chapter 2

Monday, September 7, 2026

10:40 a.m.

Las Vegas Elite Academy Cafeteria

I walked into the cafeteria with Maya.

The place was enormous. Hundreds of students were chatting, laughing, and eating around large tables.

The delicious smell of pizza and fries filled the air.

"Come on, there's an empty seat over there," Maya said, pointing to a table near the large windows.

We grabbed our lunch trays and sat down.

For the first time all day, I was finally beginning to relax.

Maybe the rest of the day would be better.

I had barely taken my first bite when an eerie silence spread through the cafeteria.

I looked up.

Noah had just walked in.

Just like that morning, every head turned toward him.

He strode confidently through the room, surrounded by several boys in school uniforms.

A few girls giggled as he passed.

"He's so handsome..."

"That's Noah Hale..."

"The captain of the basketball team..."

I immediately lowered my eyes to my plate.

The last thing I wanted was to meet his gaze.

"Don't look at him," Maya whispered.

Too late.

I felt someone stop behind me.

"So..."

His deep voice sent a chill down my spine.

"Still haven't understood my warning?"

I slowly turned around.

"I haven't done anything to deserve this."

A mocking smile spread across his face.

"You exist."

Before I could reply, he picked up my glass of orange juice.

Then, without the slightest hesitation, he slowly poured it all over my school uniform.

The cold juice soaked through my white shirt.

The entire cafeteria held its breath.

Then laughter erupted from every corner of the room.

I stood there, frozen.

Humiliated.

My eyes fixed on the floor.

Maya shot to her feet.

"Noah! You've gone too far!"

He merely shrugged.

"It was just an accident."

I clenched my fists.

This time...

I'd had enough.

I sprang to my feet.

Without thinking, I grabbed the glass of water sitting in front of him.

And emptied it over his head.

Silence fell instantly.

No one laughed anymore.

Water dripped from Noah's dark hair.

He didn't move.

His friends stared at him in complete shock.

Maya covered her mouth with one hand.

"Elina..."

I held Noah's gaze.

My heart was pounding wildly in my chest.

"Now we're even."

For several long seconds, no one dared to breathe.

Then Noah smiled.

A strange smile.

As if he had finally found someone worthy of challenging him.

"Interesting..."

He slowly wiped the water from his face.

"No one has dared to stand up to me in a very long time."

He stepped closer until only a few inches separated us.

"You've just made the biggest mistake of your life."

Our eyes remained locked.

Around us, the entire cafeteria watched the scene in stunned silence.

No one knew what would happen next.

And me...

I had just declared war on the most powerful boy at Las Vegas Elite Academy.