One regular school day...
Did you see the latest engagement on the Student Council IG?
I just did my civic duty
I saw it. It was nauseating.
"So proud of the work this team does for our community. Real leadership is hard to find these days."
I nearly gagged typing it
You forgot to add a heart emoji for the freshmen to swoon over.
You’re losing your edge, Gabriel.
I thought about it
But I didn't want to overplay the "earnest golden boy" hand too early
I sound like a brochure for a mid-tier college
You sound like exactly what they want.
But you’re trying too hard with the "aw shucks" attitude. It’s leaning into caricature.
The student body is eating it up
They’re goldfish
They see a blazer and a smile and they stop thinking
Don't insult the goldfish. They have better memories than these people.
But don’t get sloppy. If you make it too thick, even the idiots will smell the performance.
The "caricature" is what keeps the dean off my back
It’s camouflage
Just dial back the humility by 10%. Aim for "quietly noble."
Noted
Noble and misunderstood...
It’s a good look for me
It’s the only look that works. They believe the comment because they want to believe you’re that selfless.
It’s pathetic.
It keeps our real lives entirely off the radar
Speaking of which, I’m finishing up here. I have a walkthrough in the quad at 2:00 PM.
The usual suspects trailing you?
School president office reps, press club, and a few stragglers.
I need to look professional and unbothered.
Understood
I’ll take the long route through the East Wing and cut through the science gardens
Good. I don’t want you anywhere near the quad until at least 2:45.
I’ll make sure I’m seen in the chemistry building instead
Reinforces the "dedicated student" narrative
Wise. We haven’t "spoken" in public for weeks. Let’s keep the circles separate.
One of the sophomores asked me today if it was "tense" working with you on the committee
And what did the "diplomat" say?
I told them you were "formidable," but that we had "different philosophies" on engagement
I looked appropriately troubled
"Different philosophies" is clever. It paints me as the ice queen and you as the martyr.
And it makes our actual relationship seem impossible
Exactly.
Stay in character, Gabriel. Don't let anyone see you taking the shortcut.
The mask is part of my face at this point
I’m heading out now
The Porsche is only yours if the mask stays on.
2:00 PM. Don't be late.
And fix your hair before you leave the gym. Even saints shouldn't look that messy.
Careful, Serena
That almost sounded like you care
Don't flatter yourself.
Gabriel pulls off the "perfect stranger" act all day without breaking a sweat. When he gets back in his dorm, he’s barely had a chance to breathe before a text from Riley pops up.
just saw maya at that coffee shop off campus
the one with the overpriced lattes
haven't heard that name in a few months
is she still in town?
honestly?
she looks terrible
really thin
looks like she hasn't slept in weeks
i thought she’d have left after the scholarship was revoked
what’s she doing?
working the register
looked anxious as hell when she saw me
i think she was worried i’d say something
does she still have that look?
the one from the photos we used?
what look?
you know
sunken eyes
shaky hands
does she still look like an addict?
dude
are you serious right now?
i’m just asking for data
if she still looks like she’s on something, the narrative for the dean holds up
it makes the "evidence" we planted stay credible if anyone ever looks back
dude
listen to yourself
you sound exactly like her right now
like who?
who else??
like serena
"data"
"narrative"
you’re talking about a girl whose life got flushed down the toilet
not a lab report
remember primary school, gabe?
you were the kid who actually cared about people
the one who would share his lunch with the kids who forgot theirs
that was a long time ago
people grow up
my world isn't as small as a kid's playground anymore
dude, you’re not growing up
you’re eroding
serena is rubbing off on you and it’s ugly
you think i LIKE this?
i’m playing the game to survive this circle, Ry
you know how she is
if you aren't the one holding the knife, you're the one getting stabbed
there’s playing the game
and then there’s losing your soul to the person running it
you're becoming her shadow
i haven't "lost" anything
i've just adapted
it’s a survival instinct in a place like this
sure
keep telling yourself that while you’re checking for "sunken eyes" on a girl working minimum wage to eat
it's cold, even for you
...don't worry about it, okay?
