First Impressions Are Overrated

[Chapter 1: First Impressions Are Overrated]

"The Art of Not Giving a Damn (Yet)"

ᑕᕼOᖴᖴIEᒪEᔕOᑌᒪᐯEᔕ

Theo stood in front of the massive mirror, adjusting his leather jacket. His reflection was perfect, of course—flawlessly put together in every possible way. His rich, deep blue hair fell over his eyes just the right amount, his perfectly sculpted jawline gave off that effortlessly cool vibe, and his skin was like porcelain—no doubt thanks to his expensive skincare routine.

He grinned. That was the thing about Theo: He knew he was gorgeous. He didn't need anyone to tell him.

But there was one thing he didn't have in common with most of the other popular, confident boys in school: Theo was gay. And not just "experimenting with the idea" gay. He was full-on, completely, utterly gay. He had no patience for anything less than the real deal. That's why he never entertained the crushes, the glances, or the half-hearted advances from girls at this school. They were cute, sure. But he'd rather deal with his boys' flings—quick, fun, and no strings attached. No drama.

"Theo! Are you coming, or what?"

It was Kai, his bisexual best friend, calling from the hallway. Theo wasn't surprised. Kai was always the one to break the silence, to drag him out of his thoughts. Kai had a habit of being everywhere and never letting anyone feel lonely or left out. Theo needed that sometimes.

"Yeah, yeah," Theo muttered, glancing at his phone to check the time. The bell for lunch was about to ring, and Theo knew his group would be waiting for him. He didn't want to make them wait too long.

Theo swung open the door, stepping into the bustling hallway. His friends were already gathering near the lockers: Pasha with her loud laugh, her bright, expressive eyes always ready to take on the world; Rule, who leaned against the lockers, the calm and collected one, his attitude always laid-back but subtly sharp; and, of course, Lux—who didn't speak much but always seemed to be silently observing everything, the one person who could get away with being quiet and still have everyone's attention.

"You're late," Rule said with a grin. "I thought you were supposed to be the 'rich, glamorous' one who never kept people waiting."

"Yeah, well," Theo shrugged. "Being rich and glamorous doesn't make you punctual." He gave Rule a wink, his usual cocky smile plastered on his face.

They all laughed—except for Lux, who stood slightly apart, her eyes flickering between Theo and the ground. Theo had always noticed Lux's odd way of not looking at him directly—and he had to admit, it intrigued him. Lux was smart, too smart sometimes, and maybe that was why he never quite understood her.

As they walked toward the cafeteria, Theo couldn't help but feel that something was different about today. He felt an odd sense of anticipation in the air. But it wasn't the usual excitement before a party or the thrill of another fling waiting to happen. No, it was something quieter. Almost like a whisper in the back of his mind telling him that something was coming.

He pushed the thought aside. There was no room for it in his life. Not now.

Lunch was a blur of laughter and teasing. Pasha joked about his latest expensive purchase (another new jacket, of course), Kai flirted with the guy at the counter, and Rule made a sarcastic comment about Theo's ability to attract drama without even trying.

Theo smiled, rolling his eyes. "You guys are impossible," he said, though he loved it. He loved how his friends made him feel alive—like nothing mattered more than right now.

That's when it happened.

While the others were focused on their food, Theo noticed a letter sticking out from the stack of paper and art assignments that had been crammed into his locker earlier that day.

His curiosity piqued, Theo pulled it out. It wasn't like the usual love letters that flooded his locker. It was different. This one was addressed to someone named Wren.

"Who's Wren?" Pasha asked, leaning over to peek at the letter.

Theo frowned, scanning the note. It was written in neat, careful handwriting, but there was no sender's name. It was a confession of sorts—deep, emotional, and uncomfortably personal.

"What's this?" Kai asked, clearly intrigued.

Theo couldn't answer right away. Something about it felt... off, yet somehow important. But why would anyone be sending a letter like this to Wren?

Lux, who had been silent up until now, glanced up from her plate, her gaze flickering over Theo's shoulder at the letter in his hand. Theo didn't notice her shift. But there was something in her eyes that made his stomach twist—like she knew something he didn't.

