CHAPTER SIX

HADES

I stormed out of the lounge, my fists still clenched, the anger burning hotter than ever. Hector’s words replayed in my head, over and over again, like a broken record. Every mocking syllable. Every piece of humiliation he had thrown my way. And all in front of the whole damn school. My heart was racing, my skin crawling with the sting of embarrassment. I had never felt more out of place than I did in that moment.

It wasn’t like I cared what people thought, but Hector was different. He was the type who liked to grind people down, and I wasn’t used to being on the receiving end. The last thing I needed was his attention, especially not in front of the whole damn lounge. The last thing I wanted was for everyone to see me as the new kid they could walk all over.

I shoved through the hallways, barely registering the looks of students as they parted for me. I had to get out. Had to find some space to breathe before I did something stupid.

The gardens were the perfect escape. I wasn’t sure why, but something about the serenity of it helped me center myself. It was quiet, peaceful, a far cry from the chaotic halls of Rockwell Academy. The manicured hedges and blooming flowers seemed to mock me, the picture-perfect image of a world I didn’t belong to.

I walked aimlessly for a few moments, the sound of my footsteps muffled by the soft grass beneath my shoes. The air was fresh, a little cool, but it did nothing to calm the fire inside me. I needed to vent, to let it out before I completely lost control.

And then I saw him.

A guy was sitting on a stone bench tucked away in the corner of the garden. He had a cigarette between his lips, the smoke swirling lazily in the air around him. His eyes were hidden behind dark sunglasses, but his posture was relaxed, like he didn’t give a damn about anything.

I stopped in my tracks for a moment, watching him. He didn’t fit the Rockwell mold—not in the slightest. His clothes were simple, unassuming, and his whole vibe screamed the exact opposite of everything that this place stood for.

“Hey,” I said, my voice rough from the tension still coiled in my chest. “Got a light?”

The guy didn’t look up at first, but when he finally did, he gave me a slow, almost bored look. He flicked the cigarette in his hand and pulled out a lighter, offering it to me. “You’re not one of those goody-two-shoes types, huh?”

I took the lighter and lit the cigarette he had offered. “I’m not here to play by anyone’s rules.” I inhaled deeply, letting the smoke fill my lungs before exhaling with a satisfied breath. It was the first time since I had walked into the school that I felt something resembling ease. “So, what’s your deal?”

The guy smirked. “Name’s Marcus. Just trying to survive this place like everyone else. And you?”

“Hades,” I said, my voice flat. “And yeah, I’m just trying to make it through without losing my mind.”

Marcus chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah, well, good luck with that. This place? It’s full of a bunch of pretentious assholes.”

“Tell me about it.” I ran a hand through my hair, the heat still building in my chest. “Some guy named Hector already decided he was gonna put me in my place. In front of everyone.”

“Oh, Hector,” Marcus said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “The school’s golden boy. Probably thinks he owns the place. He’s not the worst, though. But yeah, he’ll definitely try to make your life miserable if you let him.”

I took another drag of the cigarette, trying to ignore the tension in my shoulders. “I’m not planning on letting him get to me. Just... don’t like being humiliated in front of a bunch of strangers.”

Marcus took another long drag from his own cigarette, leaning back into the stone bench like he couldn’t care less about anything. “Yeah, well, welcome to Rockwell, man. Everyone here thinks they’re the next big thing. The only thing they respect is power. You either play the game or get run over.”

I blew out a steady stream of smoke. “Doesn’t sound like my kind of place.”

“It’s not.” Marcus shrugged, then grinned. “But we survive. Some of us do it by keeping our heads down. Others? Well, they just flip everyone off and do their own thing.”

I snorted. “Guess I’ll figure out which side I’m on.”

There was a moment of silence as we both sat there, the quiet of the garden settling over us. It was strange—this guy, Marcus, had somehow made the whole situation feel less suffocating. At least for a second. We didn’t have to play the game, and that was a relief.

But then, just as I was starting to feel like I could actually relax, I caught sight of someone.

Lara. And Gianna.

They were walking through the garden, a little ways off in the distance, laughing about something. Lara’s green eyes caught mine, and for the briefest of moments, I felt something shift. Her smile was like a slap in the face—unexpected and disarming.

I didn’t want to look too long, but I couldn’t seem to tear my eyes away. Gianna was beside her, looking as sharp and confident as ever, but Lara was the one who caught my attention. She was different. Genuine, maybe.

I didn’t belong here. I didn’t belong in this world of wealth and privilege, and I definitely didn’t belong around people like Hector. But for some reason, seeing Lara out there made me feel like maybe, just maybe, I didn’t need to completely shut myself off from everyone.

“Looks like you’ve got an audience,” Marcus said, noticing my gaze. “Those two?”

I didn’t answer immediately, trying to play it off like it didn’t matter. But it did. There was something about Lara. She wasn’t like the others.

“They’re friends,” I muttered, before taking one last drag from the cigarette and flicking it to the ground.

“Hmm.” Marcus raised an eyebrow, clearly picking up on something in my tone. “Well, if you’re gonna stick around here, you’ll need to get used to people looking at you like you’re some kind of puzzle. Especially her. She’s not like the rest of ‘em.”

I nodded slowly, my eyes still fixed on Lara, even though I was trying to pretend I wasn’t. “I don’t know if I want to get used to it.”

But the truth was, I wasn’t sure anymore.