Chapter 7

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Chapter 7: Familiar Strangers

Leah returned to school feeling physically better but emotionally drained. The past week had been a whirlwind of concern from her parents, who insisted she undergo every test under the sun after her fainting episode. She’d managed to talk them down, assuring them it was just exhaustion, but the weight of their worry still lingered in her chest.

The morning sunlight filtered through the classroom windows, casting long, golden streaks across the desks. Leah slid into her seat, her fingers brushing against the cool surface of the desk as she let out a soft sigh.

Sylvia wasted no time. She leaned over with wide, searching eyes, her voice a low whisper. “Are you sure you’re okay? You don’t look okay.”

Leah turned her head, meeting her friend’s gaze with a tired smile. “I’m fine, Sylvia. Really.”

“You’ve said that three times already,” Sylvia countered, narrowing her eyes. “If you faint again, I swear I’ll carry you to the nurse myself.”

Leah couldn’t help but laugh, the sound light but genuine. “I’ll make sure to give you a heads-up next time.”

Sylvia rolled her eyes, but her lips curved into a smile, the tension between them easing. Leah appreciated her friend’s concern, even if it bordered on overbearing.

But as the morning wore on, Leah couldn’t shake a strange sense of unease. It wasn’t her health—she felt fine—but there was something in the air, an undercurrent of excitement that seemed to buzz just beneath the surface.

During lunch, as she sat in the courtyard with Sylvia, the source of the excitement became clear.

“Have you heard about the new guy?” Sylvia asked, her tone casual but her eyes alight with curiosity.

Leah frowned, picking at her sandwich. “New guy?”

“Jackson,” Sylvia said, leaning closer. “He transferred here last week. Everyone’s talking about him.”

Leah shrugged, feigning disinterest. “Why? What’s so special about him?”

Sylvia smirked. “Well, for starters, he’s ridiculously good-looking. And apparently, he’s loaded. His family owns some big company or something.”

Leah rolled her eyes. “Sounds like the usual high school gossip.”

“Maybe,” Sylvia said with a shrug. “But you should see him. He’s... different.”

Leah didn’t reply, but her curiosity was piqued.

The courtyard was alive with chatter and laughter, the warm afternoon sun casting a soft glow over the scene. Leah’s gaze wandered across the crowd, and then she saw him.

Jackson.

He moved through the throng of students with an air of quiet confidence, his stride unhurried but purposeful. The sunlight caught the rich, dark strands of his hair, and his sharp features seemed almost too perfect, like they’d been sculpted by an artist. A small group of students trailed behind him, their voices eager, but he didn’t seem to notice them.

Leah’s breath caught in her throat. There was something about him—something familiar.

Later, in class, her suspicions deepened.

The teacher introduced him formally, her voice cutting through the low hum of whispers. “Class, please welcome Jackson. He’ll be joining us for the rest of the semester.”

Leah’s eyes followed him as he walked to an empty seat, his movements fluid and deliberate. He sat down with a calm self-assurance that seemed to draw every eye in the room.

When their gazes met, even for a fleeting moment, Leah felt her heart stutter. His eyes were piercing, a deep shade that seemed to see straight through her.

“Why does he seem so... familiar?” she wondered, her brow furrowing.

The rest of the day passed in a haze. Leah couldn’t stop sneaking glances at him, her mind racing with questions she couldn’t answer.

That night, as she lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the memory came rushing back.

The mask party.

The stranger she’d danced with—the one whose touch had sent shivers down her spine and whose voice had lingered in her mind long after the music faded.

Her heart raced as the pieces clicked into place. His voice, his eyes, his presence—they all matched.

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “It can’t be. That’s just... too much of a coincidence.”

But the thought refused to leave her mind. The memory replayed itself in vivid detail: the warmth of his hand on hers, the way his laughter had filled the air, the way he’d looked at her like she was the only person in the room.

Leah turned onto her side, her chest tightening. “This is ridiculous,” she told herself. But deep down, she wasn’t so sure.

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