The next day, I thought I was safe.
I'd taken the long route to class, avoided every hallway I knew Tom usually hung around in, and even ducked behind the vending machine when I saw someone with hair that looked vaguely like his.
No more surprises today, thank you very much.
But fate—traitor that it is—had other plans.
As I turned the corner by the old music room, something soft and solid smacked right into me.
"Oof—!"
Books flew. I stumbled back. Arms caught me before I hit the floor.
"Whoa, easy there, Grace. Trying to fall for me already?" said that annoyingly familiar voice—right in my ear.
No. Way.
I blinked up and there he was. Tom Scout. Of course. His arms wrapped around me like some overly dramatic drama scene, eyes sparkling like this was the best part of his day.
"You again?!" I groaned, pushing him off while my heart raced like I'd just run a marathon.
"Hey, I was just passing through. You're the one who crashed into me. Not that I'm complaining." He flashed that grin again. The one I refuse to admit is cute.
"You call standing in the middle of the hallway 'passing through'?"
He crouched down to pick up the books I dropped, handing them back one by one.
"I like this book. But the main character's still in denial," he said with a teasing glance.
"That's not the plot," I snapped.
"Could've fooled me," he said with a wink.
I narrowed my eyes and snatched the last book from his hand. "Don't you have somewhere else to be?"
He leaned casually against the wall. "Nope. My schedule's surprisingly free today. Thought I'd use it to... make a certain someone fall in love with me. Day two of the challenge, remember?"
Day two and I'm already in trouble.
I turned around quickly to hide the growing blush and little smile, I didn't want him to see. And of course, like the drama queen I am, I little ran straight into Mia Harris near the way. She blinked at me. "Woah. You look like you just saw a ghost."
"I wish it was a ghost," I panted, grabbing her wrist. "It was Tom. We need to go. Now."
Without waiting for her response, I yanked her down the hall.
"Wait, wait, what happend?" she asked, half running beside me. "What did he do? Cry? Confess his undying love? Propose under a tree?"
"Stop making it sound romantic! It wasn't—okay"
Tom watched as Grace walked off with Mia, vanishing around the hallway corner. He chuckled to himself, having caught the tiniest blush on her face before she escaped.
"Cute," he muttered, turning toward his classroom.
Just as he reached the door, his friend David Frank suddenly threw an arm around his shoulder.
"So! Group project this week—your place sound good?"
"Of course," Tom replied without missing a beat.
As soon as they stepped into class, the room lit up. Every girl in the classroom turned to look at Tom like he was walking in slow motion. Practically charming.
David, trailing behind him, soaked it all in—throwing playful winks left and right like he was on a runway.
"Look at them, man! You're seriously not interested in any of these gorgeous girls?"
Tom stopped in front of their desks, spun around coolly, and flicked David's forehead with expert precision.
"Nope."
"Ow! Bro!" David clutched his forehead dramatically. "Seriously—who is she?!"
"Not your business," Tom said, sliding into his seat. "Stop bothering me and finish your homework."
David pouted, flopping into his chair. "Fine, fine… but I will find out. Just watch me."
He pulled out his textbook like a man on a mission, mumbling under his breath.
Tom just smirked, resting his chin in his hand as he stared out the window—eyes flicking to where he last saw Grace disappear.
He had no idea what kind of cozy little feeling had decided to camp out in his heart whenever Grace was around. It was like all his emotions just... chilled. One look at her, and poof—peace mode activated.
Her sweet face, her scent—everything about Grace clung to his mind like a catchy tune. He'd even caught himself scribbling her name in his notebook. Totally not on purpose. Probably...
"Grace?" David's voice yanked him back to reality. Crap, Tom thought.
David snickered, raising an eyebrow. "No way. A junior, huh? Bold choice."
"Don't mess with her. Just shut up," Tom grumbled.
"Oof, scary. Big bro is serious!"
Neither of them noticed a student nearby watching the whole exchange, a knowing smile playing on their lips.
"Interesting…"
***
It didn't take Grace long to breeze through her presentation in front of the class. Of course, she got a round of applause loud enough to make her blush a little.
"And that wraps up today's lesson with Grace's presentation. You're free to go," the teacher announced.
Cue the collective sigh of relief as everyone began packing up their things.
"Graaaace! Alex was totally staring at you the whole time," Mia whispered, nudging her.
Grace glanced over at Alex Middleton—the quiet guy with a blank face who, according to Mia, had a serious habit of sneakily watching Grace.
"Ignore him," Grace said with a shrug.
"I think he liiikes you~" Mia sang playfully.
Grace remembered Alex was the new kid who recently transferred into their class. But honestly? Not worth the brain space. She shook the thought away.
"I'm starving. Let's grab something to eat," Grace said as she stood up.
Then bam! She bumped straight into someone's chest.
Alex?
"You dropped your pen," Alex said, holding it out to Grace.
His face was ridiculously handsome, and his dark, cold eyes looked like they were hiding entire galaxies of mystery. Or... sleep deprivation. Who knows.
"Thanks," Grace said, taking her pen and dragging Mia out of the classroom without a second glance.
Alex, still standing there, covered his mouth with his hand as his cheeks went little blush.
That one word from Grace? Yeah—it melted his icy cool like the first ray of sunshine after winter.