It started in science class.
The empty seat beside Damien was usually mine — but today, I'd been asked to swap seats because the teacher wanted to "mix things up."
Which left the seat beside Damien wide open.
And then she walked in.
Jet-black hair. Designer backpack. A perfect little smirk painted with cherry lip gloss.
She slid into the chair next to Damien like she belonged there.
"Hi," she said, her voice like honey and fire. "I'm Serena Vale. You must be Damien."
I watched from the third row, pretending to focus on my notes.
Damien gave her a short nod. "Yeah. That's me."
She leaned closer. "You draw, right? I heard from someone. I'd love to see your sketchbook sometime."
I saw the way Damien's jaw clenched. He nodded politely but kept his eyes on the board.
She didn't stop.
"You should draw me sometime. I've been told I have a perfect profile."
Chloe whispered beside me, "Who is she?"
"Trouble," I muttered under my breath.
I wasn't the jealous type.
…Okay, maybe a little.
But something about the way she kept flipping her hair and laughing at things Damien didn't even say made my stomach turn.
I looked at Damien.
He wasn't flirting back — but he
wasn't exactly stopping her either.