footsteps measured, confident.
"Lucien Falkner, right?" Victor leaned slightly forward, resting his hands on the table.
Lucien didn't look up. "What do you want?"
Victor chuckled. "Straight to the point, huh? I like that." He pulled out a chair and sat across from him. "I've been hearing some… interesting things about you. You're not like the rest of us, are you?"
Lucien finally met his gaze, his eyes cold and unreadable. "And what exactly have you heard?"
Victor tilted his head slightly. "Nothing. And that's the problem."
The tension between them was palpable. Evelyn watched closely, her grip tightening around her drink. Lena, oblivious to the depth of the exchange, simply leaned in and whispered, "Damn, things just got interesting."
Lucien exhaled through his nose, leaning back slightly. "If you're looking for something, Aldridge, you won't find it with me."
Victor smirked. "Oh, I already have."
He stood up, brushing imaginary dust off his uniform. "See you around, Falkner." With that, he walked away, his entourage following closely behind.
Lucien remained still for a moment before turning his attention back to his drink. Evelyn, meanwhile, felt a strange sense of unease settle in her chest. She wasn't sure what had just transpired, but she knew one thing for certain—Lucien was being watched.
End of Chapter 6.