i’m still me
i’m just doing what i have to do to stay on top
hope so
because if you start talking like her to me...
i’m out
i don't associate with sociopaths
you’re the only person allowed to talk to me like this without getting blocked
you know that
i'm not going to turn on you
i know
that’s why i’m telling you all this
don't become the thing you’re pretending to be
it’s not worth a porsche or whatever else she’s dangling over you
it's more than the car, Ry
it's everything
anyway, just let it go
i've got it under control
Riley’s reality check stays stuck in Gabriel’s head for the rest of the night, making sleep impossible. Just as he’s finally starting to drift off at 1:00 AM...
I’m wide awake. Today was a complete waste of time.
You aced a midterm and steamrolled a committee meeting before lunch
Most people would be celebrating
It was too easy. There was no resistance.
I’m bored, Gabriel. It’s an actual itch under my skin.
Maybe you should try sleeping
It’s a novel concept
I don’t want to sleep.
I want to feel something other than the vacuum of this campus.
You’re never satisfied
You got the Dean to sign off on your budget proposal and humiliated the treasurer in front of the board
What else do you want?
I want a challenge.
Everything today was scripted. I knew exactly what they would say before they opened their mouths.
It’s like living in a world full of puppets.
Well, that's what happens when you spend years training them to fear you
You can't complain about the silence when you're the one who cut their tongues out
Don't get philosophical with me, Gabriel. It doesn't suit you.
I’m restless, and the silence in this apartment is loud.
Read a book
Watch a movie
Do what normal people do when they can't sleep
Normal people are boring. That’s why I don't spend time with them.
I need you to remind me that I’m actually in control of something real.
20 minutes. Don't make me wait.
Look at the time, Serena
I have early practice at 6:00 AM
Coach is already on my case about my stats
Not to mention the Charity Gala we're both expected to attend tomorrow
I didn’t ask for your schedule.
I gave you a timeframe.
Serena, please
I'm exhausted
We went through all this yesterday
Can we just do tomorrow night?
I’m literally staring at my alarm clock and calculating how much caffeine I'll need just to function
Fine. Stay in bed then.
But don't expect the invite to be there tomorrow.
If you’re too tired to handle the "Golden Boy" role when I actually need it, then you're making yourself useless to me.
I don't keep things around that don't serve a purpose.
Come on, don't do that
You know I'm the only one who actually understands how this works
You're just annoyed because I’m pointing out the obvious
I’m annoyed because you’re acting like the NPCs we spent all day mocking.
You think you’re indispensable because of a title? You’re in that seat because I let you stay there.
17 minutes left. Either you’re in the car, or you can consider the door locked for good. I’m not in the mood to negotiate your relevance.
On my way
That's what I thought.
When the sun comes up, it’s back to business. Gabriel is out the door and trading cold clinical texts with Serena like they’re managing a business rather than a relationship.
You left your watch on my nightstand.
I realized it when I was halfway to the gym
I wasn't about to double back and be late for sprints
Coach is already on my case
Pick it up before noon. I don't want clutter on my surfaces. It’s distracting and it ruins the room's lines.
I’ll grab it after my first lecture
I’m at the coffee shop now, just finished morning practice
My legs are lead and I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck
Lack of sleep catching up with you?
No, it’s not the physical stuff
I feel hung over
But I didn't touch a drop of alcohol last night
It’s the boredom, Serena
It’s starting to feel heavy
That’s because it’s a script we’ve already perfected. There’s no thrill in a game you’ve already won ten times over.
Exactly
I was standing in line just now, still in my training gear, and some girl from my calc class tried to corner me
She was stuttering through an invitation for a "study date" over coffee
Let me guess.
She looked like she spent an hour picking out her gym "look" just in case she ran into the soccer captain?
