Chapter 11: Unexpected Encounters

Ariana's POV

Diego was nowhere to be found.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I scanned the school yard. I didn't know why I was even looking for him—maybe because he was the only one who felt real in all of this.

Alex, Mark, the rest of Class D... They were unpredictable. One second, they were acting like I was one of them, and the next, I felt like they were watching me too closely, waiting for something.

But Diego? He was different.

Or at least, I thought he was.

I walked past a group of students lounging under the trees, their laughter mixing with the rustling leaves. My eyes landed on the fountain near the center of the yard, where a girl stood, casually twirling a pen between her fingers.

She wasn't from my class—that much was obvious. Her uniform was crisp, her posture relaxed, but there was something about her presence that made it clear she wasn't just another background character in this school.

She noticed me watching and raised an eyebrow, a slow smirk forming on her lips.

"Well, well," she said, tilting her head. "If it isn't the infamous new girl from Class D."

I crossed my arms, unimpressed. "And you are?"

"Celeste Moreno. Class B." She looked me up and down like she was sizing me up. "You're causing quite the stir, you know."

I rolled my eyes. "Let me guess. Because of my last name?"

Celeste chuckled, twirling a strand of her dark brown hair around her finger. "That, and because you had the guts to punch a girl from Class A. Bold move."

I smirked. "She deserved it."

"No arguments here," she said, looking amused. Then, after a pause, she added, "But you should be careful. People like Alex and Mark don't just let someone into their circle for no reason."

I stiffened slightly but kept my expression neutral. "And you care because...?"

Celeste shrugged. "I don't. Just thought you should know that in this school, everything is a game. And right now? You're a player whether you realize it or not."

I studied her carefully. She wasn't warning me out of kindness. No, there was something else.

"Sounds like you have experience," I said.

Celeste's smirk didn't falter, but something flashed in her eyes—something sharp, unreadable. "Maybe."

Before I could respond, she glanced behind me. "Looks like you found who you were looking for."

I turned my head and spotted Diego leaning against a tree, watching me with that ever-present smirk.

Great. More things to think about.

Celeste gave me one last glance before walking away, her voice lingering in the air.

"Good luck, Ramirez. You're going to need it."