[JASMINE – POV]
I wasn't trying to be the center of attention—but somehow, I always ended up there.
By the time last period rolled around, I was exhausted from all the whispers and stares.
I was headed to the art room to chill before the bell when I heard someone behind me.
"Skipping out on gym?" Lucas leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, eyes scanning me like I was another puzzle he wanted to solve.
"I'm allergic to forced physical activity," I said dryly.
He smirked. "So, you're lazy?"
"No, I just have standards." I arched a brow, waiting for him to go away. He didn't.
Instead, he walked in and shut the door behind him.
"What are you doing?" I asked, voice flat but heart racing.
"Just talking," he shrugged. "Unless you're scared to be alone with me."
I rolled my eyes, but my throat tightened. I wasn't scared. Just... curious. There was something in his tone—like he saw through people and didn't pretend.
"So talk."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Why'd you really transfer here?"
I narrowed my eyes. "And why do you care?"
He smiled, slow and lazy. "Because you're the most interesting thing to walk into this boring school in years."
I hated how warm that made me feel.
[LUCAS – POV]
She wasn't what I expected.
Most girls at Kingston threw themselves at me. Jasmine? She threw shade. And I liked it.
There was a kind of storm behind her calm—the kind I wanted to chase.
When I asked why she transferred, her guard shot up like a wall of glass. But there was a crack—I saw it. A flicker of something in her eyes.
"I don't talk about my past," she finally said, pulling her jacket tighter around her.
I stepped back, giving her space. "Fine. Then talk about now."
Her lips twitched. "You always this nosey?"
"Only when someone keeps me up at night."
She blinked, caught off guard.
I didn't mean it to sound that flirty... okay, I did. But I meant it too. Jasmine was already taking up space in my head—and I barely knew her.
"Careful," she whispered. "I don't fall easy."
I grinned. "That makes two of us."