“The Boy I Wasn't Supposed to Love.”

The New Girl

The first thing I noticed about Westbridge High was how loud it was.

The second thing I noticed was that everyone seemed to know everyone.

And the third thing?

I was definitely the only person standing in the middle of the hallway holding a school map upside down.

I sighed.

“Great, Natasha. First day and you’re already lost.”

I turned the map around.

Still lost.

Students rushed past me, laughing and talking as lockers slammed around me. Some glanced at me for a second before continuing on their way.

I tightened my grip on my backpack.

I had promised myself that today would be different.

New school.

New people.

New beginning.

No drama.

And absolutely no romance.

I had enough things to worry about without adding a boy to the list.

“Are you looking for something?”

I froze.

A boy’s voice came from behind me.

I slowly turned around.

And forgot what I was about to say.

He was standing a few steps away, wearing the school’s uniform like he’d been born in it. Dark hair, calm eyes, and an expression that made it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

He glanced at the map in my hand.

“Room 204?” he asked.

I looked down.

My face heated up.

“Yes.”

He pointed toward the staircase.

“Second floor. Turn left.”

“Oh.”

I smiled awkwardly.

“Thank you.”

He started walking away.

Then he stopped.

“You’re new.”

It wasn’t a question.

I raised an eyebrow.

“How did you know?”

He looked at the map.

“Because everyone who has been here longer than a day knows where Room 204 is.”

I stared at him.

Was he joking?

Before I could answer, he walked away.

I watched him disappear into the crowd.

“Wow.”

“Wow what?”

I nearly jumped.

A girl was standing beside me.

She had a bright smile and curly hair tied into a high ponytail.

“You scared me!”

She laughed.

“Sorry! I’m Maya.”

“Natasha.”

“I know.”

I blinked.

“You know me?”

“Everyone knows there’s a new girl today.”

She grabbed my arm.

“Come on. I’ll show you where you’re going before you get lost again.”

I laughed.

“Was it really that obvious?”

“Girl, you were holding the map upside down.”

I looked at the map.

“Oh my gosh.”

Maya burst out laughing.

We started walking toward the stairs.

“So,” she said, lowering her voice, “did you meet him?”

“Meet who?”

She gave me a look.

“The boy you were just talking to.”

“Oh. I don’t know his name.”

Maya stopped walking.

“You don’t know his name?”

“No.”

She looked genuinely shocked.

“That was Adrian.”

“Adrian?”

“Adrian Cole.”

She leaned closer.

“Basically the most talked-about boy in school.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Why?”

“Because he’s smart, rich, handsome, mysterious…”

She paused.

“And apparently impossible to date.”

I laughed.

“Good. I’m not interested.”

Maya grinned.

“Sure.”

“I mean it.”

“Of course.”

“I do.”

“Okay, Natasha.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

“Because you just met him five minutes ago.”

“And?”

“And nothing.”

She continued walking.

I shook my head.

This was exactly why I didn’t want romance.

It complicated everything.

By lunchtime, I had already learned three things about Westbridge High.

One: the cafeteria food was terrible.

Two: everyone had an opinion about everyone.

And three: Maya talked enough for both of us.

We sat together at a table near the windows.

“So, what’s your story?” Maya asked.

“My story?”

“Yeah. Why did you move here?”

I hesitated.

There were things I didn’t want to talk about yet.

“My family just wanted a fresh start.”

Maya studied my face.

She could tell there was more.

But thankfully, she didn’t push.

Instead, she smiled.

“Well, you’re stuck with me now.”

I laughed.

“Already?”

“Definitely.”

Then the cafeteria suddenly became quieter.

I looked toward the entrance.

Adrian had walked in.

He wasn’t alone.

Several boys followed him, laughing and talking.

But Adrian wasn’t laughing.

His eyes moved across the cafeteria.

And stopped on me.

My heart skipped.

I quickly looked away.

No.

Absolutely not.

I picked up my juice.

“Don’t look now,” Maya whispered.

“I wasn’t.”

“You totally were.”

“I was looking at the door.”

“The door is behind him.”

I frowned.

“Maya.”

She giggled.

Then another girl walked over to Adrian.

She was beautiful.

Long dark hair, perfect makeup, and the kind of confidence that made everyone notice her.

She touched Adrian’s arm.

He didn’t smile.

The girl said something to him.

Then she looked directly at me.

Her smile disappeared.

My stomach tightened.

“Who is she?” I whispered.

Maya’s expression changed.

“That’s Vanessa.”

“His girlfriend?”

“No.”

She paused.

“But she wishes she was.”

Vanessa said something else to Adrian.

He looked over at me again.

Then, unexpectedly, he walked toward our table.

My heart started beating faster.

Maya whispered, “Oh my gosh.”

Adrian stopped beside me.

“Natasha.”

I looked up.

“Yes?”

He placed a small piece of paper on the table.

“Your notebook.”

I looked down.

It was mine.

I hadn’t even realized I’d dropped it.

“You left it in Room 204.”

I took it.

“Thank you.”

Our fingers touched for half a second.

He looked at me.

I looked at him.

And for some reason, neither of us moved.

Then Vanessa’s voice cut through the moment.

“Adrian.”

He turned.

“Coming.”

He looked back at me.

“See you around, Natasha.”

Then he walked away.

Maya stared at me.

I stared at the notebook.

“What?” I asked.

She smiled.

“You’re in trouble.”

I laughed.

“I’m not in trouble.”

But deep down, something told me she might be right.

Because written across the first page of my notebook—in handwriting I didn’t recognize—were four words:

We need to talk.

I looked toward Adrian.

He was already watching me.

And this time, he didn’t look away.

Something was about to change.

I just didn’t know what.

Yet.