Chapter three: The Mysterious Adrian

Leo wandered into the art wing after school, his camera slung over his shoulder. He didn't have a specific plan; he just wanted to find a quiet place to process the chaos of the day. The hushed hallways here felt like an escape from the bustling chaos of Westwood High.

He paused outside a classroom where muffled music leaked through the door—a haunting melody played on the piano. Intrigued, Leo pushed the door open slightly and peeked inside.

The art room was drenched in golden light from the setting sun. Canvases leaned against the walls, jars of paint and brushes cluttered every surface, and in the middle of it all sat a boy at the piano, his back to the door.

It was Adrian.

Leo recognized him immediately—the tall, brooding guy he'd run into the day before. He played with surprising grace, his long fingers dancing over the keys as the music filled the room. For a moment, Leo forgot where he was.

Then the music stopped.

"You planning to stand there all day, or are you going to say something?" Adrian's voice cut through the silence, smooth and slightly amused.

Leo stepped inside, embarrassed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."

Adrian turned on the bench, his green eyes sharp and assessing. A smirk tugged at his lips. "New kid again, huh? You've got a talent for popping up where you don't belong."

Leo frowned. "I wasn't trying to—"

"Relax," Adrian said, leaning back on his hands. "I don't bite. Much."

Leo crossed his arms, determined not to be thrown off by Adrian's teasing. "I didn't know you played piano."

"There's a lot you don't know about me," Adrian replied with a shrug. "And let's keep it that way, yeah?"

Leo narrowed his eyes. "Why are you so defensive?"

Adrian chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "Wow, the new kid's got guts. First, you try to befriend Ethan, and now you're psychoanalyzing me? Bold strategy."

Leo's annoyance flared. "I'm not 'trying' to befriend Ethan—I like him. Is that so hard for you and Kai to understand?"

Adrian tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "Kai doesn't like you."

"Yeah, I noticed," Leo muttered.

"But me?" Adrian continued, ignoring him. "I don't really care. People do what they want, make their own mistakes."

Leo frowned. "You think liking Ethan is a mistake?"

Adrian stood, stretching lazily. "Not my business." He started packing up his sketchbook and supplies, his movements unhurried.

Leo didn't know what possessed him to ask, but the words tumbled out before he could stop them. "Why do you hang out here alone? Don't you have friends or something?"

Adrian paused, then turned to him, an amused yet distant look on his face. "You've got a lot of questions for someone who doesn't even know my last name."

"Maybe I'm just curious," Leo shot back.

"Or maybe you should worry less about me and more about the storm you're walking into with Kai," Adrian said, grabbing his bag. He brushed past Leo toward the door, but stopped before leaving.

"By the way," Adrian added, glancing over his shoulder, "if you really want to survive Kai, you're going to need someone on your side. Someone like me."

Leo blinked. "Why would you want to help me?"

Adrian smirked. "Who said I want to help? This could just be entertaining for me."

And with that, he was gone, leaving Leo alone in the art room, the faint echo of piano keys still ringing in the air.

The next day, Leo spotted Adrian leaning against a tree near the parking lot, sketchbook in hand. He hesitated for a moment, then walked over.

"Adrian," he called.

Adrian didn't look up. "You're persistent, I'll give you that."

"Why did you say I need someone like you?" Leo asked, getting straight to the point.

Adrian closed his sketchbook and met Leo's gaze, his expression surprisingly serious. "Because Kai doesn't trust people. If you try to go through him, you'll crash and burn. But me? I'm the kind of guy who can distract him."

Leo frowned. "Distract him?"

Adrian's smirk returned. "Fake dating, new kid. It's a classic. You get a free shot at Ethan without Kai breathing down your neck, and I get…" He trailed off, tilting his head in mock thought. "Something fun to do for once."

Leo stared at him. "You're kidding."

"Dead serious," Adrian said. "Unless you'd rather keep going head-to-head with Kai. But from what I've seen, you're not winning that battle anytime soon."

It was ridiculous. Absurd, even. But the more Leo thought about it, the more sense it made.

"And what do you get out of this?" Leo asked, still wary.

Adrian shrugged. "I told you—I get to be entertained. Watching you fumble around trying to win Ethan is better than anything on TV."

Leo narrowed his eyes. "What's your deal with Kai, anyway? Why would he care if you're fake dating?"

Adrian's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before he covered it with a casual shrug. "Kai and I have… history. Let's just say it'll get under his skin."

Leo hesitated, his mind racing. This could work. Kai might back off if Adrian was in the picture, and Leo would have a real chance to get closer to Ethan.

"Fine," Leo said finally. "I'm in."

Adrian's grin widened. "Smart choice, new kid."

As Adrian walked away, Leo couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just made a deal with the devil.