on my own.
The new guy opened his notebook and looked up at the blond girl hovering over him, scolding him as if she were the teacher. I was hoping Ivy wasn't going to make a fuss. The new student would probably have moved had she been polite, but it seemed as if it was too late.
I hid behind my textbook. For a moment Ivy wasn't as confident as she was when she first approached him. I hoped this meant she was going to soften and either apologize or just return to her seat.
Instead, Abby joined her. Even though Ivy and Abby were pretty, their temperaments could sometimes leave even the kindest gentlemen challenging them to a duel rather than tipping their hats. Ivy threw her hair back and straightened her stance.
"This is my friend's desk," Ivy said, again in a very unpleasant tone. "She sits here every day."
The new guy didn't budge. He paused, weighing his words. "Are you two on the welcoming committee?" he asked. "I didn't see your pictures in the brochure."
A few skater students around him snickered. I couldn't help but giggle, too.
Abby tightened her lips. After all, she was used to competition, and it appeared that she wanted to win this battle.
"I understand you are new..." Abby charged, in a strong whisper, "but things work a certain way here, and the sooner you know this the easier it will be for you."
He sat up and leaned into Ivy. "This is your friend?" he said to her. "You might want to reconsider."
We all laughed again, even Dylan and Jake, who probably wished they could have said it. Abby and Ivy both folded their arms. It was clear the new student wasn't going to budge under the pressure of his two bossy classmates.
"No, that is our friend," they said in unison. Then they both pointed to me.
The new guy turned around. He was completely captivating and model gorgeous. His short hair was dark and wavy, his face as perfectly sculpted as I'd ever seen. He stared straight at me - his eyes a deep, riveting royal blue. We locked gazes and I almost lost my breath. My face flushed red. I was unable to look away, and I didn't really want to.
I'd never felt such a powerful stare - or witnessed such a handsome student.
He almost broke a smile, and my heart along with it.
The new student turned back, grabbed his notebook and backpack, and rose. He towered over my friends, who were blocking his way. They stepped aside, and he moved to an empty chair in the back of the class without another word.
As Ivy and Abby waved me over, I slunk back to my desk. When Mrs. Clark introduced the new student as Brandon Maddox, I wasn't about to turn around and make eye contact with him again.
Legend's Run High School's lunchroom was a microcosm of Legend's Run itself. Students stuck to their sides and, like religious sects, were subdivided. The usual gamers, jocks, skaters, and preps each had their own table.
Lunch, for me, was the highlight of the school day. I got to hang out with my friends and talk and eat - two of my favorite things.
When I reached the cafeteria, Ivy pulled Abby and me over to the vending machine.
"I finally have the four-one-one on the new guy," she began. "I heard he's a Westsider."
"Obviously," Abby said. "Did you see his coat?"
"There was nothing wrong with his coat. I liked it - " I tried. "Besides, you didn't have to - "
"Do you two want to hear this or not?" Ivy asked.
"Of course we do," Abby replied.
"He lives with his grandparents," Ivy began. "I think he's from Miller's Glen and was kicked out of his home. He's a juvie - "
"I heard he's a runaway," Abby said, placing a dollar into the machine.
"You did?" Ivy felt challenged that she wasn't on top of the breaking news story.
"Yes. A runaway," Abby said. She pushed a cola button and grabbed her diet soda.
"I heard he's a juvie," Ivy argued.
"I heard he's a runaway," Abby insisted.
"I heard..." I started.
"Yes?" they asked curiously.
"I heard that he's..."
"Go on..." they pried.
"I heard that he's a... werewolf!"
They both were aghast. "You did not!"
"That can't be true," Abby said. "I didn't hear that."
"Who told you that?" Ivy pressed.
I snickered. "Hello, are you kidding?"
Then we all broke out in laughter.
As we continued to crack up, I spotted Brandon sitting at a back table in the corner,