𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑳𝒖𝒔𝒕

Chapter 3 "A growing attraction"

Rebecca sat at the edge of her bed, staring at the ceiling. Raventon had begun to feel a little more familiar, the faces at school less strange, and the rhythm of her days more settled. Still, one thing stood out in her mind—Robin Blackthorn. Every time she thought about him, a strange mixture of curiosity and anxiety filled her chest.

The few brief moments they'd shared in the library last week had stayed with her. His piercing gaze, the way he seemed to speak without fully revealing himself, had left Rebecca both intrigued and confused. Something about Robin was off—she couldn’t place it, but her instincts told her that he was hiding something. She just wasn’t sure what.

As the days went by, her curiosity began to shift into something more. She found herself looking for him at school, scanning the hallways between classes or peeking into classrooms to catch a glimpse of him. Each time she saw him, he was either sitting at the back of the room, seemingly lost in thought, or walking with an air of detachment that set him apart from everyone else.

One afternoon, while sitting in history class, Rebecca noticed Robin enter the room just as the bell rang. He moved with quiet confidence, his expression unreadable as usual, but there was something odd that she hadn’t picked up on before. He always seemed to arrive just as the class was starting or sit down after everyone else had already settled in.

“Good afternoon, class,” Mr. Harding, the history teacher, greeted as he began writing on the whiteboard. “Today, we’ll be covering the medieval period, focusing on the expansion of kingdoms across Europe.”

Rebecca’s mind wandered as she tried to concentrate on the lesson. Her eyes drifted towards Robin, who was sitting a few rows ahead of her. There was something peculiar about him—he didn’t interact with anyone, and he seemed almost… disconnected. She noticed that while other students whispered and passed notes,

Robin remained isolated, his attention fixated on the teacher or the board. But then, he would occasionally look out the window as if lost in another world.
Rebecca couldn't help but feel drawn to him. It wasn’t just his looks—though there was no denying his striking appearance. It was more about the mystery surrounding him, like he was a puzzle she was desperate to solve.

After class, Rebecca gathered her books and hurried to catch up with her friend, Julia, who was waiting for her at the door.

“You seem distracted today,” Julia remarked as they walked down the hall. “Everything okay?”
Rebecca gave a small smile, shrugging. “Yeah, just trying to keep up with history. Mr. Harding talks so fast sometimes.”

“Ugh, tell me about it. He’s like a human speed-reading machine,” Julia joked, rolling her eyes. “Anyway, are you still up for studying at the library after school?”
Rebecca nodded, but her mind was elsewhere. “Yeah, sure. I’ll meet you there.”

As they turned the corner, Rebecca glanced back at the classroom door and saw Robin walking out. He was alone, as usual, slipping down the opposite hallway. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, her thoughts running wild with possibilities. What is it about him that feels so different? she wondered.

---

Later that afternoon, Rebecca found herself in the school courtyard, enjoying the brief break between classes. It was a sunny day, the sky a bright blue with barely a cloud in sight. Students were scattered around, some chatting in groups, others relaxing on benches or sitting on the grass.

Rebecca settled on a bench, opening her notebook to review her notes. She had just begun to highlight key points when something caught her eye—a familiar figure standing in the shade of a nearby tree.
It was Robin.