The sun had yet to fully rise when Vaelis slipped out of bed. A soft, golden glow peeked through her curtains, casting long shadows across the floor. She moved quietly, pulling on her uniform with practiced efficiency.

Her alarm hadn’t even rung yet, but mornings were easier when she didn’t have to endure the suffocating presence of her family.

Downstairs, she knew her parents would be at their pristine dining table, sipping coffee, discussing business as if she didn’t exist. If she lingered too long, they might acknowledge her presence—not out of concern, but to remind her how she never quite measured up.

She wouldn’t give them the chance.

Brushing out her long hair, she tied it into a loose ponytail and grabbed her bag. As she stepped outside, the family car was already waiting at the entrance.

The driver hesitated. "Miss, should I—"

"I'm taking the bus."

Before he could argue, she turned away and walked toward the main road.

In the bus, no one whispered about her failures. No one treated her like an inconvenience. She sank into a window seat, watching the city rush past in a blur of movement and color.

Seven months.

That was all she had to endure before she could leave and never look back.

---

The school hallways buzzed with hushed murmurs.

"Did you hear? Rowan Sinclair transferred here!"

"How? This school never takes mid-year transfers."

"His father must’ve pulled some strings."

Vaelis remained uninterested as she stepped into the classroom. She already knew this would happen—Rowan was always meant to arrive, though much later in the original timeline.

But this time, he had entered the stage early.

She didn’t care.

Setting her books down neatly, she focused on the notebook in front of her. Seven months. That was all that mattered.

Then, silence.

A shift in energy.

She lifted her gaze.

Rowan Sinclair stood beside her desk, hands in his pockets, dark eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Seat’s taken," he said, voice smooth, effortless.

Vaelis turned a page in her notebook before glancing at him. "Then find another one."

A murmur spread through the classroom like wildfire.

Rowan smirked. "You don’t hold back, do you?"

"I see no reason to."

Instead of moving, he leaned slightly closer, watching her with lazy curiosity.

"You’re different," he mused.

"You don’t know me," she replied.

"No." A pause. "But I want to."

Her grip on the pen tightened slightly.

In Eclipsed by Summer, Rowan was meant to be drawn to Serena’s warmth, to the light she so effortlessly exuded. He was never supposed to notice her.

This wasn’t part of the story.

Yet, as she turned away, she caught another pair of eyes on her.

From the far side of the classroom, where he sat with the same quiet presence he always carried, Adrian Voss watched the interaction unfold.

His face remained impassive, but something flickered in his gaze—subtle, unreadable.

Unlike Rowan, he didn’t try to demand attention. He simply observed.

For a moment, their eyes met.

And then, just as swiftly, Adrian averted his gaze, dismissing her as though she were nothing more than a passing shadow.

Before she could dwell on it, a chair scraped against the floor beside her.

Rowan, completely ignoring her unspoken protest, slid into the seat next to her, his movements effortless, his expression one of quiet amusement.

"You don’t seem thrilled," he noted, tilting his head as he leaned in slightly.

Vaelis exhaled, barely sparing him a glance. "Because I’m not."

A slow grin tugged at his lips. "Too bad. I like this spot."

"Then find another."

He let out a soft chuckle, resting his chin against his palm. "No fun."

Vaelis turned back to her book, patience already thinning. She had better things to do than entertain someone who wasn’t supposed to be part of her story.