Chapter 1: Late, Lost… and Already Hated
Merlina’s POV
Belford College hit me like caffeine on an empty stomach...loud, chaotic, and a little bit bitter.
Too many voices, too many footsteps. The polished floors made every sound sharper. I caught a whiff of something sweet, maybe chocolate or cinnamon from the bakery stand, but it didn’t calm me. It made everything feel heavier.
It felt like the perfect storm of new beginnings and nerves, like the hallway was slowly closing in on me, and I was the main character in a panic attack.
Walking in, I might as well have had a neon sign flashing late and uninvited.
Thanks to my dad for making me show up last minute. Like he ever wanted me here in the first place.
I tried to ignore the whispers and the stares as I found a seat in the classroom.
But then she walked in... a blonde with an ice-cold stare strutted in like she owned the place, eyes immediately locking onto mine.
"Hey, newbie. You’re in my seat. Move it." Her voice sliced through the quiet, commanding attention like she was a queen with no crown.
2
I froze, caught off guard by her abruptness. I had barely set my bag down when my roommate, Megan leaned back in her chair with a playful smirk, grabbing my hand with a firm tug.