Luna

Two weeks had zipped by since Luna had graced the halls of Moonstone Academy, and the school was buzzing with activity. The dust had settled after the school government elections, with Bryce snagging the presidential spot with ease. Aiva landed the role of general secretary, her sharp wit and organization skills earning her the nod from the principal. And then there was Adam, who snagged the coveted position of minister of all club activities, much to Aiva's playful chagrin.

"Ha, bet you wish you had my job, Aiva," Adam would tease, flashing her a mischievous grin. "I've got all the keys to the kingdom!"Aiva would fire back with her trademark wit, insisting that she held the true power behind the scenes. It was a playful banter that had become a regular occurrence between them, a testament to their budding friendship.And then there was Luna. Adam found himself drawn to her in a way he hadn't experienced before. Unlike the other girls he'd crossed paths with, Luna made his heart skip a beat with every smile and laugh. He found himself eagerly lending her a hand whenever she needed it, determined to help her navigate the challenges of being the new kid in town.As Adam lounged at his desk, waiting for the next period to begin, he couldn't help but reflect on how much his life had changed in just a few short weeks. He thought of Luna and how he could possibly impress her, he knew it would be difficult, but he felt like anything was possible. And as he stole a glance at Luna across the room, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement for the adventures that lay ahead."What's on your mind?" Luna's voice cut through Adam's thoughts like a knife. He hadn't even realized she was watching him, and the realization made him squirm in his seat."It's nothing. Just thinking about this horror movie i watched over the holiday," he fibbed, shifting uncomfortably and avoiding her gaze.But Luna wasn't easily deterred. Leaning in closer, her eyes flickered with genuine concern as she noticed the scars that marred Adam's skin. "I noticed your scars," she said softly. "They look recent. What happened?"Adam felt his pulse quicken as he scrambled for an excuse. He couldn't bear to tell Luna the truth about his run-in with Harris, how he'd been pummeled like a punching bag. "Uh, you know, just roughhousing on the basketball court," he stammered, hoping she would buy his feeble explanation.But Luna wasn't convinced. With a boldness that took Adam by surprise, she leaned in even closer and did something utterly bizarre—she sniffed him. In any other circumstance, Adam might have questioned her sanity, but with Luna, he simply chalked it up to her quirky charm.Meanwhile, Aiva sat on the opposite side of Adam, her envy simmering beneath the surface as she watched him shower Luna with attention. She couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy, but she knew there was nothing she could do about it now. With a resigned sigh, she turned her attention to the romance novel in her hands, hoping to lose herself in its pages and forget about the ache in her heart.Even after class, Aiva couldn't shake the thought of Adam with Luna off her mind. she decided to indulge in tending to her garden by the rooftop, that was the only place she could truly find peace of heart when everything felt so wrong.It was already around four in the evening as she lugged gardening equipment up the stairs, she spotted Adam strolling by towards the dormitory. This was her chance to finally spend some time with him, to ease the ache in her heart."Hey Adam," she called out, her voice soft yet hopeful. "Mind giving me a hand?"Adam turned towards her, his easy smile lighting up his face. "Sure, I'd love to," he replied, always eager to lend a helping hand. He joked about the smell of the compost, his laughter echoing through the empty hallway.As they made their way to the rooftop, Aiva couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement in her chest. She wondered why now, of all times, she was feeling this way. Maybe it was because of Luna, or maybe it was because she was finally ready to admit her true feelings for Adam.In the garden, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, Adam marveled at the beauty around him. The vibrant colors of the flowers seemed to dance in the breeze, and for a moment, he forgot about everything else. He couldn't help but admire Aiva's talent and dedication, and he felt grateful to have her as a friend."Well, I'm gonna head out now if you don't need anything," Adam said, his tone casual as he made his way towards the door."Wait!" Aiva's voice cut through the air a little too loudly, betraying her nerves. "I