Small Steps, Big Shadows The Unwilling Partners

The classroom was hauntingly empty, the silence only broken by the distant hum of the school's

vents. Regina sat stiffly at her desk, her eyes burning with frustration.

"Fine," she snapped, breaking the silence. "I'll work with you. Not because I like you, but because I

refuse to fail on my first day."

Allen didn't even look up. "Pass. I don't want to work with you either."

Regina stood up, her chair screeching against the floor. "Listen here. If I fail because of your

laziness, you won't live to see the next day. Got it?"

Allen finally met her gaze, his expression mocking. "Oh, hello to you too, girl. I don't know what

cursed hour it was when I first saw your face, but I'm already over it."

"Shut your mouth!" Regina shouted, clutching her head. "You're giving me a headache."

Allen let out a long, weary sigh. "Fine. I'll work with you. If I fail, I don't even want to imagine what

my dad will do."

"Good," Regina muttered. "Now, stay here. I'm going to get the supplies."

Manners and Might

Regina trekked to the art room and back, her arms piled high with heavy boards, paints, and tools.

By the time she reached the math room, she was struggling to breathe, her fingers slipping as she

tried to nudge the door open with her hip.

Inside, Allen was slumped in his chair, his eyes glued to his phone. He didn't even glance her way.

Regina's face turned a deep shade of red. She shifted the heavy load, making a deliberate, loud

noise to catch his attention. When he finally looked up, she met his eyes with pure fury.

"Do you have no manners?" she hissed. "I'm carrying enough gear for three people. As a girl, I

expected at least a shred of respect."

Allen stared at her for a beat. Then, he tossed his phone onto the desk and stood up. Without a

word, he reached out and took the entire pile from her with a single hand, his muscles barely

straining. With his free hand, he caught the door and shut it firmly.

Regina blinked, stunned by his sudden display of strength. "I... I said you could help with half, but

fine."

They sat down and began to work. However, the peace didn't last long.

The Falling Out

"You fool!" Regina cried, pointing at the project. "You made the same mistake again! Are you

actually a failure?"

Allen's patience snapped. He pointed a finger right back at her. "And who are you? The Queen of

Arts? Get off your high horse."

"At least I'm better than you!"

"Fine! Then do it yourself!" Allen shouted, shoving his chair back.

"Fine! Leave! I don't want to see your pathetic attitude anyway!"

"Like I wanted to take orders from you, Ma'am," he sneered.

Regina pointed toward the hallway. "Get out!"

"Gladly!"

The Secret of the Night

Allen stormed out of the building and into the school gardens. It was late; the moon was high, and

the campus was a world of shadows.

Checking to make sure he was alone, Allen's expression shifted. The bratty student persona

vanished, replaced by the cold, sharp gaze of a Mafia heir. He reached into his bag and pulled out a

handgun. The cold steel felt familiar in his grip.

"Let's play," he whispered.

He aimed toward the empty sky and began to fire, the suppressed thuds echoing in the garden. He

laughed, a dark, manic sound. "Finally... taking out the day's frustration. You really thought you

could separate me from my life, Dad? Never."

Inside the classroom, Regina froze. What was that? she wondered. It sounded like... gunshots?

Driven by a mix of fear and curiosity, she left the room and hurried toward the garden. Allen was so

caught up in his release that he didn't hear her approaching—until her shoe clicked against the

pavement.

His instincts kicked in. In one fluid motion, he hurled the gun into the thick bushes just as Regina

stepped into the light.

She looked at him suspiciously. "What are you doing out here? And what was that noise?"

Allen's face was pale, his eyes darting toward the bushes before settling on her. "Nothing," he said,

his voice dropping into a mysterious tone. "The noise came from outside the school walls. I was just

coming back to help you. Go back inside."

Regina narrowed her eyes, but she didn't see the weapon. "Fine. Let's finish this."

As she turned around, Allen let out a long, shaky breath. Thank god. I'm saved.

A Moment of Peace

They worked through the night. To Regina's surprise, Allen actually focused this time. His hands

were steady, and he followed her lead without complaining. By the time they finished, they were

both exhausted, their eyes heavy with sleep.

"Finally... done," they sighed in unison.

After cleaning up the mess, they walked out of the silent school together. The night air was chilly.

Regina started toward her home on foot, her shoulders slumped from fatigue.

Allen hesitated, then called out. "Ahem... Regina?"

She stopped in her tracks. It was the first time he had used her name. She looked back, surprised.

"Yes?"

"It's late," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "If you're okay with it... I'll drop you off. I mean,

since we're walking the same way."

Regina felt a small smile tug at her lips. "Okay. Thank you."

The walk was quiet, but for the first time, it wasn't a hostile silence.

"Allen?" Regina said softly.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For earlier."

He shrugged, looking away. "It's alright. I'm not as cruel as you think."

Regina chuckled. "And I'm not as stubborn as you think."

They shared a genuine smile as they reached a small house at the end of the block. "This is me," she

said. "Bye, Allen."

"Bye."

They waved to each other, a strange new bond forming in the moonlight. But as Regina turned

toward her gate, the silence of the night was shattered.

A black car roared around the corner with blinding speed. Before Allen could even shout a warning,

two masked figures leaped out, grabbed Regina, and threw her into the back seat.

"Wait! Regina!" Allen screamed, lunging toward the car.

But the tires screeched, and the car vanished into the darkness.

Chapter ended...

[To Be Continued]..