LET'S GO CHECK HER OUT

I was sitting by the window in Class 10-D, my book open, as the soft sunlight spilled across the pages.

The rest of the class hummed quietly around me some students were chatting in hushed tones, while others were half-asleep, thankful for a free period without a teacher hovering over them.

I had tuned out the noise long ago. Reading was far more engaging than the shallow conversations drifting around me.

That is, until the door swung open with a bang.

“GUYS!”

Luca Ward burst in, panting as if he’d just run a marathon through the school. Heads turned at his sudden entrance.

He didn’t even seem to notice the stares; his eyes were locked onto two boys lounging at the back.

“Coby! Hudson!” Luca half-shouted, half-laughed, tripping over his own excitement. “You won’t believe it—there’s a new transfer student in Class 10-E!”

Coby Barnes straightened up, a big grin spreading across his face. Hudson Duncan leaned in, clearly intrigued.

“Yeah? So what?” Hudson replied, smirking. “We’ve had transfer students before. No big deal.”

“No, no, no, you don’t understand!” Luca insisted, his voice getting louder with enthusiasm. “She’s different! She’s—man, she’s gorgeous. Cute. Elegant. Everything! I swear, the whole class couldn’t take their eyes off her. She’s already a hit, and it’s literally her first day!”

He leaned in closer to his friends, lowering his voice a bit too late. “We’ve got to check her out before everyone else does.”

But the damage was done. His earlier shouting had echoed through the room, and now every student in Class 10-D was staring at him, wide-eyed and whispering.

I glanced up from my book, my brow slightly furrowed. A transfer student? In 10-B? I closed my book slowly, my curiosity piqued despite myself.

Before Luca could backtrack, a cold voice sliced through the chatter.

“Pathetic.”

Elise didn’t even bother to lift her head from her spot, arms crossed, her sharp gaze darting toward the boys like icy daggers. Her voice was smooth but had a razor-sharp edge to it.

“You three are drooling over a girl you haven’t even met yet. Do you have any idea how desperate that sounds?”

Coby bristled at her words. “Hey, we’re just curious—”

“Curious?” Elise’s lip curled in disdain, her words cutting. “More like pathetic little mutts chasing after a bone. Honestly, it’s just embarrassing.”

The class stifled their laughter, clearly enjoying the burn. Luca shrank back, scratching the back of his head awkwardly, while Hudson tried to brush it off with a scoff.

As for me? I kept my eyes glued to the desk, though my fingers tapped lightly against my closed book.

A new transfer… beautiful, mysterious, and already the talk of the school.

For the first time that day, I found my thoughts drifting from the pages of my book to the exciting possibilities waiting just beyond the walls of Class 10-B

Luca, Coby, and Hudson were still buzzing with excitement, even after Elise’s harsh words—definitely not feeling discouraged.

“Alright, that’s it,” Coby said, slamming his palm on the desk with a big grin. “We’re sneaking a peek into 10-E during the break. No way we’re missing out on this.”

Hudson leaned back, arms crossed, a smirk on his face. “Exactly. News travels fast, and if she’s already got the whole class intrigued, we better check her out before she’s swarmed.”

Luca’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, and hey—Sylvester should join us!”

I snapped my head up a bit, but kept quiet.

“C’mon, man,” Luca urged, playfully nudging my desk with his elbow. “You’re always lost in a book. Live a little! A girl like this doesn’t just stroll into our school every day.”

Coby leaned in with a mischievous grin. “Right? We can’t let you waste away as the quiet bookworm forever. Who knows? Maybe she’ll actually notice you.”

Their teasing words brushed against me, but I didn’t flinch. My fingers rested on my closed book, unmoving.

“I’m not interested,” I replied flatly, though even I could hear the slightest crack in my resolve. The truth was… my curiosity had definitely been piqued the moment Luca mentioned her.

Hudson caught on immediately, grinning. “See? He’s curious. He just doesn’t want to admit it.”

Before I could respond, Elise’s cold, sharp voice sliced through the air again.

“You really are worthless.”

