Chapter 1
The first chords of "Hey Ya!" by Outkast blared through Emily's headphones as she power-walked down the hall of Millwood High. She bobbed her head to the beat, curly auburn hair bouncing with each step. As Emily rounded the corner, lost in the nostalgic groove, she collided with a solid mass.
"Oof!"
Her notepad and pens went flying. Looking up, she found herself staring into the amused green eyes of Jason Anderson.
"Watch where you're going, Summers!" he chuckled, extending a hand to help her up.
"Sorry Jase, I was just getting my retro jam on." Emily dusted herself off as Jason retrieved her scattered supplies. "You know I zone out when I listen to the classics."
"Clearly." Jason handed back her notepad, a worn relic covered in doodles and notes. "Whatcha working on this time, writer girl? Another love story?"
Emily shoved him playfully. "As a matter of fact, yes! I'm trying to capture the essence of pop punk romance. You'll just have to wait for the big reveal." She glanced at her watch. "We better hustle or we'll be late for English. Mr. Wilson will have our heads!"
As Emily took her seat, she noticed a mysterious new face in the back row. Who was the brooding stranger with guitar case in hand?
As Mr. Wilson droned on about Shakespeare, Emily found her gaze drifting to the enigmatic new guy. His dark hair fell casually over his eyes as he sketched intricate designs in the margins of his notebook.
"Psst, Jason!" Emily whispered. "Who's the new hottie brooding in the back?"
Jason followed her line of vision. "Oh that's Ethan Davis. Rumor has it he just moved here from LA. Plays guitar in some indie band."
Emily sighed dreamily. "He seems so mysterious. I wonder what secrets lie beneath that tough exterior?"
Just then, Ethan looked up, catching Emily's stare. She blushed furiously and quickly buried her nose in her notes.
"Oooh, looks like someone's crushing already!" Jason crooned in a sing-song voice.
Emily elbowed him sharply. "Shut up! I was just curious, that's all."
As Mr. Wilson excused himself, the class erupted into chatter. Emily turned to Jason excitedly. "Did you see that smile from Ethan? I think he likes me!"
Jason snorted. "Please, he was probably just constipated. Your face has that effect on people."
Emily gasped in mock offense. "How dare you! I'll have you know my beauty brings joy to all." She tossed her curls dramatically.
Just then, a shrill voice cut in.
"Ugh, keep dreaming Summers. No one wants to see that bird's nest you call hair."
Emily groaned inwardly as Tiffany Hartley sauntered over, minions in tow. The queen bee flipped her glossy blonde locks condescendingly.
"Nice outfit Tiff, is 'desperate Instagram wannabe' your aesthetic this week?" quipped Jason.
Tiffany scowled. "At least I don't look like I just rolled out of bed, Anderson. Some of us actually care about our appearance."
"I'd rather be cozy than plastic any day," Emily shot back.
Tiffany's eyes narrowed to slits. But before she could retaliate, a smooth voice interjected.
"Lay off, Hartley. No need to be so catty first thing in the morning."
The class turned in surprise to see Ethan Davis watching Tiffany coolly from the back. A hush fell over the room.
Tiffany shot daggers at Emily before flouncing away in a huff.
Emily beamed at Ethan gratefully. It seemed the new guy had her back. Things were getting interesting...
