I walked down the hallway, closely followed by my friends as I reached my locker. I opened my lock and grabbed the handle to open it as one of them, Jack, started talking. "Have you seen the new girl? She's pretty hot, not gonna lie," he said, chortaling.

I rolled my eyes. "You literally think every girl in this tiny school is hot."

Henry, the genius, folded his arms and proceeded to annoy me. "Actually, every girl but Josephina." Jack nodded agreeingly. "Every girl but her. She gives me shivers," he said, rubbing his arms as if she just walked by." Besides, I need you to talk to her," he added, nodding at me.

I opened my locker and grabbed my cursed-math book. "If she's so hot, why do you have a problem with talking to her. You have no problem opening your mouth, so go introduce yourself or something." Jack vigorously shook his head. "No, if I do that, it'll look like I'm obsessed with her, and it'll look like I'm not open for the ladies when I definitely am."

"Wow, you sure thought of everything, Jack," chimed in Tobias. "Shut up, Toby. Stop taking Jack's side. His side sucks," I said, taking a sip of my water and slamming my locker shut.

Henry opened his mouth. "Don't even," I threaten, pointed at him. Jack leaned against the lockers and smiled. "You look like you need help," Henry commented, shooting me a glare.

Jack shushed him. "She's coming, she's coming!" he panicked.

I glanced over my shoulder and my breath jumped. Shoot, Jack might have been right at least once.

A blondie strolled down the hallway, wearing gray jeans and a tie-dyed shirt with her hair in a long, single braid running down her torso. She wore see through brown glasses and carried her books almost carelessly. She walked up to the locker next to mine and glared at Jack, who happened to be leaning on it. "Excuse you," she said, shoving him off it and opening the lock with one try.

Jack regained his posture almost immediately. "You're-uh-really good with that lock. It takes me at least seven tries to open it," he said, laughing. His voice faded away as she changed her books and left. He turned back to us, a faint pink tinge in his cheeks. " . . .You guys didn't see that, right? Yeah," he said, putting a hand behind his neck. He looked at me. "Go talk to her for me, now," he said, watching her anxiously as she kept going farther and farther away.

"Fine, but you owe me," I said, glaring at him and turning toward the girl. "Here we go," I muttered under my breath.

I walked toward her and my feet caught. I stumbled, and fell into another girl, Emily, trying to regain my balance. She fell backward and I leaped up to catch her. "I'm sorry, Em," I said, helping her up. She brushed her hair out of her face. "Thanks, Aiden." She walked away. I turned around and saw the blondie, right in front of me. I ran a shaky hand through my hair. "Hello, I'm Aiden," I said, and stuck out my hand.

Ayla

I strolled out of my English class and down to the water fountain at the edge of the hallway when a huge guy with no idea what deodorant was blocked my way.

“Excuse you,” I said, looking down, hoping to avoid a fight or argument.

The guy laughed threateningly and I recognized his voice. “I’m definitely excused. You’re the one in my way.”

I looked up. Oh, boy. “Whatever, Jack.” He seemed stunned that I knew his name.

I’ve got Aiden to thank for that. His name sent shivers down my spine.

“Is it true you told Aiden that I’m definitely lovesick from an old relationship and I deserve to go to the flea market to get a life? And there’s a cute girl in Canada that you think I’d like?” He seemed hopeful about the-apparent-Canadian girl that would interest him.

“Sure. Now can I go?” I asked, trying to edge around him. “I’m going to be late to class.”

He blocked my way even more. “No. I’m not done talking to you.”

“Well, I’m done talking to you. If it’s needed, I’ll take another way to my class, “ I said, turning around. Jack’s voice was impatient now.

“Listen, I need a date for the Fall Fling, and if I come with someone all the other women will back off of me,” he said, getting angry.

“So, apparently, the ‘someone’ in this situation is the new girl.” I said, turning back to him and putting my item-free hand on my hips. The bell rang overhead. “Look, can we talk about this later,” I said, mirroring his annoyance.

“Fine. Lunch. See you then,” he said, a small smirk curling on his lips and jogging away to his class.

I stood there for a moment, got a drink-hey, if I’m late, I’ll get what I need-and headed off to my next class.

Aiden

I watched Ayla storm smartly out of the cafeteria and Jack turned back to us.

