The school bell rang violently, echoing down the hallways like a warning shot.
11:40 a.m.
Lunch.
Kara flinched at the sound before forcing herself to breathe and stand. She slung her bag over her shoulder and followed the flow of students moving toward the cafeteria—a place she had carefully avoided for as long as she'd been at this school.
This was her first time.
As she walked, she slowed to a stop beside one of the large windows lining the hallway. Outside, the world had changed.
Spring.
The last stubborn patches of snow had finally melted away, leaving damp pavement and budding trees in their wake. Pale green leaves trembled in the breeze, sunlight breaking through soft gray clouds. Kara's gaze lingered, her chest tightening gently—not with fear, but something else.
Like her old self had thawed and disappeared quietly, replaced by something new. Something growing.
She continued on walking.
The moment she stepped into the cafeteria, her heart dipped.
The noise hit her all at once—voices layered over voices, laughter, shouting, chairs scraping against the floor. It was overwhelming, chaotic, like standing inside a storm made of sound. Her fingers curled tightly around her bag strap as her breathing threatened to quicken.
You can do this.
Then she saw him.
Adam.
He sat at one of the long tables near the center, already eating, sunlight from the high windows catching in his hair. That stupid, beautiful grin was plastered across his face like he'd been waiting all day just for her.
Her heart surged.
It beat hard and fast, like a drum calling his name.
A small, genuine smile slipped onto her lips as she walked toward him, weaving carefully between tables. Adam spotted her instantly.
"Ahhh," he said, beaming. "I'm so happy you agreed!"
He looked like a kid on Christmas morning.
Kara sat down across from him, placing her bag beside her chair, willing her pulse to calm.
"I only did it because of you," she said flatly—but her voice betrayed her, softening into something shy and embarrassed.
Adam leaned forward, resting his elbow on the table, his chin propped on his hand as he looked at her.
The way he looked at her.
Kara felt heat rush to her face.
"Stop that," she muttered. "Eat your lunch."
Adam chuckled, finally sitting back.
They talked while they ate—about classes, teachers, homework, stupid school rules. Nothing important. Everything important.
Kara found herself laughing quietly, the noise of the cafeteria fading into the background.
Until a shadow fell across the table.
The air shifted.
Adam's friends stood there—jocks and cheerleaders clustered together, arms crossed, expressions sharp and cold. Bianca stood at the front, her perfectly styled hair pulled into a high ponytail, her smile thin and cutting.
"Adam," she said sweetly, "you've been hanging out with this loser for months now. Did you forget we're your friends?"
The others nodded, murmuring in agreement.
"Yeah, man," one of the jocks added. "You barely show up to practice anymore. You're always with her."
Adam's posture stiffened.
His jaw tightened. His hand curled slowly into a fist.
"Listen," he said, voice low and dangerous, "just leave us alone. I'm not dealing with your bullshit today."
Bianca scoffed.
"Wow," the jock sneered. "Got a real attitude now, huh? Just because you're some rich kid doesn't mean you can talk to us like that—"
Adam stood up.
The sound of his chair scraping against the floor rang out like a gunshot.
Before anyone could react, his fist connected with the side of the jock's face.
The cafeteria fell into stunned silence.
Then chaos erupted.
Students gasped, shouted, pulled out their phones. A crowd surged forward instantly, excitement buzzing through the air like electricity. Someone laughed. Someone yelled. Kara was shoved backward, her balance faltering as the crowd closed in.
Her chest tightened.
Her breaths came too fast.
She could barely see—just flashes of movement through gaps in bodies. Adam and the jock collided again and again, shouts echoing as fists flew. Adam staggered at one point, wiping at his mouth, blood streaking across his knuckles.
Her vision blurred.
The noise faded into a dull roar as panic clawed at her throat.
No. Not now.
She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing herself to breathe.
You're okay. You're here. He needs you.
She shoved forward.
"Move!" she yelled, pushing past students, ignoring hands that tried to hold her back.
"Adam!" she screamed.
He turned his head at the sound of her voice.
For a split second, everything slowed.
"Adam—watch out!" she cried.
Too late.
The jock swung hard.
Adam collapsed.
The crowd gasped.
Kara dropped to her knees beside him instantly, hands shaking as she cradled his head.
"Adam!" she yelled. "Adam, can you hear me?!"
His eyes fluttered briefly before closing.
Rage exploded through her chest.
She stood.
Turned.
And without hesitation, drove her fist into the jock's throat.
He choked, stumbling back as she followed it with a sharp kick between his legs. He collapsed, gasping, scrambling uselessly on the floor.
"Dick," Kara spat, her voice shaking with fury. "Have some fucking honor."
She knelt beside Adam again as teachers rushed in, the world blurring around her.
The cafeteria had gone silent.
And Kara only cared about one thing.