She didn’t even glance up, just tossed the words out like daggers. “Dragging him into your nonsense? Do you really think sneaking a peek at some transfer student is going to change your meaningless lives? You’re like dogs chasing after scraps.”

Luca groaned. “God, Elise, do you always have to ruin the mood?”

Her lips curled into the faintest smirk. “If the mood is this pathetic, then yes.”

But her words hung in the air, heavier than before. Even as the three boys half-heartedly argued with her, I sat in silence, her disdain echoing faintly in my mind.

Dogs chasing scraps.
.
Maybe she was right. Maybe it was pathetic.
And yet… the idea of seeing her the mysterious girl who had already captured so much attention—refused to leave me.

The moment the bell rang for break, Luca bolted out of his seat like he’d been waiting forever for this very second.

“Alright, team, let’s roll,” he whispered with a flair, pointing dramatically toward the door.

Hudson rolled his eyes but got up anyway. “You make it sound like we’re on a secret mission.”

“It is a mission!” Luca shot back, his grin practically splitting his face. “Operation: Find the Goddess of 10-E.”

Coby rubbed his hands together. “Count me in. Let’s hurry before the whole hallway swarms her.”

And then, of course, their gazes landed on me.

I stayed put, my book open as if that would end the conversation. But Luca wasn’t letting me off the hook. He leaned down, lowering his voice to a secretive whisper.

“Sylvester. My dude. If you don’t come, you’ll regret it for life. Just picture it, years from now, people chatting about the legendary Liliana Karma—”

“Liliana who?” I blurted out before I could catch myself.

All three of them froze, then broke into grins at the same time.

“Gotcha,” Hudson laughed. “So you are interested.”

I sighed and closed my book. There was no escaping them now.

A few minutes later, the four of us were tiptoeing down the hallway, with Luca leading the way like a wannabe secret agent. He crouched low, back against the wall, peeking around every corner.

“Luca, you look ridiculous,” Hudson muttered.

“This is how the pros do it,” Luca shot back, pressing himself against a locker. “Stealth mode. Total silence.”

“Then quit yelling,” Coby groaned.

I hung back a step, my face a mask of indifference, but inside, I couldn’t help but notice how every little group of students seemed to be whispering about the new girl. Even if Luca hadn’t raised his voice in class, the rumors were already spreading like wildfire.

“10-E is down this hall,” Luca whispered, gesturing dramatically as if we were on a secret mission.

We navigated through the bustling corridor, the boys buzzing with excitement, until the big classroom door of 10-E came into view.

And that’s when we slipped inside.

Liliana Karma sat by the window, sunlight pouring in and wrapping around her like she was meant to capture every gaze in the room.

Her unique hair color glimmered softly when she turned her head, creating a striking contrast against the dull browns and blacks of everyone else.

She wasn’t trying to draw attention. But somehow, she did. Effortlessly.

A group of girls had gathered around her, their curiosity too strong to ignore.

“Your hair is so beautiful! Is it natural?” one of them asked, leaning in closer.

Liliana tilted her head slightly, a subtle smile playing on her lips. “Yes, it’s natural. I used to get teased for it back home, though. Funny, right?”

The girls gasped in surprise. “Teased? But it’s stunning! You look like you stepped out of a magazine.”

Another girl leaned in eagerly. “So, what was Australia like? How does it compare to here?”

Liliana folded her hands neatly on her desk, her posture relaxed yet intentional, as if every movement was thought out. “Hotter. Louder. People are more laid back, too. Sometimes… maybe a little too much. Coming here feels quieter, stricter. But in its own way, it’s refreshing.”

Her voice had a soothing melody, and the girls were practically enchanted.

“Do you miss it?” someone else asked.

There was a brief pause, a flicker in her eyes, but her smile returned almost immediately. “Sometimes. But moving on is part of life, isn’t it?”

Her classmates melted at her graceful response.

Then one girl, bolder than the rest, raised her hand slightly as if she were asking a teacher a question. “Um… could you… maybe… do an Australian accent for us?”

