Chapter 1
I hum along to the music as I walk, stopping in front of the bus stop and sitting down on the bench. A few hundred meters away the bus appeared over the hill, chuffing towards me at a steady rate. I looked around, searching for Gabby.
The bus gets closer and I hear shoes on pavement, and the slight panting of breath as Gabby skids to a stop in front of me at the same time as the bus.
“Hey.” She breathes out, gasping for air as we board the bus. We make our way to our regular seats near the middle of the bus while Gabby rambles on about her brother holding up the bathroom again.
I collapse into my seat, hoisting my bag up and onto my lap before sliding over to the window so Gabby can sit down.
The bus door hisses shut and we leave, the sound of talking surrounding me. I turn to look out the window, shutting out the noise as I stare at the passing houses that upgrade to bigger, fancier, richer houses that then turn into tall buildings with big glass windows and bright colors.
The snapping sound beside my ear brings me back.
I turn my head and look at Gabby.
“Girl, are you even listening to me?”
I nod.
“Yeah, sorry, guess I zoned out.”
“Have you heard Cloud Nine’s new album? It is amazing. I mean, like, even better than their last album, they just keep getting better.”
Sighing, I rummage through my backpack and pull my phone out.
“It is good, I prefer some of their other songs though, this one was too lovey dovey for me.” I shrug, switching on my phone and opening twitter. Jaiden Green’s new post is the first one on my feed, a short message saying, “New school! Bye old one, will miss you! :(”
“He switched schools? Six months before graduation? Damn not only is he crazy hot he’s plain old crazy too!” Remarks Gabby, grabbing my phone from me.
Jaiden Green is basically god to like, half my school’s population and a little bit more if you count some of the boys. He’s the lead drummer for Cloud Nine, an up and coming boy band, and is only nineteen. He hasn’t even graduated yet.
“Kind of stupid if you ask me.” I say with a shrug.
“Girl, shut up, I know you love him.”
My cheeks warm at that before I jab her with my elbow.
“I don’t even know him. Besides, he’s a member of a famous band, everyone loves him.”
“Yeah, whatever, you keep lying to yourself while I keep trying to get Tristan Abiard to tweet back.”
Tristan is the band’s guitar lord, words of Gabby’s, not mine. He’s good at it, I won’t lie. But he seems like every guy in every boy band ever. They’re all the same. At least he’s graduated, one year older than Jaiden. Straight out of high school straight into fame.
The bus rolls into the parking lot, the monstrosity that is my high school stands tall before us. Out the front of the school, a large crowd of girls that seems to be growing bigger by the minute blocks our entrance into the school.
Swinging my bag onto my back, I step down off the bus and attempt to push through, Gabby hot on my heels.
An elbow slams into my face and I groan, fumbling with my glasses and covering my nose in pain. I’m shoved forward and I push my way out and stumble onto the steps, pulling Gabby out of the mess. I wipe my nose, staining the edge of my sleeve crimson.
“Shit girl, you should go see the nurse. I’ll see you later, I’ve got to run.” She half-walk half-runs off down the hall, leaving me by myself.
I groan before beginning the short walk to the nurse’s office. It’s not far, lucky for me it’s close enough to the front of the school that the blood hasn’t stained my shirt too much by the time I get there.
“Hey, Ms. Barnes?” I call out, looking into the office before stepping inside and shutting the door. “Are you in here?” I walk up to the desk and walk around the opposite side, opening the drawer and grabbing a pack of tissues out before going to sit down on the couch across the room.
“I’m just grabbing myself a pack of tissues and I’ll be gone in a minute!” I say, once again talking to the emptiness.
A door behind the desk opens and a flustered face looks through. Ms. Barnes brushes a stray hair out of her eyes and smiles at me.
“Oh, uh, hello. Sorry, I’m a bit busy at the moment. Have you got everything sorted?”
I nod, pressing the tissues against my nose and pointing at them with my other hand.
“Yeah, I’ll be alright, I got elbowed in the face and just needed to get some tissues. I’ll go in a minute.”
She nods, smiling tightly before disappearing back behind the door.
Sighing, I stand up and walk towards the door that leads back out into the hallway. Before I get far, I bump into the broad chest of Tobias Fletcher. I gasp, recoiling.
“I’m so sorry.” I murmur, looking up at him and taking a step back.
“It’s cool, love.” He says, smiling.
“Love?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
He smirks, stepping past me and into the room, my eyes follow him and I pivot slightly, waiting for an answer.
“Just a pet name, I use it on everyone, love.”
I nod slowly before turning back around and walking into the hallway, lowering my head as I make my way to my locker before the bell rings.
I grab my books and shove my bag into my locker, making sure to tuck my earbuds into my pocket before I shut the locker door. I walk away from my locker, headed towards class.
I take my seat in the middle of the classroom, opening my book and copying down the periodic table for the fifth time. Soon, the room is more or less full and the teacher begins, starting her lecture about dangerous chemicals and the upcoming experiments we’ll be covering.
Five minutes in the door opens and the whole class goes silent. Whispers go around the room, chairs screech and pens fall from hands.
Jaiden Green stands in the doorway of my classroom and I can already feel my cheeks going bright red. I lower my head, looking down at my picture of the periodic table and studying it intensely.
“Jaiden!” Shrieks a voice, “Come sit here!”
I look up slightly, watching him. He looks around the room before quickly approaching the teacher who seems nervous.
“Yes, uh, just go take a seat and we’ll continue on with the lesson.” She says, her voice unnaturally high. He takes another look around the room before his eyes connect with mine. He eyes flick to the empty seat beside me and he begins to walk towards me.
Oh god, no, please don’t sit here. Don’t draw attention to me. Please.
“Yoohoo! Jaideeeen! Sit next to me!”
He turns slightly to look at a girl who’s dressed in a way that makes her seem like she’s going to a strip club after class. He politely declines and continues to walk towards me. He stops in front of my desk and gestures to the chair.
“Is this seat taken?” God, even his voice is hot.
I shake my head stiffly, moving my stuff towards me to make space.
“Yes. I mean, no! I-uh- you can sit there.” I bury my face in my hands, hearing the chair whine on the floor as it’s pulled out and then squeak as it’s pushed back forward.
Slowly, I remove my hands from my face and focus on the teacher, trying to ignore the burning sensation in my cheeks.
Halfway through the lesson, I’m pulled out of my concentration by a tapping on my shoulder. I turn to look at Jaiden, focusing on the space between his eyebrows.
“Hi.” He whispers. “Can I borrow a pencil?”
“S-sure.” I say, maybe a little too fast.
He smiles, thanking me as he takes it.
I stand up when the bell rings, sweeping my things into my arms and kicking the chair in, speed-walking towards the door.
“Hey, Glasses! Wait! You forgot your pencil!”
I turn to see Jaiden waving my pencil around before he disappears in the swarm of girls that enter the classroom. I push my way out of the room, stumbling into the hallway.
I push my glasses up, walking speedily to my next class.
