Chapter 1: A Life of Routine

Southwood High – Tuesday Morning

The scent of freshly cut grass hangs heavy in the air, mingling with the crisp breeze that drifts lazily through the campus. The sprawling lawns of Southwood High stretch under the morning sun, bathed in golden light, while the towering oak trees cast shifting shadows over the paved walkways.

I sit on a weathered bench beneath the largest of those trees, its broad branches shielding me from the direct sunlight. The wood beneath me is cool, worn smooth by time, a familiar presence in a school that never stops moving.

This spot—it's mine.

A quiet place in the middle of all the noise.

I take a slow breath, letting my black eyes drift over the familiar landscape of Southwood High.

Might as well introduce myself.

Derrick Steins.

Seventeen. High school junior. Introvert.

Not the guy who stands out in a crowd. Not the one people seek out at parties.

I don't mind.

I have my own plans, my own goals—things that extend far beyond these hallways.

A Future Beyond High School

While most students are just coasting through their teenage years, waiting for whatever comes next, I already know what I want.

Entrepreneurship.

I want to build something from the ground up. A business. A company. A legacy of my own making.

Maybe it sounds ambitious, but I've never been interested in just getting by. I don't want to work some meaningless job, counting down the days until retirement.

I want to create. To own something real.

That's why I'm careful with how I spend my time. School, work, training. A structured routine.

Wake up at 5:30 AM.

Gym for an hour.

Breakfast.

School by 7:45 AM.

Classes.

Lunch—usually alone.

More classes.

Part-time job at a local bakery.

Homework.

Planning.

Every day.

Discipline is what separates people who succeed from those who don't. I don't have time for distractions.

…At least, that's what I tell myself.

But there's one exception.

Serena Vance.

The Girl Who Feels Out of Reach

I first noticed her on the first day of high school.

It was impossible not to.

She was different from everyone else—not just because of her cascading blonde hair or captivating emerald eyes, but because she carried herself like she already belonged to a bigger world.

A model. An actress. The school's golden girl.

Everyone wanted to be around her. Guys lined up to confess, but she turned down every single one of them.

I never tried.

Not because I didn't want to.

Because I knew someone like her… would never notice someone like me.

I'm not bitter about it. I accepted it a long time ago. Admiration from a distance is enough.

But today…

Something feels off.

There's a strange tension in the air.

It's subtle, but it's there—the way people glance around, the way conversations seem quieter, more hushed.

I can't quite place it, but something is different about today.

And that's what unsettles me the most.

A Family Like Any Other

I lean back against the bench, letting my thoughts drift.

Unlike Serena, who comes from a wealthy, well-connected family, my background is normal.

Nothing special.

My parents work regular jobs, not struggling, but not rich either. They've always pushed the idea of stability—go to college, get a secure job, build a safe life.

I don't blame them for thinking that way. But that's not the life I want.

I want something more.

Something greater.

Which is why I've spent the last few years pushing myself—studying, training, planning.

Everything I do is a step toward the future I want.

But no matter how much I plan…

I can't control everything.

The Day That Feels Different

The rustling of leaves above me breaks my train of thought.

A breeze rolls through the courtyard, sending a wave of movement through the students scattered around the campus.

I sit up slightly, my black eyes scanning the area.

The usual groups are where they always are—jocks near the gym entrance, the student council by the admin building, underclassmen crowding near the vending machines.

But the energy is off.

People are whispering more than usual. Their laughter feels… forced.

Like they're waiting for something.

I don't like it.

I glance at my watch.

Twelve minutes until class.

Enough time to shake off this unease before I have to return to the predictable rhythm of my day.

And then—

A familiar flash of golden hair catches my eye.

Near the base of another oak tree, standing slightly apart from the crowd, is Serena.

She's not surrounded by people.

She's alone.

Her gaze is lowered, her focus entirely on the leather-bound sketchbook in her hands. Her fingers trace the edges of the pages, absentmindedly flipping through them, her expression unreadable.

For someone who's usually at the center of attention, she seems… distant.

Like she's somewhere else entirely.

And for some reason, that same unease from earlier tightens in my chest.

Because if even Serena Vance—**the girl who has everything—**feels unsettled today…

Then maybe today really is different.

Maybe today is the beginning of something I can't predict.

And as much as I hate losing control of my plans—

A small, quiet part of me wonders if it's finally time for my life to change.