And it only took a second for Theo to realize the truth. He had no clue who Wren was, but this letter was definitely not for him.

He held the letter up for everyone to see, his usual cocky smile fading. "Who the hell is Wren?"

📌ᖴᒪIᖇTIᑎG ᗯITᕼ ᖴᗩTE

The letter still dangled in Theo's fingers, the silence stretching longer than he expected. His friends had gone quiet, their teasing paused, eyes shifting between him and the mysterious note. Theo knew something was off, but he couldn't quite place it.

Pasha leaned forward, her elbows on the table. "So, what does it say?" she asked, voice full of curiosity.

Theo hesitated for a moment. The way Pasha had asked—like she was too eager to know the details of a secret he wasn't ready to share yet—was unsettling. He glanced back at the letter. There was something too personal about it, too raw for the casual reveal he was expecting.

"Do you really think I should read it out loud?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Come on, don't be a tease," Rule chuckled, flicking a fry at him. "We're all friends here."

Theo shot him a look, the corners of his lips lifting in a half-smile. "I don't know, it feels a bit..."

"Suspicious?" Kai interjected with a grin, his voice laced with teasing. He leaned forward, grabbing a handful of fries. "What if it's some love confession? You know, a secret admirer who's too shy to say anything?"

Theo rolled his eyes. "Please, I'm not interested in any love confession. I only entertain real connections. You know that."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Pasha chimed in, clearly not letting the moment pass. "But you can still read it. For fun."

Theo sighed dramatically. His friends were relentless. Reluctantly, he opened the letter, reading the carefully penned words under his breath.

Wren,

I've been trying to find the courage to say this to your face, but it's too hard. You've been on my mind for so long now, and I can't seem to let it go. I think about you all the time, even when I'm pretending not to. You're so different from everyone else, and I can't help but admire everything about you—your strength, your intelligence, the way you carry yourself with so much grace.

I know you may never feel the same way, but I needed to tell you anyway. I needed you to know."

Theo let out a soft chuckle, folding the letter back into its original position. "Well, that was... intense," he muttered, a bit surprised by the weight of the words.

Pasha raised an eyebrow. "Who writes something like that and doesn't put their name? That's... weird."

"Yeah, it sounds like they're hiding something," Rule added, glancing at Lux for a second, his eyes narrowing as if waiting for her reaction.

Lux is playing with her phone, but her face almost unreadable, though Theo noticed the way her fingers tapped quickly, almost nervously. Something about her reaction felt... off.

Theo leaned back in his seat, looking at the letter once more. "I don't know. It's kind of tragic in a way. But also, what a waste—no one's gonna know who it's from."

Pasha snorted. "Maybe Wren will find out eventually." She turned to Theo with a smirk. "You should be the one to give it to her."

Theo's gaze flickered to Lux. He could feel her presence more now, like the air around her had thickened with something unspoken. But he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination. "I don't even know who Wren is. This letter's going straight to the trash unless you can somehow find the sender, Kai."

Lux shifted her position slightly, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly, but she didn't speak.

"Alright, fine," Kai said with a shrug. "I'll take it to Wren for you." He grabbed the letter from Theo's hand, looking mischievously at him. "If you don't want it, I'll gladly play messenger."

"Hold on!" Theo grabbed it back from him, earning a hands that shows defeat. There was something nagging at the back of his mind. He looked back at Pasha and Rule, still unsure about the whole situation.

"Okay, fine," Theo muttered, "I'll give it to her myself, but I'm not going to make a big deal out of it. It's just a letter, after all."

Lunch continued, but something about the energy had shifted. Theo couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt... off. His friends had stopped teasing him about the letter, but their glances were heavy with meaning. Even Rule, usually the loudest of them all, was quieter today.

The usual banter about boys, gossip, and random stories faded into the background. Instead, his thoughts kept drifting back to Wren. It was like he could almost see the name on the page, feel it pressing into his skin with every breath. Wren. Who was this person?

And the letter. Who wrote it? The intensity of those words didn't just scream desperation. They screamed something more: longing.

