The First Shift

Rosewood Academy, Day Two

---

The morning felt lighter than it should have.

Ariella Kane sat at the edge of her bed, brushing her long dark hair in slow strokes. Her phone buzzed again and again with messages.

Melody [7:04 AM]:

 You okay? You’re being weird lately.

Melody [7:11 AM]:

Want me to wait at the gate?

Melody [7:30 AM]:

Ari??

Ariella didn’t reply.

She knew this was Melody’s panic disguised as concern. In their old life, Melody had controlled who she spoke to, where she sat, even how she reacted. Ariella had mistaken that for friendship.

Not anymore.

---

7:50 AM. School Gates.

Ariella stepped out of the car on her own this time, thanking the driver with a nod.

Students were already forming their usual cliques around the courtyard. Melody stood near the gate, eyes darting, clearly searching for her.

Ariella walked past without stopping.

Melody’s voice followed. “Ariella!”

She turned slowly, offering a polite smile. “Morning.”

Melody caught up, walking beside her, lower lip slightly pouty. “You didn’t reply to my texts.”

“I didn’t feel like texting last night,” Ariella said simply. “I needed space.”

Melody blinked. “Space from me?”

Ariella tilted her head. “We spend all day together, don’t we? I just needed to think.”

Melody laughed, but it was off. “You’re being dramatic. Is this about yesterday? Because I get it—you’re just trying something new.”

Ariella gave her a soft look. “Right. New.”

She walked into the school building without another word, leaving Melody standing in the sunlight, eyes wide and unreadable.

---

First Class: History.

Ariella sat with Tasha again.

The other girl gave her a small smile. “I thought maybe yesterday was a one-time thing.”

Ariella chuckled. “It wasn’t.”

Tasha seemed unsure for a moment, then nodded. “Okay.”

As class began, the teacher launched into a lecture about ancient empires. Ariella opened her notebook and started taking notes seriously this time.

Before, she’d just whispered with Melody or checked her lipstick in a compact mirror.

Now, she paid attention.

Tasha glanced over and smiled a little.

---

Break Time. School Café.

Ariella entered the café, already sensing eyes on her. She used to love the attention. Today, she kept her head high but her steps calm.

She ordered an iced matcha and found a small table away from the main crowd.

Melody sat with Cassie Vaughn now—an odd match. In her past life, they’d only tolerated each other. But without Ariella by Melody’s side, things were shifting quickly.

Cassie’s laugh rang out across the café. Melody joined in, too loud and too fake.

Ariella sipped her drink and looked away.

She didn’t need to play their game anymore.

---

Across the room, Luca Grey sat near the window, alone as always, typing on his laptop.

Jace Carter dropped into the seat across from him, saying something with a grin. Luca barely responded, just shook his head and kept typing.

Ariella studied them both quietly.

In her past life, she had never spoken to Jace, barely noticed him. He was just the “funny guy” who hung around Luca. But now she could see how loyal he was—even when Luca didn’t ask for it.

Luca looked up from his screen.

Their eyes met again.

Ariella didn’t look away.

This time, neither did he.

---

Science Lab – Group Assignment

The teacher clapped her hands. “Today, we’ll do a short experiment. You’ll be working in pairs.”

Ariella braced herself.

In the past, Melody would have grabbed her arm and said, “We’re together, obviously.”

Now, Melody looked hesitant. She didn’t move.

Tasha was about to ask, but the teacher beat her to it.

“Ariella and Luca. You two will work together.”

Ariella blinked.

Luca looked up from his desk, clearly surprised too.

She walked over to the table beside him. “Hi.”

He gave a small nod. “Hey.”

They started the experiment in silence. Mixing liquids, measuring heat, recording reactions.

Ariella focused on the instructions.

Luca watched her.

“You’re different,” he said suddenly.

She glanced at him. “You don’t talk much, do you?”

“You changed overnight.”

Ariella smiled. “Maybe I just woke up.”

Luca looked down at the beaker in his hand. “People don’t change that fast.”

“Maybe they do when they’ve been blind for too long.”

He didn’t answer right away. Then he said, “You used to sit with Melody every day. Now you avoid her.”

Ariella set down her pen. “Do you always watch people this closely?”

Luca’s eyes met hers—icy blue, steady. “Only the ones who change.”

A strange silence fell between them.

Not awkward.

Just… curious.

---

After School – Front Steps

Tasha waited near the school exit, unsure if she should say goodbye.

Ariella walked up beside her and smiled. “Want to meet before class tomorrow? We can study a bit.”

Tasha blinked. “Really?”

“Sure. Bring your notes.”

Tasha smiled wide for the first time. “Okay!”

Ariella turned, walking to her car, heart light.

This time, she wasn’t going to be alone.

---

Meanwhile, Behind the School Building…

Cassie slammed her locker shut.

“She’s ignoring you?” she asked Melody, wide-eyed and dramatic.

Melody crossed her arms. “She’s acting strange. It’s like she doesn’t care anymore.”

Cassie smirked. “Well, good for us. If she’s losing it, we’ll rise.”

Melody bit her lip. “It’s not that simple. She’s being smart. Choosing different friends. Staying quiet. She knows something.”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “You sound paranoid.”

Melody didn’t answer. Her eyes narrowed, watching Ariella laugh softly with Tasha in the distance.

Something was wrong.

She could feel it.

---

Evening – Ariella’s Bedroom

Ariella lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

So far, she had…

✔ Avoided Melody’s grip

✔ Reached out to Tasha

✔ Connected—just a little—with Luca

It wasn’t much.

But it was enough for now.

Her phone buzzed again.

This time, it was from a new number.

Unknown [

8:23 PM]:

> Be careful who you trust. Some things don’t change, even if you do.

Ariella froze.

The smile faded from her face.

She didn’t recognize the number. She didn’t reply.

But deep down, she knew…

The game had already started.