“Hey, Watch it!”

Selena’s bag fell off as she stumbled back, gasping in shock.

The bus driver honked violently as he drove past, clearly annoyed.

“You better watch where you're going, weirdo," someone said as they walked past her.

She unplugged her earphones quickly, stunned. “I'm so sorry."

A lazy sigh escaped her lips as she plugged them back in and crossed the road.

She wasn't listening to music but she had simply discovered that people were less likely to bother her when they thought she couldn't hear them.

It worked most of the time but unfortunately, today wasn't one of those days.

They clustered together, whispering among themselves as she hurried past them.

“That’s the weird girl.”

"Does she even have any friends?"

“She’s always so quiet?”

Those were the usual comments she expected but no one was talking about her.

Her steps slowed. She stopped and listened to what they were actually saying.

"No one saw the truck that hit her.”

"I heard she died immediately from the impact .”

"It was such a terrible accident.”

Different questions raced in her head but she couldn't ask anyone.

She clung to the strap of her school bag and walked forward before she bumped into anyone.

"Selena!”

She turned to see Elena rushing towards her. Elena threw her arms around her shoulder, smiling like she had won a lottery.

"There you are, we've been looking all over the place for you.” She beamed.

Gently pushing her off, Selena glanced at Jessie who was right behind her. "Why is she so excited today?”

"Why is everyone so.. excited?”

Jessie's eyes widened dramatically. “You haven't heard?"

Selena shook her head. “Heard what?"

Elena rolled her eyes, unimpressed. “Mrs Simone kicked the bucket last night."

Jessie elbowed her in her stomach. Elena coughed. “She’s dead Elena. She died even before they got to her hospital ."

Selena’s expression shifted immediately. Mrs Simone had an accident?

" Who's going to take us history then?!” Her voice came out louder than expected.

Elena and Jessie exchanged looks before grabbing her arms and pulling her to the corner.

"Bestie please. Can you not worry, history can wait.” Elena said, persuasively. Of course, she hated the subject anyway.

Before she could respond, the loud ringing of the assembly bell echoed through the hallway.

“Come on." Jessie grabbed her arm again. “We don't want to be late for the assembly."

They hurried to the auditorium but it was packed out before they even got there.

Jessie groaned disappointedly. “We never make it on time."

Selena patted her shoulder lightly. “At least we get a seat." She pointed at the empty chair by the corner and they went to sit.

The principal stood on the stage with his usual stern expression, patiently waiting until the noise died down.

“Good morning, students."

"Good morning sir.” hundreds of voices replied, loudly.

“I have an announcement to make." The principal continued.

The hall fell into silence as they all waited eagerly for what he would say.

“As many of you may already know, we lost one of our teachers last night. Mrs Simone, as you all know her,was involved in an unfortunate accident yesterday."

A wave of whispers spread across the hall before the principal cleared his throat.

He stepped away from the podium and adjusted his tie. "She will be forever remembered as one of the best teachers we had ."

Selena lowered her head sadly. She was her favorite teacher.

“I ask that you remember her in your prayers.” He went on.

They were ready to leave but he wasn't done talking.

“In the meantime, the school board has arranged for another history teacher to take over her classes."

Elena crossed her arms, annoyed. “Damn it."

"He has recently transferred to our institution and I expect every student to treat him with respect and cooperate with him.” He paused, looking around. "That will be all. You may go to your classes.”

The hall cleared almost immediately.

As they walked to their class, Selena couldn’t stop but notice Elena still frowning.

“Come on Elena, maybe the new history teacher won't be that bad. He’ll make you love history.” She tried to cheer her up but her expression didn't change.

Jessie sighed and entered the classroom, uninterested in her drama.

They took the empty seats in the back row.

The classroom buzzed with excitement as students gathered in small groups, whispering and throwing guesses around.

"I heard he's really strict."

"My cousin from Eastview said he's young."

"Maybe he's old and bald."

"Nah. I heard he's handsome."

Elena rested her chin on her palm dramatically.

"I don't care if he's strict. As long as he doesn't give assignments every week, we're good."

Jessie snorted. "You only care about passing without reading."

"I call it surviving."

Selena shook her head, trying not to smile.

Before she could tease her, the chatter around the classroom slowly died down.

Footsteps echoed through the hallway before stopping right outside their classroom door.

Everyone instinctively turned to look.

The door opened and a man walked in.

He was tall, easily over six feet, dressed in a perfectly fitted black shirt with the sleeves folded neatly to his forearms. A dark grey coat rested over his shoulders, giving him an effortlessly elegant appearance.

His jet-black hair was neatly combed back, exposing sharp features that looked almost unreal.

His jawline was perfectly carved. His skin was pale.

But it was his crimson eyes that caught Selena’s attention.

They were unlike anything she had ever seen.

For some strange reason, she couldn't look away.

It felt as though those eyes could see right through her.

The room fell completely silent.

Even Elena stopped talking.

The man walked calmly to the teacher's desk before placing a brown file on it.

He looked around the classroom once, his expression unreadable.

"Good morning class."

His voice was deep, calm and carried an authority that instantly demanded attention.

They all stood up to greet him. "Good morning, sir."

"My name is Draven."

He picked up a piece of chalk and wrote his name neatly on the board.

MR. lucian DRAVEN.

"I'll be your new history teacher from today onwards."

Selena found herself staring again. There was something oddly familiar about him, she felt a strange pull towards him as if she knew him for centuries.

Like she had seen him before...

But where?

Elena leaned towards her, keeping her voice low enough that only she could hear.

"If all history teachers looked like this, I'd become the best history student in the country."

Selena bit her lower lip to stop herself from laughing. "I thought you hated history."

"I still do," she whispered back with a grin. "But I don't think I'd hate looking at him."

A laugh escaped Selena’s lips before she could stop it but Elena wasn't wrong. Her stomach tightened at how silly the thought was.

“Damn” he’s hot as hell,” Jessie whispered still staring at Mr lucian

She looked at lucian once again, really looked. Her cheeks burned bright red watching him speak, the way he spoke with effortless confidence like he'd done it a thousand times before.

Elena caught the smile before Selena could hide it. "Are you blushing?”

The smile faded immediately, Selena chuckled, embarrassed by the fact.

The classroom became painfully quiet.

She froze.

"Miss." The deep voice sent chills down her spine.

Slowly, she raised her head.

Those crimson eyes were fixed on her.

Her heart skipped a beat.

"You."

She looked around instinctively before realizing everyone else was looking at her.

"M-Me?"

"Stand." He said.

She swallowed nervously before getting to her feet.

Her palms suddenly felt sweaty.

He folded his arms behind his back.

"Would you mind telling the rest of the class what was so amusing?"

Every pair of eyes in the room landed on her.

Even Elena looked guilty.

She cleared her throat. "N-No, sir."

"I'm sorry." She added.

He didn't say anything immediately. He simply looked at her for a long moment.

His crimson eyes searched hers as though he was trying to remember something.

Or someone.

She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

Had they... met before?

"See me after class." He spoke, finally.

A gasp escaped her lips before she could stop it.

"...Yes, sir."

She sat down slowly, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Elena leaned closer and whispered, "I'm so sorry."

She should have been scared.

Any normal student would have been.

But strangely the thought of being alone with Mr. lucian Draven didn't frighten her.

If anything, it made her excited.