Zane stood among the students gathered in the large lecture hall, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. The atmosphere was buzzing with energy as the special exchange students lined up for their introductions. His confidence had taken a hit ever since that guy showed up, but today was a new day. Just a minor setback, nothing more.
His gaze flickered to the side where Celeste, Lena, and Iris stood. They were all watching the special exchange students with varying degrees of interest. Then, as the first name was called, the introductions began.
A familiar figure in an oversized hoodie and glasses caught his eye. Zane’s breath hitched slightly. No way.
Celeste’s sharp intake of breath confirmed she saw it too. Even Lena blinked in surprise.
"What’s he doing here?" Celeste muttered, arms crossed.
Lena, ever the optimist, tilted her head. "Maybe he is also one of special exchange student ?"
Zane exhaled slowly. He wasn’t sure how he felt about this. But before he could dwell on it, the introductions started.
The first to introduce himself was Darius Vayne, a striking young man with sharp golden eyes and neatly styled dark brown hair. He had a composed air, his voice steady as he spoke. "Darius Vayne. Looking forward to studying here." Short, polite, and to the point.
Next was Emphera Calloway, a girl with wavy chestnut-brown hair that cascaded over her shoulders and eyes that shimmered with mischief. She wore a fitted blazer over her uniform, carrying herself with a natural elegance. Just as she finished her introduction, her gaze landed on Zane. And then—she winked.
Zane’s heart skipped a beat. ’What—?’
Celeste stiffened beside him, her eyes narrowing.
"Oh?" Emphera’s lips curled into a knowing smirk as she turned away, as if she hadn’t just dropped a bomb in the middle of the group.
’Wait, what was that?’ Zane’s mind raced, but before he could process further, the introductions continued.
She wasn’t particularly invested in the whole exchange program, but playing around with Celeste was always fun. They had known each other for years, their families moving in the same circles.
And she knew exactly how to push her buttons.
She glanced toward Celeste, who looked like she had just swallowed something sour.
Emphera barely held back a laugh before stepping back in line, watching as the rest introduced themselves.
Damien Holt followed next. A lean, dark-haired guy with a sharp, no-nonsense look, he adjusted his tie before simply saying, "Damien Holt." No extra words.
Then came Reed Alistair, taller than most, with messy auburn hair and a permanent relaxed expression. "Reed Alistair. Hope we all get along."
Gideon Crowe, with his short platinum-blond hair and gray eyes, merely gave a curt nod. "Gideon Crowe."
Orion Kane, standing confidently, ran a hand through his dark red hair and flashed an easy grin. "Orion Kane. Let’s make this year interesting."
The Hollow Twins, Ethan and Erin, stepped forward together. With matching raven-black hair and eerily similar expressions, they spoke in sync. "Ethan." "Erin." And that was it.
Finally, it was Franz’s turn.
He adjusted his glasses slightly, exhaling. Dressed in an oversized hoodie, hands tucked casually in his pockets, he didn’t seem particularly interested in standing out.
The instructor nodded, moving on.
As the students began finding seats, Zane found himself still watching Franz. He couldn’t shake the weird feeling of seeing him here. Of all places...
Orion Kane, standing beside Franz, gave him a once-over. "Man, you’re pretty tall," he commented casually.
Franz glanced at him. "You too."
Orion grinned. "Didn’t expect to see a guy taller then me here. Where are you from?"
Franz shrugged. "All over."
Orion chuckled. "Mysterious type, huh? You ever ride?" He gestured vaguely, as if referring to motorcycles.
Franz adjusted his glasses slightly. "Yeah."
"Figures. You’ve got that ’rides a heavy bike like it’s nothing’ vibe." Orion chuckled. "What are you on?"
"Honda CB1000R Black Edition."
Orion whistled. "Damn, you don’t mess around. That thing’s a beast—smooth, fast, but with enough bite to remind you who’s in control."
Franz gave a small nod. "Yeah. No unnecessary flash, just raw performance."
"Respect. I’m on a Yamaha MT-10. More aggressive, bit of a wild ride, but I like the chaos." Orion grinned. "Though I gotta admit, that CB1000R’s got a mean look, especially in black."
Franz shrugged. "Gets me where I need to be."
Orion let out a short laugh. "Man, that’s the most chill way to talk about a 1000cc machine."
Orion’s grin widened. "Alright, I like you."
Franz didn’t miss a beat. "I’m straight."
Orion blinked before bursting into laughter. "Don’t misunderstand me, brother. I also like girls—especially the ones with a strong body."
Franz smirked. "So you mean girls who can suplex you?"
Orion snapped his fingers. "Exactly. If she can throw me across the room, she’s the one."
Franz nodded solemnly. "Respect."
Orion clutched his chest dramatically. "Finally, someone who understands."
Franz gestured toward the seats. " Where are you sitting?"
Orion chuckled, shaking his head. "Guess I’m sitting with you."
Before they could continue, Lena turned toward Franz. "You should sit with us," she said, her voice warm as always. She wasn’t one to let someone sit alone, especially someone who had helped them before.
Franz barely blinked at the invitation. "Alright."
He gestured toward Orion. "Come on."
Emphera, who had been watching the whole thing, decided to tag along as well, sliding into a seat with them.
Celeste’s eyebrow twitched.
Zane, still trying to process what had just happened, sat with crossed arms, watching the whole dynamic unfold.
Lena, as always, welcomed everyone with a bright smile.
And with that, the first day of college truly began.