Rue liked quiet endings to noisy days. The final bell, the slow walk to the gate, the way the sun spilled golden light on school walls that once felt too cold. She liked this new version of her life—where people waved goodbye, where her name was called out from across the hall, where she didn't always feel like she was holding her breath.
She stood by the school gate, arms loosely folded, as her two friends, Serena and Summer, giggled beside her, recounting something about a substitute teacher and a badly drawn mustache. Rue laughed, but her eyes drifted across the grounds. And then—
She saw him.
He stood near the basketball court, talking to Stellan.
Her brow furrowed.
Stellan? Talking? To someone?
Stellan was nice—awkward but kind, always hanging back, never more than one foot in any social circle. He barely spoke in group chats, much less in real life. Yet here he was, actually laughing with a guy Rue had never noticed before.
The stranger had books in his hands, posture relaxed, head tilted slightly as he listened. His hair looked soft, ruffled like he hadn't bothered fixing it after gym. His eyes were shinning, full of curiosity while paying attention. He looked...
Calm. Polite. Cute.
Rue blinked.
Cute?
Did I just think that?
That wasn't something she said about guys—ever. Girls, sure. Girls she understood. But boys had always been distant, uninteresting puzzle pieces she didn't care to fit together.
But this guy—there was something about him. Something quiet. Something that tugged at her curiosity like a thread.
She turned to her friends.
"Be right back," she said casually, already walking away.
As she got closer, she heard Stellan say, "—missed practice again, didn't you?"
The stranger laughed. "You act like I was ever going to show up."
His voice was low, almost lazy, with that same playful distance in it.
Stellan noticed her approaching and turned toward her. "Oh hey, Rue—"
But before he could finish, she froze.
Too close. Too real. Too... cute.
Suddenly, the weight of her own thoughts hit her all at once. Rue, who never cared what boys thought. Rue, who just called a guy cute for the first time in her life.
And now she was standing right in front of him?
Nope.
Without a word, she walked away—fast.
The guy blinked, visibly surprised. A girl, walking up only to run away before even saying a word? That was new. His eyes followed her for a second, a tiny amused smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Stellan raised an eyebrow. "Well... okay then."
The boy chuckled quietly. "Do I know her?"
"Nah," Stellan replied, watching her retreating figure. "That's Rue. Exchange student. Been here for half a year."
The guy nodded slightly. "Huh. Never noticed her."
Funny thing was—she had never noticed him either.
Even though Yorick had been here all along.