The school bell rang with its usual shrill buzz, and students swarmed through the halls like bees let loose. Posters of the upcoming prom fluttered on the walls, lockers slammed shut, and teachers shouted last-minute reminders.
In the middle of it all was Aria Malik, a hopeless romantic with paint smudges on her fingers, a pink glittery notebook clutched to her chest, and anxiety dancing in her chest like butterflies on espresso.
Today was supposed to be normal.
But then—he walked in.
Tall. Dark hoodie. Backpack slung lazily over one shoulder. And the way his eyes scanned the room—sharp, calculating. His name was whispered down the hall like a rumor: "Zayn Ahsan… the new guy."
She barely had time to blink before it happened.
💥 Crash!
Aria was turning around the corner of the hallway, nose-deep in her phone's to-do list, when someone darted out of the gym door. The two collided with a force that made her see stars—and not the dreamy kind.
"Ouch! My nose!" Aria cried out, staggering back.
"Oh no—I'm so sorry!" the boy gasped, reaching out to steady her.
Aria blinked up at him through watery eyes.
It was Zayn.
Cue internal screaming.
"You okay?" he asked, voice smooth, but his eyes darted quickly toward the ceiling.
That's when she heard it: a buzzing, mechanical noise overhead.
She looked up—a small gray drone zipped by, nearly clipping a ceiling light before disappearing into a vent.
"What the—was that a drone?" she gasped.
Zayn gave her a crooked smile. "Just… school science club prank, I think."
But his hand? It subtly slipped something back into his pocket. A small black gadget with blinking blue lights.
Suspicious. Very suspicious.
🎨 Aria's Thoughts:
"Who is this guy? Cute… mysterious… and possibly a criminal?"
The moment was broken when the morning bell rang again. Zayn offered a wink—yes, a wink—and strolled off like it was nothing.
Aria stood there, stunned, heart hammering.
This year was not going to be normal.