We walk into homeroom, and I notice the stares haven't stopped. Even the teacher glances up when we enter, her eyes briefly flicking to me before she smiles politely and gestures toward the back of the room.
"Take a seat wherever you'd like," she says.
Emerald pulls me toward the back row, and I follow, grateful for the chance to sit somewhere that isn't in the middle of a spotlight. As I settle into my seat, I hear more whispers.
"That's her."
"Yeah, the one who told Klaus off in the parking lot."
I sigh and lean back in my chair. If this is how my first day is going to go, I might as well get used to being the center of attention—whether I like it or not.
Just as I start to relax, the teacher clears her throat and looks directly at me.
"Oh, you must be the new student. Why don't you stand up and introduce yourself to the class?"
The words hit me like a brick. Introduce myself? Ugh, no thanks. But judging by the expectant look on the teacher's face, I don't really have much of a choice. I can already feel the stares intensifying, the entire class waiting for me to make some kind of first impression. Well, if they want a show, I might as well give them one.
I stand up slowly, feeling all eyes on me. "I'm Heaven Astrid Holden," I say simply.
The teacher smiles, but then adds, "Why don't you tell us a little more about yourself?"
Oh, great. Just what I needed. I glance around the room, making brief eye contact with a few students, and then I see them—some girls glaring at me like I've personally offended their very existence. It doesn't take a genius to figure out why. I'm the girl who talked back to Klaus, and to them, that's basically like talking down to a god.
So, instead of giving a boring, standard introduction, I decide to lean into the sarcasm.
"Well, I'm Heaven Astrid Holden. As you can see, I've already made a fan club." I wave a hand vaguely toward the glaring girls, which earns me a few chuckles from the class. "But no autographs today, sorry."
The laughter grows, and even the teacher looks like she's trying not to smile. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of Klaus sitting in the back of the room. He's watching me with that same unreadable expression from earlier, but there's a flicker of something else there—maybe amusement.
I sit back down, and the teacher continues with the lesson, but I can still feel the tension in the air. Apparently, taking a jab at Klaus and his fan club has made me even more interesting to the rest of the class.
---
By the time lunchtime rolls around, I've resigned myself to the fact that avoiding attention today just isn't in the cards.
Emerald and Esmeralda lead me toward the cafeteria, chatting about something or other, but I'm only half listening. My mind is racing, and I'm feeling that familiar knot of anxiety in my stomach again. The thought of walking into a room full of students and having all eyes on me is... well, it's pretty much my worst nightmare.
We push through the double doors, and just like that, the noise in the cafeteria dies down. You could hear a pin drop. It's like the whole room just hit pause the moment I stepped inside.
Great. Here we go again.
I glance around the room, feeling the weight of a hundred pairs of eyes on me. My sarcastic instinct kicks in before I can stop it.
"Please," I say, raising my voice just enough to carry across the cafeteria. "My fans and royal subjects, don't stop eating or whatever you were doing to welcome me. Feel free to do so in my presence, and besides... I don't bite."
There's a moment of stunned silence, and then I catch sight of Klaus sitting at one of the popular tables, surrounded by a group of students who are all watching me with varying degrees of interest. Klaus looks amused—actually amused—and I can't help myself. I give him a playful wink.
The twins beside me freeze for a second, clearly surprised by my audacity, but then Emerald bursts into laughter. Esmeralda just shakes her head, grinning. "Well, that was one way to handle it."
We make our way toward a table near the back of the cafeteria, and I finally allow myself to breathe. The whispers start up again, but at least the initial shock seems to be wearing off.
As we sit down, I notice the layout of the cafeteria is... strategic, to say the least. It's like some kind of high school caste system. The popular kids are seated at the front, taking up the best tables. The jocks, the cheerleaders, and the "elite" are all clustered together like royalty holding court. And of course, Klaus is right in the middle of it all, sitting with a girl who must be the infamous queen bee of Silver Ridge High.
She's gorgeous in that intimidating, effortless way. Perfect hair, perfect makeup, and the kind of designer clothes that make it clear she's at the top of the food chain. Her minions are gathered around her, hanging on her every word like she's some kind of high school deity.
