Evelyn Mercer had always believed in two kinds of students—the ones who worked for their success and the ones who pretended not to care but secretly tried.
Lucien Falkner didn't fit either category.
He was different.
The more she observed him, the more she realized... he wasn't playing the same game as the rest of them.
And that unsettled her.
---
Classroom - Morning
The moment Evelyn entered, she felt the shift in atmosphere. The usual morning chatter had been replaced by hushed whispers and stolen glances—all directed at one person.
Lucien.
Evelyn sighed, making her way to her seat. She didn't have to ask why.
The test rankings had been posted, and Lucien had landed in the top twenty.
For someone who never seemed to care about academics, it was enough to make people talk.
Lena was the first to voice her thoughts—loudly. "Alright, Falkner. Spill. What's your secret?"
Lucien barely looked up from his desk. "There is none."
Lena wasn't buying it. "Come on. You're telling me you just happened to land in the top twenty out of nowhere?"
Lucien leaned back, his expression unreadable. "I answered the questions. That's all."
Evelyn frowned. That wasn't all.
She had seen his paper. He had made just enough mistakes to not stand out too much.
Deliberate. Calculated.
She hated that she was starting to understand how his mind worked.
Lena, on the other hand, was still processing. "You're messing with the system, aren't you?"
Lucien smirked slightly. "Isn't that what school is about?"
The bell rang before Lena could respond, but Evelyn caught the way Lucien's gaze flickered toward her—just for a second.
It was as if he knew she had figured it out.
---
Hallway - Lunch Break
Evelyn didn't expect Lucien to approach her, but there he was, walking beside her as she made her way toward the cafeteria.
"You noticed, didn't you?" His voice was low, calm.
She kept her expression neutral. "Noticed what?"
Lucien glanced at her. "That I held back."
Evelyn stopped walking.
Lucien did too.
For a moment, they just stared at each other.
Then Evelyn sighed. "Why?"
Lucien looked ahead. "Because drawing attention is a waste of time."
Evelyn frowned. "Then why bother ranking at all?"
Lucien's gaze darkened—just slightly. "To remind them that I could."
Evelyn didn't know why, but that answer sent a chill down her spine.
Before she could respond, Lena's voice cut through the tension.
"There you guys are!"
Lucien, as if on cue, walked away without another word.
Lena approached Evelyn, raising a brow. "Okay. What was that?"
Evelyn exhaled. "I don't know."
And for the first time in her life—she really didn't.
---
End of Chapter 11