Riley Morgan didn't care if she stood out, but she hated that her clumsy run-in with Zayden Adrian had made her the center of attention. Whispers still trailed her down the hallway days after the bike incident, and every time she passed by a group of students, she could feel their eyes crawling over her like she didn't belong.
She didn't. Not here. Not in a place where designer heels clicked perfectly against polished marble floors and gossip was served hotter than cafeteria meals.
At Crestwood Elite Academy, names meant power—and hers, as far as these kids were concerned, was just a label stitched onto secondhand clothes.
But today, she wasn't in the mood to lay low.
She was supposed to present her science project in front of the class, and nothing—not even Zayden's stupid smirk—was going to stop her.
He was already sitting in the back, arms crossed, his signature black hoodie lazily pulled over his white shirt, making him look like the rebellious prince of Crestwood. His piercing eyes followed her, amused.
"Try not to set the classroom on fire, biker girl," he muttered as she passed.
She froze.
Riley slowly turned her head and gave him a smile that was all teeth and challenge. "No promises. But I might start with your ego."
The class laughed—some shocked, some impressed. Zayden leaned back, eyebrows raised, clearly not used to being outsnarked.
She moved to the front of the class, heart pounding, but her hands steady. Once she started presenting, the nerves melted away. Science was safe. Facts didn't care about rich or poor.
But she felt his eyes the whole time.
After class, while she was gathering her things, Zayden leaned against her desk like he had every right to be there.
"You're not like the rest of them."
Riley didn't look at him. "Wow. You're observant. Did that cost extra?"
He chuckled. "No. But you're fun to mess with."
"Well, don't. I didn't come here to be your entertainment."
"No?" His tone dropped. "Why are you here, then?"
She finally looked at him. "To prove that I belong. That money doesn't mean worth."
He was quiet for a beat, the smile slowly fading from his lips. For the first time, Zayden looked… thoughtful.
"Then don't let them break you."
Before she could ask what that meant, he was already walking away, his usual swagger returning as if the moment hadn't happened.
But it had.
And for some reason, Riley couldn't stop thinking about it.