Forbidden Chemistry

Noticing the Unnoticed

The hum of school life was in full swing as Lucian Blackwood strode down the main hall of Crestwood High. Students buzzed about, rushing from one class to another, the clatter of lockers and chatter filling the space. Lucian was on his way to the staff room after finishing his last lecture of the morning, his mind focused on the next task for the day—until his eyes fell on a familiar figure near the lockers.

It was Astrid Monroe.

He rarely paid attention to students outside of the classroom. They were always just part of the background, navigating their teenage lives with a constant hum of gossip, worries, and excitement. But today, something about Astrid caught his eye. Perhaps it was the way her golden blonde hair gleamed under the harsh fluorescent lighting, gathered up in a messy bun with a few loose strands framing her face. Or maybe it was her choice of clothing—a fitted top that subtly highlighted her curves and jeans that clung to her form. She wasn't like most of the other girls who tried to catch his attention with overdone makeup and exaggerated laughs. Astrid, even now, was absorbed in something more pressing than appearances: her schoolwork.

Standing next to her locker, Astrid had her nose buried in a book, her fingers nervously tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Chloe Anderson, her best friend, stood by her side, talking animatedly about something, though Astrid seemed only half-listening. Instead, she had a math problem on her mind, scribbling numbers into the margins of her notebook with her left hand, while balancing the book in her right.

Lucian found himself slowing his pace, his attention drawn despite himself. He'd never really noticed her before, except when her name appeared in the list of students who had aced their exams—except in chemistry. He usually associated her with those impeccable grades and the faint arrogance that came with being a high achiever, yet seeing her now, in such a candid, vulnerable moment, was different. She was focused, serious, oblivious to the world around her.

As Lucian passed by, he kept his distance, but his gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary. There was a strange curiosity growing in him, one he couldn't explain. He wasn't used to seeing her in any context beyond the classroom, but there she was, standing in the midst of the chaotic school hallway, completely in her element. Yet there was a small crease of frustration on her brow, likely from whatever problem she was trying to solve.

As if on cue, Chloe noticed Lucian approaching and immediately elbowed Astrid.

"Astrid, how are your extra classes with Mr. Blackwood going?" Chloe asked, her tone teasing but filled with genuine curiosity.

Lucian watched as Astrid didn't even bother looking up. "They're fine," she replied distractedly, still immersed in her book. "We started with theory, but since I need to understand how it all works, we've taken a more practical approach." Her voice was steady, but it was clear her mind was elsewhere, absorbed in the math problem in front of her.

Chloe made a face, as if silently reacting to the lack of enthusiasm in Astrid's response, and continued her chatter while Lucian's eyes remained on Astrid, curious about the shift in her tone when talking about the lessons. She hadn't been snarky or rude, like she usually was when speaking to him. Instead, she seemed... neutral. Something about that struck Lucian as odd, but before he could think further, the scene in front of him took an unexpected turn.

Astrid, her mind still deep in thought, absentmindedly began walking, her eyes glued to the book as she worked through the math problem. She didn't notice the open locker directly in her path. Before anyone could react, her forehead was about to make contact with the cold metal—when suddenly, a hand intercepted her.

Lucian's eyes narrowed as he watched Raven Hale—one of the school's star football players—step in. With a casual yet precise move, Raven placed his hand between Astrid's head and the locker, preventing the inevitable collision. For a moment, it seemed like time slowed down as Raven stood there, his large frame hovering over Astrid, shielding her from harm.

Astrid blinked, snapping out of her reverie, and looked up, startled. Her wide eyes met Raven's piercing blue gaze, and for a few seconds, they just stared at each other in silence. Lucian could see the surprise in Astrid's expression, the way her mouth slightly parted in shock. Raven, still holding the locker door with one hand, smirked down at her.

"Be careful, Monroe," he said, his voice low and confident.

Astrid blinked again, still processing what had just happened. The proximity between them, the way his hand hovered so protectively over her, left her speechless. She managed a faint nod before Raven retrieved his things from his locker, which was right beside hers, and casually walked off, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.

Chloe, however, was not as composed. She gasped dramatically, clutching her hands to her chest. "Oh my god, Astrid!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with exaggerated excitement. "Extra classes with Mr. Blackwood and now Raven Hale too? What is happening?"

Astrid, still shaken, waved Chloe off, brushing the moment aside as best she could. But the pink tinge on her cheeks betrayed her. She quickly turned her attention back to her book, trying to act like nothing had happened, even though her mind was racing. She hadn't paid much attention to Raven before, but there was no denying the way his presence lingered now.

Lucian's jaw tightened. He didn't know why, but the way Raven's name fell from Chloe's lips irritated him. His eyes flicked between Astrid and where Raven had disappeared down the hall. For some reason, the casual flirtation, the way Raven had so effortlessly inserted himself into Astrid's space, left an uncomfortable feeling gnawing at the back of his mind. He told himself it was none of his business—after all, students interacted all the time, and he had no right to feel anything about it.

But that didn't stop him from noticing the way Astrid's cheeks flushed pink, or the way she awkwardly avoided Chloe's teasing gaze.

Astrid tried to shrug it off, turning back to her notebook. She quickly jotted down the rest of her math problem, but Lucian could tell that her focus was shattered. She was distracted, thrown off balance by the encounter. Chloe continued to chatter on about how "unbelievably cute" the moment had been, but Astrid simply shook her head, as if to dismiss the conversation.

Lucian moved on, forcing himself to look away as he made his way down the hall. Yet the scene replayed in his mind—the blush on Astrid's cheeks, the way Raven had hovered over her like a protector. For some reason, it bothered him more than it should have. Shaking his head slightly, he tried to brush the thought aside.

But as he turned the corner, he couldn't help but glance back one more time. Astrid was still standing there, her golden hair glinting in the light, her attention now firmly back on her book. Yet the slight smile on her face told him that something had shifted.

Lucian sighed, telling himself it didn't matter. It shouldn't matter.

But somehow, it did.