Serafina's POV

The third day of school started much like the others. I woke up early, got ready, and tried to calm the fluttering nerves in my stomach. My brothers had been teasing me at breakfast about surviving high school, and while their jokes annoyed me, they also gave me the smallest sense of normalcy.

As the car pulled up to the front of the school, Enzo glanced at me in the rearview mirror. "You good, Fina?"

"I'm fine," I said quickly, adjusting my bag on my shoulder.

"Text if you need us," Antonio added from the passenger seat.

I nodded and stepped out of the car, steeling myself for another day of navigating the chaos of high school.

The morning classes passed in a blur, my focus split between taking notes and trying to keep my head down. Mia and Ethan made everything easier, though. Their easygoing nature and constant chatter kept me grounded.

But it was lunchtime when things changed.

I was sitting at our usual table, munching on an apple, when Mia suddenly waved someone over. "Hey, Aiden! Over here!"

I looked up to see a boy approaching. He was tall, with messy blond hair that fell into his green eyes. His uniform tie was loosened, and his backpack was slung casually over one shoulder. He had a relaxed confidence about him, the kind of energy that drew people in.

"Hey, Mia," he said, grinning as he slid into the seat across from me. His voice was smooth, with a hint of playfulness.

"This is Serafina," Mia said, gesturing to me. "She's new. Fina, this is Aiden. We've been in the same classes since, like, elementary school."

"Nice to meet you," Aiden said, his smile warm as he extended a hand.

"Hi," I said softly, shaking his hand. His grip was firm but not overpowering, and for some reason, it made my cheeks feel warm.

"You're the new girl everyone's talking about," Aiden said, leaning back in his chair.

I frowned. "Everyone's talking about me?"

"Well, yeah," he said with a shrug. "New students are always the talk of the school, especially when they have a cool accent like yours."

I felt myself relax a little at his easy demeanor. "I didn't realize I had an accent."

"It's subtle," he said, smirking. "But it's there."

Ethan rolled his eyes. "Don't mind Aiden. He thinks he's charming, but he's really just annoying."

"Charming and annoying aren't mutually exclusive," Aiden shot back, winking.

Mia laughed, and even I couldn't help but smile.

As the day went on, I found myself running into Aiden more and more. We had two classes together, something I hadn't noticed before, and he made a point of sitting near me in both.

"So, where'd you move from?" he asked during history class.

"Italy," I said quietly, keeping my eyes on my notebook.

"That's cool," he said. "Bet it's way more exciting than here."

"Sometimes," I admitted.

He didn't press for more, and I appreciated that. Instead, he spent the rest of the class cracking jokes under his breath, some of which actually made me laugh.

After school, Mia, Ethan, and Aiden walked with me to the parking lot. Enzo's car was waiting, and as soon as I saw it, I felt a wave of relief.

"See you tomorrow, Fina!" Mia said, waving.

"Bye," I said, smiling at her and Ethan.

Aiden lingered for a moment longer. "See you around, Serafina," he said, his tone casual but his smile lingering.

"See you," I replied, feeling that strange warmth in my cheeks again.

As I climbed into the car, Enzo raised an eyebrow. "New friends?"

"Yeah," I said simply, not wanting to give him any ammunition for teasing.

That evening, as I sat at my desk doing homework, I couldn't stop thinking about Aiden. There was something about him—his easy smile, his laid-back attitude—that made me feel lighter. It was unfamiliar territory for me, and I wasn't sure what to make of it.

But for the first time in a long time, I didn't mind the idea of getting to know someone new.