Shadow Orb

The early morning sun crept through the thin curtains of Alex's small bedroom, gently stirring him awake. He stretched his arms, feeling the cool air of the morning on his skin. With a groggy sigh, he slipped out of bed and headed for the bathroom.

Standing before the mirror, Alex squinted at his reflection. His messy black hair was all over the place, but as he ran his fingers through it, smoothing it down, a grin tugged at the corner of his lips. "Not bad, Alex. Not bad at all," he murmured, admiring his sharp jawline and deep green eyes. He struck a pose and gave himself a wink. "If only everyone else could appreciate this level of perfection."

"Alex! Stop staring at yourself and get ready for school!" His grandmother's voice broke through his self-admiration.

Startled, he chuckled. "Alright, alright, I'm coming." He grabbed his backpack, stuffed his lunch into it, and hurried out the door. He jogged down the narrow staircase, catching sight of his grandmother shaking her head in amusement as he passed her by.

The cool morning breeze hit his face as he stepped out onto the street. It was the start of another ordinary day, but Alex's mind was already elsewhere. As he walked toward school, thoughts of his crush, Sarah, lingered at the forefront of his mind. She was part of the "rich kids" crowd a world Alex could barely glimpse from his place on the outskirts.

And there she was, walking on the opposite side of the street, laughing with her friends. Her golden hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her confident stride made her stand out in any crowd. She didn't know he existed, but Alex's heart raced every time he saw her. He paused, pretending to adjust his bag, stealing one more glance.

"One day," Alex whispered to himself. "One day, you'll notice me."

For now, though, he kept his head down and continued toward school, blending into the background like he always did, even though his heart longed for something more both in life and with Sarah.

As Alex walked, his mind wandered to Sarah again. This time, he wasn't going to just stare from afar. He decided today would be different. He could at least say "hi," right?

Gathering every bit of courage he had, Alex took a deep breath and crossed the street toward her. She was only a few steps away, chatting with her friends. His heart pounded louder with each step.

"Hey, Sarah..." he began, but before he could finish, the screeching sound of tires tore through the air. A sleek, black sports car pulled up right in front of the school gates, its engine purring like a predator. Alex froze mid-sentence, knowing exactly who it was.

Aristotle.

The son of the wealthiest family in the city. He wasn't just a rich kid he was the rich kid. Everyone knew his name, not just because of his wealth but because of his looks, charm, and the way people naturally gravitated toward him. The car door opened, and Aristotle stepped out, casually tossing the keys to a waiting valet like he owned the whole street.

Without hesitation, Sarah's attention shifted. Her eyes lit up as soon as she saw him. She didn't even look at Alex as she rushed over to Aristotle's side, a bright smile on her face. Alex could only watch as she left him standing there, completely forgotten.

"Hey, Ari!" Sarah called out, her voice full of excitement as she reached his side. Aristotle flashed her one of his signature grins and draped an arm around her shoulders like they were the perfect match, drawing even more envious looks from the students around them.

Alex stood there, feeling invisible once again, his half-formed greeting dying on his lips. He stared at the ground for a moment, his chest tight. One day, he told himself. One day, things would be different. But for now, he was just a face in the crowd, watching as the world moved on without him.

Everyone filed into their respective classes as the morning bell echoed through the hallways. Students chattered, the sound of chairs scraping against the floor as they got ready for the day. Alex walked in quietly, slipping into his usual seat near the back corner. He was just one more student in the sea of faces.

Of course, Aristotle and Sarah were in the same class, too. Alex tried not to think about it too much, but it was hard when Aristotle strutted in like he owned the place, with Sarah still at his side. They sat a few rows ahead, surrounded by a group of friends laughing, joking, their world seemingly perfect.

Alex kept his head down, opening his notebook, pretending to focus on the blank page in front of him. It felt like he was stuck in the same routine every day: invisible and unimportant compared to the world of the "rich kids."

As the clock ticked, the class buzzed with conversation, everyone waiting for the teacher to arrive. But suddenly, something strange happened. A gust of wind blew through the room. The windows weren't open, yet the wind was strong enough to rustle papers, sending a few flying off desks. It swirled through the classroom, eerie and out of place, making the students glance around in confusion.

Alex felt a strange chill crawl down his spine. He looked up, eyes scanning the room. The wind carried an unnatural edge to it, as if something or someone had caused it. For a split second, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

The others noticed it too. Even Aristotle and Sarah stopped their conversation, looking around uneasily. The chatter died down, replaced by silence. Everyone was waiting for an explanation, but none came.

The gust died as quickly as it had appeared, leaving an unsettling stillness in its wake. Alex clenched his fists under his desk, feeling like this was more than just a random breeze. Something strange was happening and he could sense it.