Ugh, what is wrong with me?

Wren. It almost felt like the name was calling him.

He shook his head, trying to shake off the strange feeling that was beginning to settle in his chest. He didn't have time for this. He had more important things to think about, like how to spend the rest of his lunch hour without anyone else bringing up that damn letter.

He wondered if he would ever find out who that was.

And more importantly, who had written such a painfully honest confession?

Theo gently wiped his mouth with a tissue, trying to push the thought away.

"So," Pasha said, snapping him out of his daze, "what's the plan for after school today?" She gave him an exaggerated, flirtatious grin. "Got any cute guys to entertain, or are you finally going to give the rest of us some attention?"

"Don't start with that," Theo smirked, leaning back in his seat. "You all know I don't do attachments—other than, of course, you lovely weirdos." He winked at them, but the playful edge to his voice felt hollow.

"Right," Rule said, raising his eyebrows. "But you do, however, spend a lot of time with some people who definitely want attachments." He tilted his head toward Kai.

Theo chuckled dryly. "Kai's a special case. I'm just here for the fun, not the commitment."

"I'm fine with that," Kai shot back. "It's your loss if you want to be so cold and emotionally unavailable." He took a sip of his drink, making it clear he was only half-joking.

Theo's attention flickered toward Lux, who had barely said anything since the letter was read aloud. Normally, Lux would be adding her two cents to the conversation, but today, she was strangely quiet. He hadn't missed the slight discomfort in her body language when the letter had come up.

"Lux?" he asked, breaking the uneasy silence. "What's on your mind? You've been awfully quiet."

Lux didn't respond immediately. She just kept her eyes on her phone, typing something with practiced speed. For a moment, Theo felt the unsettling pressure of her silence in the space between them. Then, she finally looked up, offering a small smile, too casual, too rehearsed.

"Oh, nothing. Just thinking about stuff," she said, her voice smooth and unaffected.

Theo narrowed his eyes, still sensing something was off. But he decided not to press it. He already had enough to think about—like the strange pull he felt toward the letter. Why did it keep coming back to him? And more importantly, what was it about the name Wren that felt so... familiar?

———

Later that Day...

Theo barely heard the ring signaling the end of lunch. He was too caught up in his thoughts. The words were haunting in his honesty. And the fact that it was meant for someone named Wren—someone he had never heard of before—felt too coincidental. As the group stood up to head back to their respective classes, he stuffed the letter back into his bag, deciding he'd deal with it later.

Walking out of the cafeteria, his friends scattered, going in different directions.

"Catch you later, Theo," Rule called, nudging his shoulder as he passed.

"Don't forget about the art club meeting after school," Pasha said, her voice teasing as she waved. "We'll all be waiting for you, princess."

Theo nodded absently. He had no intention of going to the meeting. The art club wasn't his scene anymore. He'd long ago grown bored of the pretentious critiques and recycled projects. These days, he only stayed in the art world because it was a way to escape, to express himself in a way words couldn't.

But today, he couldn't focus on that. Not when his mind was still tangled in the mystery of the letter and this elusive Wren.

Theo walked down the hallway, distracted. He had a million thoughts racing through his mind. Why does Wren feel important? Why the hell does that name keep coming back to me?

Then, as if to answer his silent question, he walked past a bulletin board in the hallway and saw a flyer for the upcoming school talent show. It was filled with the usual announcements: sign-ups for the event, a list of prizes, the typical pomp and circumstance. But what caught Theo's attention was the bottom of the flyer.

It listed the names of the event coordinators.

And right there, in black ink, was the name.

Wren Carson.

Theo froze.

For a moment, his heart skipped a beat.

Theo stood frozen for a moment in front of the talent show flyer, the words "Wren Carson" pulsing in his mind like a silent alarm. He blinked hard, as though the name might vanish if he looked away long enough, but it was there—clear as day, taunting him with its familiarity.

Wren. Carson.

The same name from the letter. But now, it wasn't just a name on a page. It was real, and it was attached to someone he could meet. Someone who, for reasons he couldn't explain, he suddenly had to know.

