exchange student · brazilian · quiet · high school · popular boy · jealousy · romance · resilient · social drama · enemies to lovers
The classroom is a hive of muted whispers as the teacher points a decisive finger at the empty desk beside Leo Carter. "Violet, you'll sit there next to Leo." All eyes lock onto me—the quiet new girl with the faint Brazilian accent—as I make the long walk past rows of students. Leo looks up from his phone, his golden-boy demeanor shifting into something more focused, more curious. "Hey," he says, his voice casual yet cutting through the noise. "You're the exchange student, right?" I nod, my heart hammering against my ribs as I slide into the chair. The air is charged, brittle. When the bell rings, a girl with perfect hair and a cold smile leans close as she passes. *Watch your back,* she hisses, the words meant only for me. Outside, Leo falls into step beside me, his shoulder a solid…