The empty classroom felt like another world quiet, dusty, and far removed from the noisy hallways filled with students rushing to leave for the day. The late afternoon sunlight streamed through the high windows, casting long golden shadows across the wooden desks and the faded blackboard. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure it could be heard from outside as I quietly closed the door behind me.

I shouldn’t be here.

I had ignored Lucian for days. I had pushed him away, deleted his texts, and walked past him in the hallways like he was a stranger. But when I found his handwritten note in my locker Please. Just...