ECOHES OF SILENCE

Echoes of past

Xavier POV

                                                                                                                                                                                               Next Day 

Xavier Martinez, Crestwood's golden boy, was lounging against his locker, chatting with his friends. With his tousled dark hair, stormy grey eyes, and confident demeanor, he exuded an effortless charm that made him the center of attention. As Irene walked by, his gaze followed her, curiosity piqued by the new arrival.

"Hey, who's that?" Xavier asked, nodding in Irene's direction.

"That's Irene Anderson," one of his friends replied, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "You know, the girl whose dad is in prison for murdering her mom."

His's expression hardened. "Really? What's she doing here?"

"No idea. But I heard her family's still loaded. Guess money can buy you a place anywhere."

He frowned, feeling a surge of annoyance. He had little patience for drama, and the thought of someone With such a scandalous background, intruding into his world was unwelcome. "Great, just what we need—more gossip fodder."

The bell rang, signaling the start of class, and Xavier pushed off from his locker, still casting a skeptical glance in Irene's direction. He entered the classroom and took his usual seat near the front, trying to push thoughts of the new girl from his mind.

Later that day, during lunch, Xavier was sitting with his usual group of friends when he saw Irene walk into the cafeteria. She looked around uncertainly, clutching her tray as if it were a lifeline. Anna Reed, ever the friendly soul, waved her over.

"Hey Come sit with us!" Anna called out, making space at the table.

Xavier watched as Irene approached, feeling a pang of irritation. He couldn't understand why Anna was so quick to befriend her. "You know, Anna, not everyone needs to be saved.," he muttered under his breath.

Anna shot him a reproachful look. "Be nice, Xavier. She's new and probably feeling out of place."

Irene sat down, offering a shy smile. "Thanks, Anna."

"No problem! These are my friends: Xavier, Daniel, Emily, and Jake," Anna said, introducing the group.

Xavier nodded curtly, barely glancing up from his meal. "Hi," he said, his tone indifferent.

She felt a chill from his lack of warmth, but she tried to ignore it. "Nice to meet you all," she said, her voice steady despite the tension.

As the conversation flowed around her, Irene focused on eating, feeling acutely aware of Xavier's disinterest. She knew her presence stirred up memories of the scandal, but she was determined not to let it affect her.

After lunch, She headed to the library to continue her research on her mother's case. She found a secluded spot and opened the thick folder of documents. Her heart ached as she read through the police reports and witness statements, each word a reminder of the tragedy that had upended her life.

She was so engrossed in her reading that she didn't notice Xavier approaching until he was right beside her. "Hey," he said, startling her.

She looked up, meeting his Grey eyes. "Hi," she replied warily, unsure of his intentions.

"What are you working on?" he asked, his tone more curious than friendly.

She hesitated, but decided there was no point in hiding it. "I'm going through my mother's case files. Trying to find anything that might help clear my father's name."