Chapter 1
I let out a sigh as I strolled through the hallways, dragging my feet like I was heading to my own funeral. Ma’am Charlie, our guidance counselor, had asked me to meet her at lunch, and just the thought of it made my stomach churn—I already knew what was coming.
I knocked on her office door, bracing myself for one of her classic lectures about responsibility. To my surprise, she opened the door with a smile.
“Hey there! Have a seat,” she said, her voice way too cheerful for what I expected.
I sat down hesitantly, my awkwardness practically radiating off me. “Do you remember when you accidentally messed up the props for next week’s event?” she asked, still smiling. I nodded, forcing a smile of my own while cringing at the memory.
“Well,” she continued, “you’re going to help the school president! For as long as they need you for the event next week. Isn’t that exciting?” She paused, clearly waiting for me to cheer. “Just so you know, you’re there to assist the school president, NOT any other officers. That’s all. If you have no questions, you can go now.”
The moment I closed the door behind me, I let out a loud groan that echoed down the hallway. Theo, the school president, was my absolute nemesis.
There wasn’t a single person in this school I disliked more. And judging by Ma’am Charlie’s knowing smile, she probably knew that. Did she think this was funny? Some kind of twisted joke?
Just then, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I turned around, already annoyed, and there he was—Theo, standing like he owned the place. I frowned, my mood souring even more.
“What? Bad mood?” he said casually, smirking like he was enjoying this. “Anyway, Jade, you’re helping us right after class. Don’t even think about sneaking out. Meet us at the covered court.” Then, without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away like he had just issued a royal decree.
I rolled my eyes so hard I could’ve seen the back of my skull. How could they even stop me from going home early? Honestly, any punishment would’ve been better than dealing with Theo. It could’ve been all the officers I had to help, but of course, it had to be JUST him. Lucky me.
Unfortunately, the universe wasn’t on my side. Right after the bell rang, Theo was waiting for me outside my classroom. “What a psycho,” I muttered under my breath. He just chuckled, clearly hearing me, and grabbed my arm to pull me toward the covered court.
When we arrived, I noticed something odd—no other school officers were there. Apparently, Theo had given them a break because they were tired. Fair enough, I was the one who messed up their props, so I guess they deserved a breather. But that didn’t make this situation any less annoying. Why did it have to be him I was stuck with?
Theo pointed to a pile of supplies. “We’re arranging these first,” he said, surprisingly serious for once. I let out another groan, but I got to work anyway. If I had to deal with him, I might as well try to get it over with quickly.
The irony of being punished by working alongside my nemesis wasn’t lost on me. I couldn’t help but wonder if Ma’am Charlie had planned this on purpose. If she did, she was definitely laughing somewhere. And Theo? He was probably relishing every second of my misery.
He probably felt great about bossing me around, strutting like he owned the world. Typical Theo. Although… I have to admit, he did look good. Not that good, of course. Just regular good. But then again—ugh, I can’t believe I’m even thinking this—he would probably look very good dancing with no shir—WAIT.
I cringed at my own thoughts, nearly choking on air. Seriously, what was wrong with me?! I glanced at Theo to reassure myself he hadn’t somehow developed mind-reading powers.
To my horror, he was already looking at me, then he looked away like nothing happened. What a weirdo.
I shook my head and tried to focus on the task. We worked in silence, both of us with earbuds in, but my brain wouldn’t cooperate. Every time I glanced at him, our eye contact from earlier kept popping into my mind. Why did I even look at him?! Now I was stuck in this endless loop of thoughts I didn’t want to have.
Thankfully, my phone buzzed with a text from Mrs. Charlie. She wanted me to come to her classroom. If you’re wondering why she has my number—let’s just say I get in trouble so often that we’re practically text buddies. Like any good, obedient student would, I begrudgingly went to her classroom. Yes, I am glazing myself.
When I arrived, I saw a giant box on her desk. From the looks of it, this thing weighed more than my dignity. Mrs. Charlie didn’t even look up from her paperwork as she said, “Bring this to the covered court.” I gasped dramatically, clutching my chest like I was about to faint.
“Me? You want me to carry that box all the way to the covered court?” She raised an eyebrow and gave me that look—the one that said, don't even try me. “That’s part of your punishment,” she said flatly.
So, like the good little rule-follower I pretend to be, I hoisted the box and started my slow, painful trek to the covered court. Halfway there, I was practically waddling under the weight, muttering curses under my breath.
Just when I thought my arms might give out, Theo appeared out of nowhere, like some smug knight in shining armor. He saw me struggling and, without saying a word, took the box from my hands. Relief washed over me, but then I realized he was staring at me again.
“What?” I snapped, irritation dripping from my voice.
He smiled that infuriatingly charming smile of his and said, “So you do notice when I look at you.”
I rolled my eyes. What did this guy even want from me? Attention? Validation? A medal? We walked the rest of the way in silence, and to my surprise, the air didn’t feel as heavy as it usually did between us. The tension was still there, but it was lighter now, almost… comfortable. I hated it.
As bad luck would have it, knowing Theo—my peaceful moment was short-lived. While I was carrying another box, I tripped over something he had dropped earlier. My knees hit the ground, and the box’s contents spilled everywhere.
A loud burst of laughter echoed across the court. Of course, it came from none other than Theo.
“Did you not pick this up on purpose?!” I shouted, glaring at him as I scrambled to gather the scattered items.
“I forgot. Trust me,” he said, trying and failing to keep a straight face. He crouched down to help me, his laughter fading into a mischievous grin.
I swear, Theo could fool anyone with that angelic smile of his. Anyone but me. His angelic—wait. My thoughts screeched to a halt as my hand accidentally brushed against his. My breath hitched. I froze, my brain short-circuiting as the warmth of his skin lingered against mine. HIS SKIN AGAINST MINE.
