Loving Recklessly

Lily's pov

The morning was dragging.

I was sitting in the back of History class, chatting with Charlotte and a couple of the other girls. We were all making plans for the weekend, nothing too exciting, just the usual: shopping, brunch at that new cafe, maybe a few cocktails later. The kind of plans that made life at Highvale feel like a constant stream of luxury and privilege.

"Do you think Cornel will ask you to prom this year?" Charlotte asked me, tossing her hair over her shoulder, looking the way she always does flawlessly put together, like she just walked out of a fashion magazine.

I rolled my eyes. "Ugh, I hope not. He's cute, but it's the same thing every year. He'll ask, I'll say yes, and we'll do the whole 'couple thing' for a month and then part ways. I need someone with a little more depth this time."

Charlotte snorted, clearly amused by my dramatic tone. "Depth? What are you, in a documentary? He's hot, Lily. That's all that matters."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Not for me. I need a guy who can hold a conversation without quoting his father's business empire."

Just as Charlotte was about to respond, the door to the classroom opened with a sharp squeak, cutting through our conversation. I turned to see Mr. Harris, our history teacher, walk in with a guy I'd never seen before.

Everyone's eyes shifted towards him, and I felt that familiar wave of judgment that only a place like Highvale could create. The whispers started immediately. Who was he? Why was he here?

"Class, we have a new student today," Mr. Harris announced, his voice overly bright. "This is Colony Reyes. He'll be joining us for the semester."

Colony Reyes.

The name sounded as out of place as he did. He wasn't dressed in the typical Highvale uniform, the pressed slacks, the tailored blazers, the perfectly styled hair. No, Colony was wearing dark jeans and a faded jacket, his black hair tousled in that effortless way that always seemed to scream "I don't care" to the world. And that was exactly what annoyed me. People like him didn't get to walk into my world and look completely uninterested in fitting in.

Mr. Harris beamed, clearly proud of the fact that he was offering this "scholarship student" a spot in our elite class. Scholarship student. I couldn't help but think how strange it was. Highvale didn't give scholarships. You either had the money, or you didn't. Period. It wasn't a charity case, not like the public schools or lesser universities. But there he was, standing at the front of the room with that quiet confidence.

Colony didn't smile. He didn't even look nervous, like most new students. He just stared back at us, those sharp eyes scanning the room with a level of cool indifference that only someone used to being an outsider could manage.

I flicked my gaze to Charlotte, who was already eyeing him like he was some kind of mystery worth solving. "What's his deal?" I whispered, leaning closer to her.

Charlotte shrugged, but she was already intrigued. "I don't know. He looks... different, doesn't he?"

I could feel the irritation building in my chest. He didn't belong here. He wasn't like us. My world..our world was about exclusivity, about being the best, and he was nothing but a reminder of how the rules didn't apply to everyone.

Mr. Harris gestured for Colony to take a seat. Of course, there was an empty one in the back, and my eyes followed him as he made his way toward it, not even bothering to look for approval from anyone. It was as though he was completely unaffected by the silent judgment already swirling around him.

I immediately felt a spark of annoyance.

He was sitting in the back. Perfect because that was where all the outcasts went, where people who didn't care about fitting in would choose to be. And I hated it. I hated that he didn't care, that he was so... effortlessly cool.

"So, Colony," Mr. Harris said, "feel free to join in whenever you'd like. This is a history class, but we value contributions from everyone, no matter where you're coming from."

Colony didn't respond at first. He just nodded and sat down, leaning back in his chair like he owned the place. I could tell some of the other students were already staring at him, curious, eager to see what kind of person would walk in here and turn the perfect world of Highvale upside down.

I turned away from him, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of knowing I was bothered. But the thing was, I was bothered.

The lesson started, but I could feel him there, like a constant presence. And then, it happened.

Mr. Harris asked a question about the Industrial Revolution, something simple, something everyone in this class should have known by heart. But Colony was the one who answered.

And not just a simple answer. He went into details, explaining the economic shifts and the social impact in ways that made the rest of the class look like they'd been napping during every lecture. I stared, my mind racing, my fingers gripping the edge of my notebook so hard I could feel the paper dig into my skin.

He was smart. And he was making everyone else look like idiots.

I couldn't let that happen. Not in front of me.

I raised my hand.

Mr. Harris nodded toward me. "Yes, Lily?"

"Actually, Colony," I said, my voice dripping with the kind of icy sarcasm I knew would get attention, "you're missing a key point. While the Industrial Revolution was great for some, it was a disaster for others. If you really understood that, you'd know the working class suffered terribly. You didn't mention the child labor, the dangerous working conditions... But of course, I guess that's not something you would understand."

The moment the words left my lips, I knew I'd crossed a line. But I didn't care.

Colony turned toward me, his expression still unreadable, his eyes colder than I expected. And then, without missing a beat, he replied, "You're right, Lily. I didn't mention it. But maybe that's because, unlike you, I actually want to talk about the real history. Not the version that's wrapped up in a pretty bow just to make people feel comfortable."

The class went silent.

And for the first time in my life, I realized I had just been schooled in front of everyone.

I felt heat rising in my cheeks, but I refused to look away. I wasn't going to let him have this victory. Not here. Not now.

But Colony didn't seem interested in winning or losing. He just stared at me for a moment, a small, knowing smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, before turning his attention back to Mr. Harris.

I hated him. But why did it feel like he hated me right back?