was hoping I could talk to you about something," she admitted sheepishly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Adam paused, turning back to look at her with a curious expression."Sure," he said, his voice gentle as he walked towards a bench overlooking the school grounds and the sprawling forest beyond. It was a breathtaking view, but Adam's attention was on Aiva as he sat down next to her. "What's on your mind?" he asked, his eyes filled with concern."It's not much... it's just about Aria," Aiva began tentatively, her words hesitant. Adam furrowed his brow, intrigued by her sudden seriousness."What about her?" he questioned, leaning in slightly."There's something off about her, Adam, and I think I know what," Aiva explained, her tone grave. Adam listened intently, but skepticism flickered in his eyes."Do you believe in the supernatural or paranormal?" Aiva asked, her voice tinged with urgency. Adam couldn't help but chuckle at the question."You mean stuff about vampires, werewolves, witches, that kind of shit... nah, not really," he replied dismissively, a playful grin on his lips."Well, they exist, Adam," Aiva asserted, her tone firm. Adam raised an eyebrow, amused by her conviction."Looks like someone has lived in Moonstone for far too long; all these legends are starting to get into your head," Adam teased, still not fully convinced."I'm serious, Adam! I'm a..." Aiva hesitated, struggling to find the right words. "The thing is, I don't trust Aria, and I think you should really be careful around her," she urged, her concern palpable. Adam couldn't help but chuckle at her earnestness."You know, if talking to Luna made you jealous, you could've just said so. I would've understood," he quipped, trying to lighten the mood."I'm not jealous!" Aiva interrupted, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm just worried about you," she confessed, her voice trembling with emotion. Adam's playful demeanor faltered as he realized the depth of her concern. He moved closer to her, enveloping her in a comforting embrace."Hey, if it means that much to you, I'll talk to her less... And I'll be more careful, okay?" Adam promised, his voice soft and reassuring as he held her close. Aiva's heart swelled with gratitude, her conflicted feelings momentarily forgotten as she sought solace in his embrace.As Adam left, Aiva couldn't shake the guilt gnawing at her heart. She was in a relationship with someone else, yet here she was, finding comfort in Adam's arms. It felt wrong, yet undeniably right. Meanwhile, Adam couldn't shake Aiva's words from his mind. The idea of the supernatural and paranormal lingered in his thoughts, leaving him wondering if there was more to Luna than met the eye. He quickly made his way back to class, realizing he had forgotten his backpack. But as he reached his desk, something caught his eye—an old library book resting on the tabletop. Adam recognized it immediately; it belonged to Luna.On closer inspection of the cover, he saw a picture of what seemed to be a wolf's face, with the words "via lupum" written in italics above it. Adam didn't know what it meant, but his curiosity was piqued. He decided to hold onto the book until he ran into Luna, intending to return it to her personally.Meanwhile, Luna was heading towards the abandoned locker room, a plan forming in her mind. Earlier in the day, she had left a note on Harris' desk, flirting with him and enticing him to meet her in the abandoned locker room for a little make out session. And, judging by his presence, he had taken the bait. As she entered, she quietly closed the door behind her, turning to face Harris, who seemed eager but oblivious to the danger lurking in the shadows."Surprised to see me?" Luna teased, her grin carrying a hint of malice as she approached Harris."How could I resist?" Harris replied, a smirk playing on his lips. "So, let's get to it."Luna's grin widened, but not for the reason Harris expected. "Actually," she mused, tapping her lips in mock contemplation, "I had something a little different in mind." With a swift motion, she closed the distance between them, her fingers trailing sensually across his chest, only to tighten around his throat moments later. Harris gasped, his eyes widening in fear as Luna effortlessly lifted him off the ground with a single hand, his struggles futile against her surprising strength."Let's talk about how you decided to mess with Adam," Luna said, her tone light yet chilling, as if she were discussing the weather."Who... who are you?" Harris managed, panic creeping into his voice."Depending on my mood," Luna replied, her voice cold as ice, "I might be the last face you ever see."