Pretty much
She was practically vibrating with hope
I gave her the usual polite rejection
And she looked like her entire world ended right there in front of the espresso machine
Honestly, Gabriel, it's because they aren't real players. They’re just NPCs.
You're not wrong
It's almost a chore to interact with them at this point
They move in these little pre-programmed patterns like NPCs, hoping for a bit of attention from people like us just to give their day some meaning. They fill the seats and provide the applause, but they aren't capable of the level of deception we live in every day.
They couldn't handle the "Strangers" protocol for an hour without cracking and telling their best friend
Exactly.
They aren't real. They're just part of the scenery until we decide to change the frequency.
That's for sure
I watched her walk away and just felt...
Nothing
No guilt
No interest either
Just the boredom of knowing exactly how the conversation was going to go before she even opened her mouth
We’re the only ones actually playing.
Everyone else is just background noise.
Just remember that noise needs to stay in its place.
Get your watch by noon. I have a meeting at one and I want my apartment clear.
I heard you the first time
I’ll be there
Later that day at the Charity Gala, standing on opposite sides of the ballroom in formal wear, Gabriel and Serena spend the night playing their parts for the cameras. Over text though...
I’m currently being cornered by a donor who thinks soccer is "character building"...
Please send help
I’ve heard the word "leadership" 14 times in 3 minutes
Smile and nod, Captain. You’re the poster boy for athletic excellence.
I’m stuck listening to the Dean’s opening remarks. Have you seen his tuxedo?
I was just about to say
I’m fairly certain it’s from the late '90s
The lapels are wide enough to be used as a floatation device
It’s offensive. And the fit is even worse. He looks like he’s wearing a rented funeral suit three sizes too big.
It’s a miracle he hasn't tripped over his own hem yet.
Check the networking circle near the fountain
They’re hovering like vultures over the provost
It’s painful to watch
And look at the kid in the blue tie
He’s actually sweating
I see him. He’s practically vibrating with social anxiety.
They all think one handshake is going to change their lives, like the provost even knows their names. It’s pathetic.
It’s a room full of people trying so hard to be something
I’ve had to maintain this "Golden Boy" grin for 40 minutes
My face is starting to twitch from the sheer effort of looking wholesome
You’re doing great, darling.
The donors love the charming athlete. It’s the perfect cover.
I just spotted the "it" crowd over by the bar—the ones who think they run the social scene.
The usual suspects?
The ones who spend more on hair products than textbooks?
Exactly.
I was looking at them and realized... ruining them would be too easy.
One well-placed rumor about their Greek life status or a leaked email, and that entire group would shatter by Monday morning.
They have zero structural integrity.
No sport in that
You’d break them before the first round was even over, and then we’d be right back to being bored by Tuesday
You're right.
I’m bored of the easy kills, Gabriel. I don’t want another puppet who falls apart the moment I pull a string.
I want a project that actually requires some finesse.
I agree
We need a real challenge
Something that actually requires us to work for it
These people are just moving targets that don't even know they're being hunted
No more NPCs. I want someone who thinks they’re as smart as we are.
Someone who might actually see the mask if we aren't careful.
Someone with enough of a spine to make the deception interesting.
It’s been too long since we actually had to try
Scan the room. Let’s find someone who doesn't look like they’re following a script.
Someone who isn't desperate for a scholarship or a social invite.
I’m looking
Most of this is just background noise
It’s a sea of the same predictable faces and the same cheap ambitions
There has to be one person in this room who poses an actual challenge.
Find them for me, Gabriel. I need a reason to stay awake through the silent auction.
Wait
Over by the balcony, standing away from the crowd
The one in the dark dress who hasn't touched her drink
I see her.
She’s not looking at the donors or the "it" crowd.
She’s watching the room like she’s trying to solve a puzzle
That might be our candidate
Perfect. I was starting to think tonight would be a total loss.
Let the hunt begin.