The cafeteria buzzed with noise, forks clinking, trays sliding, gossip spreading like wildfire. Elijah tucked himself into a corner table, as usual, notebook open beside his lunch.
Then the noise shifted.
All heads turned toward the entrance. She was back.
Ariana Lane.
Hair like silk, lips glossed to perfection, and a red dress that screamed, "Miss me?" Students murmured, whispering her name like a spell. She hadn't just returned. She made an entrance, one you couldn't ignore.
Elijah froze.
His pen slipped from his hand.
They hadn't spoken in almost a year, not since she transferred to Europe for that "prestigious arts program." Back then, she'd been the only one who truly understood his passion for books, music, and future plans. Or so he thought.
Now here she was. More polished. More dangerous.
She strutted across the cafeteria and, with zero hesitation, dropped into the seat across from him like she still had that right.
"Still hiding in corners?" she said, flashing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Cute."
Elijah swallowed. "Ariana… I didn't know you were back."
"Clearly." Her gaze dropped to the notebook between them. "Still writing poetry no one's allowed to read?"
Before he could answer, a loud laugh rang out behind them.
Brielle Kingsley.
In leather pants and a cropped jacket, she walked in like a storm, flicking her curls and tossing her tray onto the table behind them. She didn't even glance at Elijah… until Ariana did.
Ariana leaned forward and said, "She's the girl, isn't she?"
"What girl?"
"The one you're tutoring. The one everyone's talking about. Chaos in heels."
"She has a name," Elijah replied flatly.
"Mm," Ariana mused. "I bet she does."
Behind them, Brielle chuckled at something her friend said, but her gaze locked on Ariana for just a second. Just enough to sting.
Elijah stared down at his notebook, but the words blurred.
Why did Brielle's opinion suddenly matter?
And why did Ariana's return feel like a storm he wasn't ready for?
What happens when fire meets fire, and one of them burns hotter?