The atmosphere in Classroom 204 was hollow, the air heavy with the scent of old paper and the lingering chill of the morning.
Alex pushed open the doors, his boots clicking rhythmically against the floor.
The room looked like a graveyard of failed ambitions. The tiered rows, usually packed with the loud-mouthed elite and their sycophants, were mostly empty.
A handful of students sat scattered across the benches, not looking at each other. William and Brad's usual seats were bare. Alex clocked the absence without breaking stride.
He knew where they were.
They were still serving their punishment, likely still feeling the physical and psychological weight of the lessons he had carved into them.
Then, his gaze shifted to the middle row.
Madison and Emma were sitting together at the same bench. The moment Alex stepped into the room, their heads snapped up in unison. Their eyes ignited with a sudden, shine... a mixture of raw hunger and absolute worship.