A part of Theo wanted to rip the flyer from the wall, to gather all the information he could, to ask anyone who knew anything about this person. But there was another part of him—more cautious—that stopped him. This wasn't his scene. It wasn't his fight.

But he couldn't shake the feeling that he was already tangled up in something that might be more than a coincidence. The letter had to mean something. And now, Wren's name appeared, neatly typed in bold letters.

And now, Theo had to figure out what to do about it.

Theo let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He needed to get through today, at least without doing anything rash.

———

Later That Afternoon...

The school day was dragging on. The minutes felt like hours as Theo tried to focus on his classes, but his thoughts kept slipping back to the same point—Wren.

The more he thought about it, the stranger it felt. He had a routine. He didn't get distracted. He wasn't the type to get lost in something he didn't fully understand. But there was something about the combination of the letter, the name, and now this talent show—it felt like a sign.

The final ring came thoughout the campus, signaling the end of the school day, Theo felt like he had lived an entire week in a matter of hours. He was exhausted, mentally and physically. But as he grabbed his bag and made his way out of the classroom, he spotted Pasha lingering near the door, talking to Rule and Kai.

Pasha waved at him when she saw him. "You coming to the art club meeting or not?" she asked, looking at him with one of her knowing glances.

Theo shook his head. "Not today. Too much to think about."

She raised an eyebrow. "Something on your mind, Mr. Artist?"

"You could say that," Theo muttered, glancing over his shoulder at Lux, who was just behind Pasha. Lux was still acting like everything was fine, but Theo could tell something was off. Her usual confidence seemed muted, like she was hiding something behind that calm exterior. He didn't push it; not yet. He had his own mess to sort through.

"I'll catch up with you later," Theo said, waving at the others.

📌ᖴᒪIᖇTIᑎG ᗯITᕼ ᖴᗩTE

That Evening...

Theo lay in bed later that night, the dim light from his desk lamp casting soft shadows across his room. He stared at the ceiling, replaying every moment of the day, every conversation, every glance.

Why did he care so much about that letter? Why was Wren's name now a constant echo in his head? He turned over on his side, grabbing his phone from the nightstand and scrolling through his messages. Nothing particularly urgent, just his usual banter with Kai, some memes from Rule, and random stuff from Pasha.

Then he saw the notification from Lux. She hadn't said anything since lunch, and now, she was texting him.

Lux: "We need to talk soon. There's something you need to know. About the letter. About Wren. Trust me, you won't want to miss it."

Theo froze. His thumb hovered over the reply button, but he hesitated. His first instinct was to laugh it off, to respond with some sarcastic comment. But something in Lux's message—something in the way she'd phrased it—made him pause.

There was more to this.

He quickly typed back.

Theo: "What's going on, Lux?"

A few moments passed before her reply came.

Lux: "I can't explain it all now, but trust me when I say it's more complicated than you think. Don't trust anyone but yourself right now."

Theo stared at the message, a cold shiver running down his spine. It felt cryptic, like a warning. Or maybe just Lux trying to cover up something she knew he wasn't ready for.

Theo leaned back against his pillow, running a hand through his hair. A part of him wanted to drop it, to ignore it, to carry on with his usual detached existence. But another part—the part that had been awakened by the mysterious letter—urged him to keep going, to get to the bottom of this before it consumed him.

He didn't know what it was yet, but Theo could feel it—something was drawing him to Wren. And the more Lux dodged, the more tangled up in this mess he felt.

———

The Next Day...

By the time the next school day rolled around, Theo had already spent half the night overthinking everything. Lux's strange message had eaten at him, and when he arrived at school, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

He had first-period art and he saw his teacher—Mr. Cartwright—already setting up for the lesson. As he was about to enter the classroom, he caught sight of the flyer plastered beside the door.

Theo's heart thudded against his ribs as he stared at the flyer. The name Wren Carson felt like a punch to the gut, sending a wave of unease through him that he couldn't shake. Now, he couldn't help it. His curiosity had been piqued, and against his better judgment, he ripped it brutally.

