The Boy Who Ruined My Morning
Chapter One
.................
There are many things I hate about mornings.
The alarm.
The sunlight.
The sound of my mother’s voice telling me I’m going to be late.
And, most importantly—
Ryan Carter.
Unfortunately, only one of those things was standing in front of my locker at seven forty-five in the morning.
Ryan.
I stopped walking.
He was leaning against my locker like he owned it.
Of course he was.
Ryan Carter had a special talent for being exactly where I didn’t want him to be.
He was wearing the school uniform incorrectly, as usual. His tie was loose, his shirt wasn’t properly tucked in, and his hair looked like he’d spent five minutes deliberately making it look like he hadn’t spent any time on it.
Around him stood three of his friends, laughing about something.
I wasn’t interested.
I walked toward my locker.
Ryan noticed me.
A slow grin appeared on his face.
Oh no.
“Good morning, nerd.”
I stopped.
“Good morning, public nuisance.”
His friends laughed.
Ryan placed a hand over his heart.
“That’s hurtful.”
“Good.”
He moved away from my locker.
I opened it.
My books immediately fell out.
All of them.
Right onto the floor.
Silence.
Ryan looked down.
Then at me.
Then back at the books.
I closed my eyes.
Please.
Just let me disappear.
Ryan crouched down and picked up one of my notebooks.
“Need help?”
“No.”
He picked up another.
“I wasn’t asking.”
“Then why did you say it?”
“Because I enjoy watching you struggle.”
I snatched the notebook from his hand.
“I can handle my own books.”
“I can see that.”
He picked up another one.
“You’re doing an amazing job.”
“Ryan.”
“Yes?”
“Stop helping.”
“I’m not helping.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“Annoying you.”
I stared at him.
“At least you’re self-aware.”
He smiled.
“Thank you.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
“I know.”
He handed me the last notebook.
I stood up.
“Now move.”
“No.”
“Ryan.”
“Maya.”
“Move.”
“Ask nicely.”
I stared at him.
“You want me to ask nicely?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
I took a breath.
“Ryan, would you kindly move your extremely irritating self away from my locker before I commit a crime?”
His eyebrows lifted.
“Wow.”
“What?”
“That was almost polite.”
“I hate you.”
He smiled.
“I know.”
I slammed my locker shut.
Unfortunately, he was still standing there.
I pointed toward the hallway.
“Go.”
“Why?”
“Because I have class.”
“So do I.”
“Then go to it.”
“I’m waiting for someone.”
“Who?”
“You.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
He shrugged.
“You’re entertaining.”
“Find a hobby.”
“You are my hobby.”
I stared at him.
He stared back.
Then I shook my head.
“You need professional help.”
“Probably.”
“Definitely.”
The warning bell rang.
I started walking.
Ryan followed.
I stopped.
He stopped.
I started again.
He started again.
I turned around.
“Why are you following me?”
“Why are you walking in front of me?”
“Because I’m going to class.”
“Same.”
“Your classroom is the other way.”
He looked behind himself.
Then at me.
“Oh.”
I crossed my arms.
“You’re an idiot.”
“I knew that.”
“How?”
“People tell me.”
“At least they’re honest.”
He laughed.
I tried not to smile.
I failed.
Ryan noticed.
His smile widened.
“There.”
“What?”
“You smiled.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“You did.”
“Prove it.”
“I saw it.”
“That’s not proof.”
“I have eyes.”
“Unfortunately.”
He laughed again.
I walked away before he could say anything else.
But I could hear his footsteps behind me.
Of course.
He followed me all the way to class.
I walked inside.
My best friend, Tara, was already sitting at our usual desk.
She looked at me.
Then at Ryan standing behind me.
Then back at me.
“No.”
I dropped my bag onto my chair.
“Don’t.”
She grinned.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Your face did.”
Ryan walked past us.
“Morning, Tara.”
“Morning, Ryan.”
I stared at her.
“Why are you being nice to him?”
She shrugged.
“He’s funny.”
“He is not funny.”
Ryan turned around.
“I heard that.”
“Good.”
He smiled.
“You missed me.”
“I saw you thirty seconds ago.”
“Exactly.”
Tara looked between us.
“You two are weird.”
“We are not.”
“We absolutely are,” Ryan said.
I pointed at him.
“Nobody asked you.”
He sat down in the desk behind mine.
I turned around.
“Why are you sitting there?”
“Because I want to.”
“There are thirty other seats.”
“I like this one.”
“Why?”
He leaned forward.
“So I can annoy you.”
I stared at him.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“And yet...”
He tapped my notebook.
“You keep talking to me.”
I opened my notebook.
“That’s because you’re impossible to ignore.”
Ryan smiled.
“Sounds like a compliment.”
“It isn’t.”
“I’ll take it.”
The teacher entered the classroom.
Everyone immediately settled down.
I finally relaxed.
Maybe—
just maybe—
I could have one peaceful class.
Then the teacher put a stack of papers on the desk.
“I have an announcement.”
Everyone looked up.
“For your upcoming science project, you’ll be working in pairs.”
The room erupted with complaints.
I didn’t care.
I was going to work with Tara.
Easy.
Perfect.
Peaceful.
The teacher started reading the names.
“Maya Sharma...”
I looked up.
“...and Ryan Carter.”
My soul left my body.
The classroom went silent for approximately two seconds.
Then everyone started laughing.
I slowly turned around.
Ryan was already looking at me.
He had the biggest grin I’d ever seen.
“No.”
He laughed.
“Oh, this is going to be fun.”
I looked at the teacher.
“Can I change partners?”
“No.”
“Can he change partners?”
Ryan raised his hand.
“No.”
The teacher sighed.
“You’re working together.”
Ryan leaned toward me.
“Looks like you’re stuck with me.”
I whispered,
“This is the worst day of my life.”
He smiled.
“It’s the best day of mine.”
I glared at him.
He grinned back.
And somehow, I already knew—
this project was going to be a disaster.
Because Ryan Carter had officially become my problem.
And unfortunately...
I had a feeling he wasn’t going anywhere.