The request made Liliana blink. She tapped her chin with a finger, pretending to think. “An accent?”

The group leaned in closer, giggling with anticipation.

Liliana’s lips curled into a sly smile. “Hmm… I’ll need to find the right line.”

Her eyes drifted up to the ceiling as if she were weighing her options. She muttered a few quiet phrases under her breath, dismissing each one. Finally, her gaze lowered, sharp and deliberate, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Her tone changed in an instant, her voice slipping into a perfectly casual Aussie drawl:

“Oi, mate. You think I’m just here for a holiday? Nah. I’m here to stir up some real trouble.”

The girls erupted in laughter, clapping and squealing at her unexpected boldness.

“That was incredible!” one of them exclaimed.

“You sounded just like it!” another chimed in.

Liliana tilted her head, pretending to be modest, but her eyes sparkled with delight. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

And just like that, the admiration around her only intensified.

Outside the door, Luca, Coby, Hudson—and I—were already close enough to hear.

The muffled sounds of laughter floated into the hallway.

“She’s got them all under her spell already,” Hudson whispered.

“Wow,” Luca said, “she’s even better than I thought.”

But I stayed silent, listening intently.

There was something about her voice that made my grip tighten just a little bit.

The laughter still hung in the air around Liliana’s desk when the mood took a sharp turn.

Click. Click. Click.

The sound of purposeful footsteps sliced through the chatter, and just like that, the girls fell silent, as if a stone had been thrown into a calm pond.

Amara Barker stood at the front, her signature smirk plastered across her face.

Flanking her were her two loyal sidekicks—Riley and Sophie—echoing her confidence like devoted pets.

“Well, well, well,” Amara drawled, crossing her arms and sizing Liliana up like she was a piece of merchandise on display. “The famous transfer student. Looks like you’ve settled in quite nicely.”

The tension in the air thickened. The other girls shifted uncomfortably, but none dared to speak up.

Amara leaned in closer, her smirk growing wider. “So, new girl—how about joining our little group? Stick with us, and you’ll never have to worry about a thing in this school. You’ll be right at the top, where you belong.”

Liliana’s gaze flicked up, calm and icy, but she remained silent.

No words, no smile—just a steady look directed at Amara.

The silence stretched on, sharp and uncomfortable.

Amara’s smirk wavered. “...What? Cat got your tongue?”

Still, silence.

Liliana averted her eyes, almost dismissively, as if Amara wasn’t worth her breath.

That simple act was enough to spark the fire.

Amara’s expression hardened, a flash of anger igniting in her eyes. Riley and Vanessa exchanged worried glances, fully aware of how their queen bee despised being ignored.

“You think you’re too good to respond to me?” Amara snapped, her voice slicing through the air. “Don’t forget, this is my territory. Those who don’t know their place… well, they get a little reminder.”

Her gaze drifted toward the shy girl sitting alone at the back—Clara, the one she had bullied earlier.

Amara’s smirk returned, cruel and calculated. “Maybe our little Clara here can show you how it’s done. She’s quite good at being an example.”

Clara flinched immediately, shrinking back into her seat as Amara and her entourage began to approach her.

But just as Amara was about to take another step, Liliana made her move.

It was subtle and effortless—she stood up from her chair, gliding smoothly between Amara and Clara’s desk.

Her gaze locked onto Amara’s, calm yet unwavering.

No words were exchanged. No threats were made. Just her presence.

The whole room seemed to hold its breath.

Amara froze, her jaw tightening at the sheer audacity. “...Move.”

Liliana remained still.

Instead, she tilted her head slightly, her unique hair catching the light, her expression a complete mystery.

Her silence spoke volumes, louder than any insult could have.

The girls around them whispered, a mix of shock and admiration in their voices. Someone—finally—was standing up to Amara Barker.

Amara’s fists clenched at her sides, her pride flaring hotter than ever. “You think you can—”

But before she could finish her thought, the classroom door creaked open just a bit.

On the other side, a few figures—Luca, Hudson, Coby, and Sylvester—hovered just out of sight, listening intently.