He knew it was just a name, but it wasn't. Not anymore. The mystery surrounding it, the letter, and the unmistakable pull he felt in his chest was unsettling. This Wren, whoever they were, had unexpectedly burrowed under his skin.

Theo crumpled the flyer in his fist. He tried to push away the gnawing curiosity, tried to focus on the mundane tasks ahead—homework, art projects, the usual distractions. But it was impossible to ignore the spark of something... different.

He was intrigued. He didn't like that feeling. It wasn't how he operated. He kept his distance from people, especially the ones who made him feel something. But right now, all he could think about was the mysterious person whose name was tied to the letter.

Wren Carson is real. And that meant this story isn't over yet.

———

Back to Class...

Theo barely remembered sitting through the next class. He wasn't sure if it was the boredom of the subject or the overwhelming thoughts of Wren that kept his attention drifting. He tried to concentrate on his sketchbook, but the usual flow of creativity just wasn't there today. The pencil in his hand felt foreign, and no matter how many strokes he made on the page, it all felt wrong.

A glance toward his phone screen confirmed the time, and he almost sighed in relief when the final ring came, signaling the end of the day. He needed some air. He needed to think.

His friends were already gathered near the exit of the school. As he walked toward them, he heard the familiar voice of Kai, who was smirking as he nudged Rule.

"Is Theo about to spend his whole night ignoring us again?" Kai joked, his tone light. "It feels like the floor is about to show the meaning of life down there."

Theo rolled his eyes. "No, I was just thinking about art," he said dryly. "You wouldn't understand."

"Sure," Rule quipped. "Art. Keep telling yourself that."

Theo pushed past them, his thoughts once again distracted by the flyer. Wren Davis. Why does that name matter?

"I'm heading to my place. You guys coming?" Theo asked, his voice flat but laced with an unspoken invitation for company.

Pasha looked at him with her signature teasing smile. "Yeah, I'm down. But don't try and ditch us again to go hook up with some guy, alright? We're all dying for some gossip from the king of casual flings."

Theo rolled his eyes again but couldn't stop the smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I can't make promises."

Lux gave a soft laugh, but her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. She had been acting a little strange all day, and Theo couldn't help but notice. She was the most closed off of all of them when it came to personal matters, but today there was something else. Something... guarded.

The group walked out of the school, the cool breeze cutting through the late afternoon warmth. Theo couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted, not just with him, but with all of them.

As they walked down the street, Theo's phone buzzed in his pocket. He took it out, hoping for a distraction from his spiraling thoughts. It was a message from Kai, who'd probably figured out his mood without even needing to ask.

Kai: "Hey, we know you've got a lot on your mind, but if you're gonna play the 'I'm too cool for friends' game again, at least make it interesting."

Theo chuckled, not bothering to reply. His phone buzzed again, this time from Rule.

Rule: "Don't pretend you're not dying to know what happens when you meet Wren. I can see it on your face."

Theo stopped mid-step, his heart skipping a beat.

"Just when I thought you guys couldn't be more annoying..." he muttered under his breath. But deep down, he couldn't help but be annoyed at himself for being caught. For feeling something when he'd sworn he wouldn't.

———

The Rest of the Day...

Theo eventually found himself in his bedroom, lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The room was silent except for the muffled sounds of his friends in the living room, but his mind was too loud. It was still racing.

The letter. Wren. The flyer. What was the point of all of this? Was he just caught up in some random coincidence, or was there something more at play here?

He could feel his curiosity pulling him in, like gravity, forcing him toward something he couldn't even define yet. He had the distinct sense that this was the beginning of something he didn't understand.

But that was the thing. He wanted to understand.

He picked up his phone and scrolled to his messages. He had a few messages from Kai, Rule, and even Pasha, asking if he was alright or if he wanted to join them later. He didn't respond. Not yet.

His eyes scanned over the photo album on his phone, landing on an old sketch of one of his past art pieces. He opened it, watching the pencil lines come to life, the emotion he'd poured into the piece coming back to him. This was his comfort zone. This was what he knew. Yet, in the midst of it all, the only thing that seemed to matter now was a name. A name that would soon come face-to-face with his own.

Wren.