First step,First stares

Leah's car screeched to a stop in the parking lot of Lincoln High, the sound drawing zero attention from anyone already caught up in their own dramas. No cameras. No fans. No bodyguards.

Elara stared at the school from the passenger seat, her hoodie pulled low over her face, her oversized glasses slipping down her nose, and her brown wig — dull, frizzy, and nothing like her usual golden locks — brushing her cheeks.

If she looked in a mirror, she wouldn't recognize herself.

The queen of billboards and magazine covers was now the invisible girl in thrift-store clothes and scuffed sneakers.

"Last chance to run," Leah joked, drumming her hands on the steering wheel.

Elara swallowed hard. "No... I need this."

"Alright, Ellie Brown," Leah grinned, using her fake name. "Ready to be boring?"

"As I'll ever be," Elara muttered, pulling the hood tighter and stepping out of the car.

The first thing she noticed as she followed Leah toward the main entrance was no one gave her a second look.

Guys laughed loudly over footballs and energy drinks, girls flipped their perfect hair, and nobody noticed the new girl walking by.

For the first time in a long time, Elara wasn't the center of attention — and it felt... weird.

"You blend in perfectly," Leah whispered, glancing at her like a proud coach. "No one's gonna guess you're basically a walking cover model."

"Yeah, well, that's the point." Elara sighed, her fingers nervously twisting the strap of her backpack.

As they stepped through the doors, the buzz of chatter, lockers slamming, and sneakers squeaking on polished floors hit her all at once.

Leah leaned in close. "Okay. Survival guide: Watch out for Savannah Chase — school's queen bee, ruthless, eats girls like us for breakfast."

Elara looked around. "Which one's Savannah?"

"You'll know when you see her. Think Regina George, but with sharper claws."

Elara smiled weakly. "Great. Can't wait."

Leah laughed but didn't say more as they weaved through the hall.

If only Elara knew that Savannah was already watching.

From across the hall, Savannah leaned against her locker, eyeing Elara with thinly veiled disgust.

"Who's that?" Savannah muttered to her friends.

"New girl, I think," one of them said, wrinkling her nose. "Not much to look at."

Savannah smirked. "Pathetic. She'll last a week."

Unaware of the stares, Elara clung to Leah's side, adjusting her slipping glasses.

As they reached her locker, she finally dared to breathe.

But then — like in slow motion — he appeared.

Ryder West.

Leaning lazily against a locker just a few rows down. His dark eyes sharp, hoodie half-zipped over a black shirt, and that messy dark hair that looked like he rolled out of bed — but still somehow perfect.

Leah followed her gaze and whispered, "Stop staring. That's Ryder. He's... complicated."

Elara glanced away fast, cheeks burning.

But Ryder had already noticed her.

He watched her for a long second, brow slightly furrowed, like she was a puzzle he couldn't quite figure out. But then, as quickly as his gaze landed on her, it moved on — like she wasn't worth a second thought.

And that stung more than she expected.

Nobody ever ignored her.

"See?" Leah said. "You're invisible. Just like you wanted."

Elara nodded, trying to convince herself that was a good thing.

Until...

"Leah!" a sharp voice called out.

Both girls turned to see Savannah Chase strutting toward them, flanked by her perfectly manicured minions.

She stopped right in front of Elara, her blue eyes cold and calculating.

"And who's this?" Savannah asked, fake-smiling.

"This is Ellie," Leah said, her voice firm but wary.

Savannah looked her up and down — from the oversized hoodie to the scuffed shoes and tangled wig hair.

"Wow," Savannah said slowly, "that's a look."

Elara pushed her glasses up her nose, smiling awkwardly. "Yeah, well... not everyone shops designer."

Savannah blinked, clearly not expecting her to speak.

Her lips twitched into a sharper smile. "True. Some of us have taste."

Leah's hand brushed against Elara's like a warning — don't engage, it's not worth it.

Savannah turned on her heel. "See you around, Ellie."

As she walked away, her friends giggled behind her.

Elara sighed, leaning against her locker.

"Well, that was fun," she muttered.

Leah shrugged. "Could've been worse. She didn't dump a smoothie on your head. Yet."

Before Elara could respond, the bell blared — loud and sudden, making her jump.

"Time for homeroom." Leah grinned, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Ready to face the beast?"

Elara forced a smile. "Born ready."

As they headed down the hallway, a few more eyes trailed after Elara — but none looked at her twice.

No one knew who she was.

No one saw the cover model underneath the baggy clothes.

And for now, that was exactly what she wanted.

But just as they reached the door to her first class, Elara felt a cold chill crawl up her spine.

Because standing at the end of the hallway, arms crossed and leaning casually against the wall — was Ryder West.

Watching her.

But this time, there was something different in his stare.

Not curiosity.

Recognition.

Like he'd seen her somewhere before.

Elara's heart skipped.

He couldn't know. He couldn't.

But as Ryder smirked, pushing off the wall and turning away, one thought burned in her chest:

What if he knew?