Chapter 2: A Chance Encounter

Southwood High – Tuesday Afternoon

The familiar chime of the school bell rings across the campus, signaling the end of lunch. The once-tranquil courtyard stirs to life as students begin gathering their belongings, conversations rising and blending into a steady hum of voices.

I should be heading to class.

Instead, I find myself standing still, my fingers tightening slightly around the strap of my backpack.

A flash of golden blonde hair catches my eye.

Serena Vance.

She stands beneath the ancient oak tree, sketchbook in hand, her posture relaxed but thoughtful. Sunlight filters through the branches, casting a dappled glow across her features.

She's completely absorbed in whatever she's drawing. Her emerald eyes, focused and intense, scan the page as she carefully moves her pencil across it.

For a moment, I simply watch.

Even from a distance, there's something captivating about the way she moves. A quiet grace that contrasts with the larger-than-life presence she carries in the halls of Southwood High.

She's popular, admired, untouchable.

And yet, right now, she seems… human.

A familiar flutter stirs in my chest, a feeling I've buried for the past few years.

This is it.

A fleeting opportunity.

A part of me hesitates, the voice in my head reminding me that Serena Vance doesn't talk to people like me.

But another part—the part that's tired of just watching from the background—urges me forward.

I take a breath. Step forward.

One step.

Then another.

Breaking the Silence

My footsteps seem louder than usual against the pavement, every step deliberate, every movement strangely weighty.

Before I can overthink it, the words leave my lips.

"…Serena."

She looks up.

For a brief second, her eyes widen in surprise. Then, recognition flashes across her face, followed by something else—a warm, friendly smile.

"Oh, hi Derrick."

My heart stumbles.

She knows my name?

I wasn't expecting that.

For the past few years, I've existed in the background—an observer, a silent admirer. I've always assumed Serena had no reason to notice me.

And yet, here she is, greeting me as if this isn't the first time our paths have crossed.

I clear my throat, suddenly hyper-aware of how quiet the space between us feels.

The distant murmur of students, the occasional laughter drifting through the air—it all fades into a soft, static buzz.

"I… I was just admiring your sketchbook," I manage, my voice slightly stiff, but honest.

Her smile widens slightly, amusement flickering in her gaze.

"Oh?" she says, tilting her head. "You like my drawings?"

I nod, grateful for something to focus on. "It looks… interesting."

Serena shifts her stance, adjusting the leather-bound sketchbook in her hands. Then, without hesitation, she flips it open.

"Here," she says, turning it toward me. "Take a look."

The Art of Understanding

I glance down.

The pages are filled with intricate charcoal sketches, each one brimming with detail and life.

Landscapes, portraits, even abstract designs—each piece carefully crafted, every line deliberate.

One in particular catches my eye.

A massive temple, half-consumed by creeping vines, bathed in the soft glow of the moon. The ancient stone pillars stand tall despite their weathered appearance, their carvings faint but still present, telling a forgotten story.

It looks… hauntingly familiar.

I frown slightly, a strange sense of déjà vu creeping into my mind.

"Did you come up with this yourself?" I ask, glancing up at her.

She hesitates for a second, fingers lightly tracing the edge of the page.

"…Not exactly."

I raise an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Serena exhales, flipping to another page—a rough sketch of ruins, eerily similar to the temple from before, only more decayed, almost erased by time itself.

"I found references in some old books," she explains, her voice softer now. "I was researching for a competition piece, and I came across these stories—about lost civilizations, forgotten places. It's fascinating, but…"

She trails off, her gaze distant for a moment.

"…Sometimes, I feel like I've seen them before."

A strange chill settles in my chest.

I don't know why, but…

I understand what she means.

A Shared Connection

"That's… interesting," I say, choosing my words carefully.

Serena studies me for a moment, then tilts her head with a small, knowing smile.

"You think I'm weird now, don't you?"

I shake my head. "No. Just… surprised."

Her smile lingers, but there's something else behind it now—something thoughtful.

For the first time, our conversation doesn't feel one-sided.

It doesn't feel like I'm just another student trying to talk to someone out of my league.

Instead, it feels like… something real.

The Walk Back

The second bell rings, signaling that class is about to begin.

Serena closes her sketchbook with a soft snap.

"Guess we should head inside," she says.

I nod, and we start walking toward the school building, falling into step beside each other.

Southwood High is massive, one of the biggest schools in the city. The main building is a mix of old and modern architecture, its stone walls covered in creeping ivy.

As we pass the central fountain, Serena glances toward it, her expression thoughtful.

"This place has history," she muses. "I wonder how many stories have been lost here."

I glance at her, surprised by the comment.

"…You think about things like that a lot, don't you?"

She chuckles. "Guilty."

For a moment, I don't know how to respond.

Serena Vance—the school's golden girl, the person everyone admires—thinks about lost history, forgotten places, and strange myths.

It's… unexpected.

And yet, it makes sense.

Something about it feels familiar.

We reach the entrance, and Serena slows her steps.

Then, before stepping inside, she turns to me.

"…Hey."

I stop, meeting her gaze. "Yeah?"

She hesitates for a moment, then gives me a small, genuine smile.

"I don't usually say this to people I don't know well, but… you're easy to talk to, Derrick."

My breath catches for just a second.

Then, before I can even think of how to respond, she gives a small wave.

"See you later."

And just like that, she's gone.

I stand there, the school bustling around me, yet my mind feels frozen in place.

I'm easy to talk to.

A small thing.

A simple thing.

But somehow, it feels like the start of something I can't quite define.

And as I finally step inside Southwood High, a single thought lingers in my mind—

Maybe today really is different.

Maybe this is where everything begins.