Even though I joked with Lance about mourning the loss of summer, I was happy to be here. And with each tick of the clock, my new school jitters disappeared. I could do this. I was going to blend in and get my shit done.
My confident stride, bolstered by the invisible shield wrapped around me by the other students’ self-absorbtion felt good. My feet burned in a way that made me smile as I found my locker.
Spinning the lock combination, I set my things inside before slamming the door shut. Pulling out my schedule, I checked where my first class was while walking down the hall, feeling invigorated and excited.
But then I had to fuck it up.
In a cliche move, I bumped into a tall hunk of muscle, making the heel of my boot slip on the tile. Strong hands wrapped around my wrists, steadying me before I could fall, and I looked up into the grayest eyes I’d ever seen, coupled with a smirk that could give even Decker a run for his money.
“Whoa, you okay?” his honey-like voice asked, and I feigned disorientation to get a good look at him. He had sweeping chestnut hair and high cheekbones, with a dimpled chin. This guy was classically handsome.
“I-I’m okay, but this has to be a secret,” I teased before looking around. A few students were staring, but most of the students were too absorbed in their phones to care.
“A secret, huh? Why’s that?” His voice was teasing. I saw the interest brimming in his gray eyes. It wasn’t predatory, the way he swept across my appearance like a visual caress, but it made my skin hum all the same.
“I made a bet with someone that I could walk in heels all day. If he finds out I nearly fell on my ass, then I’ll lose the bet.” Was I flirting? Yes. Yes, I was. Why? I had no idea.
The last year had been spent taking care of Mama and picking up extra shifts, and I hadn’t had the time to see farther than the fucked up shit going on in my life. Decker was honestly the first person I’d kissed in months, and I was wondering if this guy could be my second.
“Oh, we definitely can’t let him know,” the stranger said with a grin. “How about I walk you to class so we can make sure you don’t run into any other innocent pedestrians again?” he offered before removing his hands from my wrists. I hadn’t even noticed that he was still holding me. “Unless the guy is here and will beat my ass for walking his girl.”
I snorted. Decker probably would kick his ass. That is, if he gave a shit about me or if I wasn’t his student and his best friend’s little sister. “Nah. I’m no one’s girl. Too clumsy. Boys these days don’t like a damsel in distress,” I teased.
“Good thing I’m a man, then, huh?” he replied cheekily before stretching out his hand to shake in greeting. “I’m Max, by the way.”
“Short for Maximillian?” I asked. He seemed like the type to have a long name too complex for his personality.
“Yep, but I only let pretty, clumsy girls call me that,” he replied with a blush. I’d admit, that line was good, everything about this guy seemed almost too good. “What’s your name?” he asked.
“I’ll tell you if you get me to…” I picked up my schedule once more to check what my first class of the day was. “Calculus with Mr. Torres safely.”
“I’m in that class, too. Senior?”
“Yup,” I replied, popping the last syllable.
“Are you new? I haven’t seen you before,” he noted before dragging his eyes up and down my body again. His eyes lingered on my boots and the thin slice of skin between my plaid skirt and the leather.
“Just moved here from Texas,” I replied with a half-hearted smile. I didn’t want to talk about my past. Today was about starting a new adventure, with new friends and new memories. I wasn’t the sad little trailer trash girl anymore.
“Never been there, but I hear it’s nice,” he replied conversationally. We walked down the hallway, him guiding me through the traffic of students. The further we walked, the more I noticed other students staring at us—well—more importantly, staring at him. Whoever Maximillian was, he was a big deal and completely contradicted my plan to stay under the radar.
“Blakely!” a gruff voice called from down the hall, and my