CHAPTER THIRTY OF RETURNING STEPS, FAMILIAR SHADOWS, AND THE BOY WHO BROKE EVERYTHING
Riyee's POV
The second I stepped past the main gates of Supreme Allievo Academy, the world stopped.
Not literally, of course. The fountains still flowed, the breeze still rustled through the colonnades. But it was the kind of stillness that came when someone had lit a fuse—and everyone was just waiting to see what would blow up first.
Two weeks.
That's how long I'd been gone. Long enough for the whispers to mutate into full-blown legends. Long enough for the rumors to develop their own fan theories.
And now I was back. Apparently, that was enough to silence the entire courtyard on sight.
"I thought she transferred out."
"I heard she got expelled."
"Isn't she the girl who pushed the Vice President?"
Wrong. Wrong. Technically not wrong, but no one wanted the full story.
I didn't slow down. Let them look. Let them speculate. Their stares bounced off me like soft bullets. I kept my head high and my walk steady.
What made me pause wasn't the gossip. It was the second half of it.
Bianchi Madriaga was gone.
On "vacation." Officially on "personal leave," whatever politically correct euphemism that meant. Suspended, probably. Burned. But the timing was suspicious. She lit the fire, and just before it spread? She vanished.
Classic.
Veritas Hall towered ahead. The main lecture wing. English class was held on the third floor today—merged with the rest of the third-year seniors. Which meant everyone I never wanted to see in one giant room.
Lucky me. I pushed open the door. The temperature dropped.
Chairs scraped. Heads turned. Voices froze mid-sentence.
KD looked up. Just for a second. His pen paused mid-note, eyes narrowing with the faintest flicker of... what? Surprise? Relief? Recognition?
I didn't give him anything back.
Xylia and Jodie were already seated near the center. Xylia scooted her things without a word, Jodie nudged her water bottle over like nothing had changed.
"Took you long enough," Xylia muttered, low.
"Had to give them time to miss me," I replied, just as dry.
Jodie smirked. "They were considering building you a statue, you know. With pitchforks and torches for the haters."
The tension didn't let up. Whispers. Stares. Every other table threw me glances like I was a living plot twist.
That's when the intercom clicked.
"Attention, students. Please lend your ears for a formal announcement from the Headmaster's Office."
Oh, perfect timing.
"We are pleased to welcome a new student who will be transferring to Supreme Allievo Academy beginning today."
Pause. Silence.
"His name is Xythe Nathaniel Alcanatara, the Celestine Prince of Celestine Ardent Academy."
And the room exploded.
"No way—Celestine?"
"They don't even allow transfers!"
"That's the place with Rielle—wait—isn't that her ex?"
"Wasn't he the one who caused the security breach?"
YOU ARE READING
STRINGS BETWEEN US
Teen Fiction"A slow-burn teen romance threaded with secrets, rivalries, and a dangerous past neither of them remembers-until it comes for them." ✧ STRINGS BETWEEN US ✧ She left her crown behind. He ruled with silence. But some strings pull-no matter how far you...
