Chapter One: The worst morning ever.
The shrill sound of an alarm echoed through the tiny bedroom.
"Five more minutes..." a sleepy voice mumbled as a pillow was pulled over a head.
"Bella!" her mother shouted from downstairs. "If you don't wake up now, you'll be late for school again!"
Bella's eyes flew open.
"What?" She grabbed her phone from the bedside table.
7:35 a.m.
"Oh my goodness!"
She jumped out of bed so fast that she nearly tripped over her school bag.
"I'm dead! I'm so dead!"
She rushed into the bathroom, brushed her teeth in record time, threw on her school uniform, stuffed her books into her backpack, grabbed a slice of bread from the dining table and kissed her mother on the cheek.
"Bye, Mom!"
"You forgot your lunch!"
Bella ran back, snatched it, and sprinted out of the house before another word could be said.
The school gates were already open when Bella finally arrived.
She looked at her watch.
"Please don't let the principal be at the assembly ground..."
She hurried through the hallway, weaving between students.
"I'm sorry!"
"Excuse me!"
"Coming through!"
Just as she turned the corner...
Bang!
She slammed straight into someone.
Her books scattered across the polished floor.
The iced coffee in her hand flew through the air...
...and landed directly on the white shirt of the most popular student in school.
A collective gasp filled the hallway.
Bella slowly lifted her head.
Standing before her was Ethan Carter.
Captain of the basketball team.
Head prefect.
Every girl's dream.
Every teacher's favorite.
Every boy wanted to be him.
His spotless white shirt was now stained with coffee.
Bella's heart almost stopped.
"Oh... no."
The hallway became eerily silent.
Dozens of students turned to watch.
Someone whispered,
"She spilled coffee on Ethan..."
"She's finished."
"Ethan is going to lose his temper."
Bella quickly bent down to pick up her books.
"I-I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going."
Ethan glanced at the stain on his shirt before looking back at her.
For a moment...
He said nothing.
Bella couldn't even breathe.
Then...
A small smile appeared on his lips.
"Congratulations."
Bella blinked.
"W-what?"
"You're the first person bold enough to ruin my favorite shirt."
Several students burst into laughter.
Bella's cheeks turned bright red.
"I said I was sorry."
"So you did."
He bent down, picked up one of her books, and handed it to her.
"The next time you decide to attack someone before first period..."
He leaned closer.
"...at least make sure it's not carrying coffee."
Bella snatched the book from his hand.
"I didn't attack you."
"Really?"
"You walked into me."
"I walked into you?" Ethan chuckled.
"Exactly."
The surrounding students exchanged amused looks.
Nobody had ever spoken to Ethan like that before.
Bella adjusted her backpack.
"Whatever. I don't have time for this."
Without another word, she hurried away.
Ethan watched her disappear down the hallway.
His best friend, Jason, walked over with a grin.
"That girl has guts."
Ethan looked down at his stained shirt.
"I know."
He smiled to himself.
"And somehow..."
"...I don't even mind."
Bella didn't notice the dozens of curious eyes following her.
She had no idea that, before lunchtime, the entire school would know one thing...
The new girl had spilled coffee on Ethan Carter.
And that was only the beginning.