Emerald notices where I'm looking and leans in conspiratorially. "That's Kayla. Queen bee, head cheerleader, and general pain in the ass."
"She basically runs this place," Esmeralda adds. "Her and her little army of followers. But don't let her scare you. She's all bark, no bite—unless you get on her bad side. Then she'll make your life miserable."
"And Klaus?" I ask, glancing back at the popular table.
Emerald snorts. "Klaus is... complicated. He's not exactly part of Kayla's clique, but he's definitely up there in the social hierarchy. He's the school quarterback, so, you know—instant popularity. Kayla needs him to stay on top, and he lets her think she's the one calling the shots."
Esmeralda nods. "Everyone either wants to be him, date him, or stay out of his way."
I raise an eyebrow. "And where do you two fit into all of this?"
Emerald grins. "We like to think of ourselves as the Switzerland of Silver Ridge High. We don't bother anyone, and no one bothers us."
Esmeralda smirks. "Plus, we're too weird for the popular crowd, and too cool for the outcasts. We're in our own category."
I smile, relaxing slightly. "Well, it sounds like I've found the right people to stick with."
"Exactly," Emerald says, raising her soda in a mock toast. "Welcome to the Switzerland of Silver Ridge High. Neutral territory for all."
As we dig into our food, I can't help but steal another glance at Klaus. He's deep in conversation with Kayla, but every now and then, I catch him looking in my direction. It's unsettling. Intriguing. And more than a little confusing.
I don't know what game Klaus is playing, but I have a feeling it's only just begun.
---
By the time lunch is over, I'm ready for a break from the constant stream of whispers and sideways glances. It feels like everywhere I go, people are either staring at me or talking about me, as if I've suddenly become the most interesting thing to happen at Silver Ridge High.
I follow Emerald and Esmeralda through the maze of tables, trying to ignore the way people turn their heads to watch me pass. I can feel their eyes on me, like I'm some kind of rare animal that wandered into the wrong habitat. It's suffocating. My usual sarcastic armor feels like it's starting to crack under the pressure.
After lunch, the day drags on. I shuffle from class to class, trying to keep my head down and avoid any more attention. But it's impossible when every other person I pass seems to either be whispering about me or sneaking glances at me. It's like being under a microscope, and I hate it.
By the time the final bell rings, I feel like I've been holding my breath all day. The moment I step outside, I take a deep breath, grateful for the cool air. At least out here, there's some space to breathe.
I'm making my way to my car when I spot Klaus again. He's standing by his car, leaning against the door with that same unreadable expression. For a second, I consider turning around and going the other way, but then I remember who I am. I'm Heaven Astrid Holden, and I'm not about to let some high school bad boy intimidate me.
So, instead of walking away, I keep my head up and walk straight toward my car. I can feel Klaus's eyes on me the entire time, and when I reach my car, I glance over at him.
"Still keeping tabs on me?" I ask, my voice sharper than I intended.
Klaus's lips twitch into a half-smile. "Just making sure you don't steal any more parking spots."
I roll my eyes. "Pretty sure I didn't steal anything."
He shrugs, still leaning casually against his car. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, Heaven."
I narrow my eyes at him. "You don't know anything about me."
His gaze flickers with something—interest, maybe? It's hard to tell. "Maybe not. But I've got time."
"Don't waste it on me," I say, turning away and opening my car door.
Klaus chuckles, a low sound that sends a shiver down my spine. "We'll see."
I get into my car and shut the door, my heart racing as I drive away. I tell myself it's just because I'm annoyed with him, but deep down, I know there's more to it. Something about Klaus gets under my skin in a way I don't understand, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a very, very bad thing.
---
Back at home, I collapse onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling. Today has been... exhausting, to say the least. Between the stares, the whispers, and Klaus's unsettling presence, I feel like I'm running on fumes.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to push all the thoughts of school, Klaus, and everything else out of my mind. But it's harder than I thought. Especially when Klaus's voice echoes in my head, his words lingering like a challenge I'm not ready to face.
"Maybe not. But I've got time."