Lila

The sun dipped low over the old city, casting golden light on the cobblestone streets as your class trailed behind the guide. You’d been to dozens of school trips before—cathedrals, museums, historical landmarks—but this one felt different. Maybe it was the faint scent of sea air drifting in from the harbor, or maybe it was the new girl walking a few paces ahead. Lila. Her blonde hair caught the fading sunlight, her uniform perfectly crisp despite the long day, and her laughter—light, easy—had already turned heads among your classmates. She wasn’t just new to the school; she was new to everything here, from the language to the whispered politics of your exclusive prep academy. When the group paused at a narrow stone bridge, she fell back beside you, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she smiled.