“Nope, no,” I interrupted as he opened his mouth. “You’re just going to dig yourself into a deeper and deeper hole you won’t be able to get out of. You were roasted, and roasted BAD. I’m kind of surprised you don’t have a marking,” I added in a mutter, chewing moodily on my pizza.

On my side, Henry downed a whole bottle of chocolate milk and slammed it down onto the table, spraying all of us with chocolate droplets.

“Duuuddeeeee,” whined Tobias, looking disgusted and raising his hands off the table. “Nasty, bro. Get a stupid napkin and wipe it up, for goodness’ sake!”

Jack stood up abruptly. “I’ve got to go,” he panted, and jogged to the outside door and left.

Henry, Tobias, and me all froze. “That . . .was odd.” Henry dropped the wet rag on Tobias’s arm.

Tobias sprang from his chair. “GROSSSSS! WHY DO THESE THINGS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME,” he cried, annoyed and tried to walk away. He ended up slipping, hitting a random guy, causing the boy to throw his lunch tray up and bolt away.

Time seemed to slow down as the whole room watched the tray land-SPLAT-right on Tobias’s head. Applesauce dribbled down his back, milk covering his face and a piece of pizza in his hair and the other on the ground.

Tobias sat down on his feet and was frozen. His temple twitched every so often, his jaw flexing and unlexing. I went back to stabbing my pizza when he started talking.

“I’m not going to acknowledge it. It’s going to be ignored. I’m not even going to talk about it,” he shakily got up and walked out in the direction of the mens’ restroom, muttering to himself.

In the hallway, the silent lunchroom heard the sound of sneakers squeaking on the new waxed floor, and the sound of a tense body falling onto the floor.

They also heard a large amount of loud words exit a guy from the hallway, his voice almost just like Tobias’s.

Henry turned to me, a ginormous grin spread across his face. “He’s never going to live this down. That . . .That. Was. Glorious.”

At that moment, the vice principal walked out of the staff room and started yelling at Toby and the mess he’d made throughout the half of the school. Tobias yelled back, shouting about a tray, slipping, and a big bruise on his face.

Then there was a lot of screeching of shoes and yells.

Then silence.

Henry looked around for a moment, then started clapping. Soon, moments after, the whole room was applauding along, including me.

As we left Henry was laughing himself silly. “I can’t believe no one recorded that.”

I grinned. “Amazing performance.”

Ayla

I passed a poster of the Fall Fling and flinched.

I stood there, holding my books for a moment too long. A tall, filled-out guy accidentally ran into me, smashing my face in his rock-solid abs.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry!” the guy cried. His voice was awfully familiar . . .

“Aiden?!” I said, in shock, backing up slightly and staring up at his face.

He grinned shyly. “You missed one heck of a performance in the caf after you left,” he said simply, as if stating a fact.

I whipped out my phone and showed him the video that was secretly recorded. “I know. Anyway, have you seen Jack anywhere recently?” I asked, trying to look over his towering shoulder that was legitimately taller than me.

Aiden’s face fell slightly. “Why?” he asked, something hidden in his voice.

“I want to make sure he isn’t anywhere near to corner me into going with him to the dance!” I yelped, seeing Jack and hiding myself in the big figure of Aiden.

He placed his hands on my shoulders and wheeled me to a turn in the hallway. “I’ll distract him, you go,” he said, glancing over his own shoulder to check Jack wasn’t coming.

I stared at him in shock. “You’ll help me?” I asked, astounded.

He nodded fervently. “Duh. Why wouldn’t I? Besides.” He pursed his lips closed.

“Besides . . .what?” I said, intrigued.

Aiden glanced once more around, eyeing everyone close. “Nothing. I’ll tell you later,” he said, turning to look at me, finding ourselves inches apart.

Moments passed slowly as his eyes searched my face. I could smell his soft cologne: manly yet gentle at the same time. It was the same scent as what my dad smelled like, but different. I felt his breath on my neck, hot and ragged, almost like he was nervous, scared of being this close. I felt my face turning the slightest bit of pink. I turned my face away.

“. . .See you,” he said, turning and speed-walking the other direction. I stood there for a moment, trying to process what had just happened.

Finally I came to and headed off to my class.