All before entering the school building, I learned that Isla was a senior like me, her dad was the county sheriff, she had an older brother named Noah, was born and raised in Rosewood, and had never left Maine.
“I’m seriously going stir crazy. There’s nothing to do in this town,” she moaned. I smiled but didn’t comment. There were far worse things in life than boredom.
When we stepped inside, a locker-lined hallway accommodating a diverse crowd of teens and teachers greeted us. Several maroon and gold posters dotted the walls above the matching maroon lockers, sporting the school spirit and a growling cougar mascot. Curious eyes tracked our progress, making my skin feel tight and hot. It annoyed me. Not the staring—which was to be expected—but my reaction to it. I wasn’t normally this self conscious.
The downside to switching schools a month into the semester was catching up with what I’d missed. Every school had a different curriculum, and if I didn’t adapt quickly, I’d start to fall behind. I couldn’t let that happen, not if I wanted to earn scholarships for college—which I would desperately need since I doubted Aunt Tess would financially support me if I left her once I became a legal adult. Thankfully, I was used to the process by now. The school also had an art program, so I was good to go.
In the administration office, I was given a large stack of books and my class schedule. “Lemme see,” Isla said, snatching it out of my hand, then promptly scowled. “Ugh, we don’t have anything together until after lunch. Come on, I’ll show you to your locker, then your English Lit class.”
The scowl was there and gone again in a blink. Now it was my turn to be jealous. Despite my easy-going outward appearance, I was a sulker to the core. I accepted my schedule back and tucked it away so I could grab the large stack of textbooks.
“Here, I can help.” Isla reached for the stack, but I shook my head.
“How about you get the door? I’ve got this.”
“Deal. I didn’t want to chip my fresh nail polish anyway.” She grinned cheekily, opening the door with a flourish.
I smiled in return and nodded my thanks. Stepping through, I was promptly knocked sideways by a heavy hit to the shoulder. My books toppled to the floor and so did I. Except hands grasped my waist at the last second, keeping me from breaking my nose on the vinyl. I was lifted up and set back on my feet with ease, acutely aware of large fingers warming the strip of bare skin above my jeans.
“I’m so sorry,” a male voice rushed to say.
I turned and he immediately released his grip. The warmth from his touch continued to seep into my skin though. The feeling wasn’t unpleasant, just weird. Tucking clumps of hair behind my ears, I laughed nervously to show I was unharmed. “It’s okay. I really should watch where I’m going.”
He didn’t respond, so I looked up, only to see him studying his open hands with a frown. Okay, then. I cleared my throat awkwardly and bent to pick up the scattered books.
“Oh, no, let me do that.” He quickly joined me on the floor, scooping up books in his large hands. I used the moment to peek at his profile, discovering light brown skin, a square jaw, and spiked dark brown hair. He caught me looking and flashed a megawatt grin, his golden hazel eyes crinkling at their upturned corners. Before I could flush with embarrassment, he stood with the majority of my books and said, “You must be the new girl. I’m Reid.”
As I straightened to a stand, the warning bell rang.
“Oh, here’s your books. I gotta go.” When I held my arms out, I couldn’t help but notice that he seemed determined not to touch me this time. With a quick wave, he took off, calling over his shoulder, “Nice to meet you and sorry again.”
Isla came up beside me and whistled quietly, watching him jog up the stairs and out of sight. “I’m so jealous.”
I snorted. “Of what? Of being plowed over like a stalk of corn?”
“Yes. And because he touched you, and talked to you, and smiled at you.” She sighed dreamily.
“Who is he?”
“Only Reid Zimmerman, Rosewood High’s best football quarterback in decades and the most popular guy in school,” Isla crooned, then snickered. “Something tells me my life just got a whole lot more interesting now that you’re in town.”
I laughed with her, albeit uneasily. Because “interesting” in my world meant packed boxes and a moving truck.
2
The one perk to starting at a new school on a Thursday?
Today was Friday, and thank the fates for that.
I had woken up to a fever this morning. Still, I was determined not to miss school. It was only my second day, after all. First impressions hadn’t been all that great, but I could always make up for it today.
I opened the packet of Aleve I’d received from the school nurse’s office and chugged down the pills with a bottle of water.
“Not feeling well today, Kenna?” Isla set down her juice to eye me with concern. She’d basically adopted me and made sure I sat with her during lunch period, introducing me to a couple of her friends. Hailey Bradley and Peyton Goodall were nice, but nowhere near as genuine as Isla. I didn’t think anyone was. They stopped their conversation to watch me with interest.
“I might be coming down with something,” I admitted, poking at my salad which now looked unappetizing. “I’ll just take a nap after school. Probably still tired from the move.”
Isla nodded sympathetically, then brightened. “If you’re feeling better later, you should come out with us tonight. There’s going to be music and a big bonfire at North Point Cove.”
“Everyone will be there,” Peyton chipped in, playing with a strand of her straight black hair. “Including Reid Zimmerman.” Her dark eyes flicked a
