Chapter 4:

The school hallway buzzed with end-of-day chatter—lockers clanging, laughter echoing, sneakers squeaking on the floor. Millie walked beside Liz, her best companion in this new world of high school.

"Millie," Liz said, nudging her arm, "don’t forget—we’re going shopping tomorrow."

Millie’s face lit up. "Forget? Never! I’ve been looking forward to it all week."

Her gaze drifted ahead to a familiar figure. Alex sat at his desk, scribbling on a piece of paper, his handwriting oddly familiar. Millie tilted her head, curiosity tugging at her.

"Hey, Alex," she asked cautiously. "Is this your handwriting?"

Without looking up, Alex snapped, "Can you not talk to me?" He plugs his earphones in.

Millie blinked. "Wow. I was just making conversation. This totally looks like my notebook on the table."

"What do you want?" he muttered.

She asks shily. " I just wanted to ask about that song you played the other day."

"I'm not giving it to you."

"Come on. I really liked it. Please?"

He finally turned to her, his expression blank. "Stop talking. And stop standing so close to me."

Before Millie could respond, Liz stepped in with raised brows. "What are you guys doing? You seem really close since the other day, is something_"

"Hell no!" Millie and Alex snapped in unison.

Alex stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Quit bothering me. People are going to get the wrong idea." He stormed off without another word with his face flustered.

"Yikes," Millie mumbled, rubbing her temples.

Meanwhile, in Ted’s classroom…

Their teacher paced at the front, voice stern. “Finals are coming. This counts for your exam. If you're in sports and score lower than a C minus, you're benched. Understood?”

Kyle groaned. “We're doomed.”

Ted remained calm. “We just need to study more.”

Kyle leaned in, eyes wide. “But what about practice? Coach’ll freak. Hey, what about that Rachel girl? She’s super smart, right?”

Ted stiffened. “Why her?”

“She’s like Millie’s sister or something. You could ask her for help. Let’s go talk to her.”

Ted sighed inwardly. I was trying to stay chill around her. Now this guy wants to throw me straight into the deep end.

“I am going to figure something out, chill man,” Ted said quickly.

End of class, at the front gates…

Liz’s mom sat behind the wheel of her sleek car, tapping the steering wheel impatiently.

As soon as Liz got in, her mom didn’t even look at her. “Two minutes late again. This is becoming a pattern.”

“Sorry, Mom.”

“You’re not here to make friends. You’re here to excel. And soon, you’ll be transferring to a real academy. One that actually produces results.”

Liz forced a smile. “Sounds good.”

But inside, it felt like another cage.

Later, at Ted’s house…

Ted sat on his bed, books sprawled across his blanket.

“This is impossible,” he muttered, shoving his notes away. “Just when I think I get it…”

Frustrated, he headed downstairs, grabbed his wallet, and slipped out for a break. At the convenience store, he scanned the shelves, grabbed a drink and snacks, and headed for the counter—until a familiar voice made him freeze.

“I’ll take this cake and a drink,” Rachel said to the cashier.

Ted turned. “Rachel?”

She blinked in surprise. “You?”

Without thinking, he stepped forward. “I’ll pay for hers too.”

“You don’t have to,” she said, brows raised. “You’re a student like me.”

He gave her a confident grin. “Doesn’t change the fact that I’m still a man. Gotta take care of the ladies, right?”

Rachel smirked. “In that case…” She added an ice cream to the counter. “Let’s see how far that manly wallet goes.”

Ted laughed. “Okay, okay! But only one more—I have an allowance, you know.”

Their laughter echoed as they left the store—easy, natural, unguarded.

Is this something new?