Catherine's POV
I was still walking with Tessa down the hallway, ranting about how embarrassing it was to have your name on the lips of the entire school for the wrong reasons, when the noise hit us like a wave.
Students were rushing toward the entrance, murmuring, whispering, and some of them practically squealing. At first I thought it was because of me but I was wrong. Gossip had just found new blood.
"What's going on?" I asked, trying to see past the crowd.
"Cole's back," someone whispered.
"Wait, who?" I turned to Tessa, waiting to get an explanation from her. Her phone was halfway out of her pocket like she was about to record the drama.
"Cole as in… Collins Effron." She said the name like it was a curse. "Julian's one-time best friend."
I frowned. "Never heard of him."
"Oh, honey, you will." Tessa's voice lowered into gossip mode. I would place my bet on her always for the full gist. "He's the reason Julian stopped being all sunshine and smiles. Okay, maybe he never was, but still. Collins was his bro, like, inseparable, until…" She drew it out for dramatic effect. "Sasha."
I moved my head back a bit. "Sasha halls, again?"
"Yep. Miss I-think-I'm-God's-gift-to-men herself. Apparently, she cheated on Julian with Collins." Tessa winced. "Julian found out, beat the crap out of him, and it went viral. Like, people actually uploaded clips of it."
"Crazy," I muttered. "That's really insane."
"Oh, it gets better," she continued, her voice bubbling with excitement. "Collins didn't take the humiliation well, so he decided to 'redeem' himself. During basketball training, he brought some of his hood friends into school and they beat Julian up so bad he was hospitalized. That's why Collins got suspended for a whole year."
My jaw dropped. "You're kidding."
Tessa shook her head. "Nope. That's why seeing him now is such a big deal. Everyone thought he'd never come back. You know? Since he has to start Junior class all over again."
Before I could respond, I felt the atmosphere shift again. A few gasps spread through the hallway, and I turned around.
There Collins Effron was. He was tall, had sharp-features, and dark curls that fell over his forehead. There was a smug grin plastered on his face like he owned the hallway. His shirt was slightly undone, tie loose, sleeves rolled up, just enough rebellion to make every girl nearby stare.
He looked so happy, like he'd missed being the center of chaos.
He walked in confidently, scanning the faces like he was checking who still remembered him.
The whispers followed him like perfume.
"Wow," I whispered under my breath. "He's—"
"Hot?" Tessa guessed.
"I was going to say 'dangerous,' but sure."
He passed by us, two steps ahead, and then, like some movie slow-motion moment, he stopped and turned around.
Our eyes met and my pulse skipped. His gaze lingered on me longer than I liked. Then, out of nowhere, he let out a slow, amused, infuriatingly confident smile.
"Nice hair," he said casually. "Reminds me of my grandma. She used to have that same soft shade."
What the hell was that even supposed to mean? Before my brain could piece together a response, he was already walking away, hands in his pockets, looking far too pleased with himself.
Tessa elbowed me immediately. "Oh my God."
"What?" I hissed.
She grinned. "You're like a magnet. He barely stepped in and you already have his attention."
I groaned, my face burning. "Please stop. I attract bad luck, not men."
She just laughed, flipping her hair. "Well, congrats, you might officially become part of the Collins–Julian Cold War now."
^^^
After school, the sun hung low and hot over the parking lot. I was exhausted and just wanted to go home.
I found Gabriel leaning against the wall near the locker rooms, with his phone in hand. "You ready?" I asked.
Without looking, he replied. "Nope. I can't leave now. I have soccer practice at five."
"Five?" I groaned. "That's like ages from now."
He looked up and shrugged. "Sorry. You can wait if you want."
I gave him my best "you've got to be kidding me" look. "No thanks. I'll just figure something out."
Tessa couldn't help either, she had work at a café and was already sprinting across the lot with her apron in hand.
So that left me one last, painfully awkward option. Julian Vaughn.
I spotted him easily, he was sitting on the hood of his car, earphones in, scrolling through his phone. Of course he looked annoyingly perfect doing absolutely nothing.
I took a deep breath and walked over. "Julian?"
He looked up, removing one earbud. "Catherine."
"Uh…" I hesitated, suddenly regretting every life choice that led to this moment. "Gabriel's got practice, and Tessa's working, and—"
Before I could finish, a familiar voice cut through the air.
"Well, well. If it isn't the golden boy himself."
Julian's expression changed instantly. From calm to sharp, like a switch flipped behind his eyes.
Collins was leaning against a nearby car, his arms crossed, with a wide grin on his face. "Didn't think you'd survive those beatings, Vaughn but it's nice to you. I missed you. Guess you missed me too."
Julian ignored him completely, turning back to me. "What did you want to say?"
But Collins wasn't done. He pushed off the car and started toward us. "Is this your new chick?" His gaze dropped to me, a grin curling on his lips. "She's hot. I might just end up in bed with her too ."
My heart dropped and Julian's jaw clenched so hard I swore I heard the grind of his teeth. He slid off the hood, fists already forming.
I panicked and rushed in front of him, grabbing his arm. "Julian, don't," I whispered urgently. "There's no need to go physical."
For a second, I felt his muscles tense under my hand; coiled, dangerous, then he exhaled, lowering his hand slowly. Collins' smirk widened, amused by Julian's restraint.
"Wow," he drawled, stepping closer. "You really let her calm you down that quick, huh? Guess she's got a magic touch. Or maybe…" He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering with venom. "…her pussy must be really tight."
The world froze. This bastard just sexualized me! Julian moved but I moved faster.
Before I even processed it, my hand connected with Collins' cheek in a sharp, echoing slap. The sound rang out across the parking lot, cutting through the murmurs of nearby students.
"Watch your mouth," I snapped.
For a split second, he looked stunned, but soon he was smirking, slowly and viciously. "Oh, she's feisty. I like that. Reminds me of how Sasha was in bed."
That was all it took. Julian's fist collided with his jaw, and the next thing I knew, both of them were hitting, shoving, throwing wild punches. The crowd screamed, phones came out, and I was yelling for them to stop.
"Julian! Stop it!"
Neither of them heard me. Collins was laughing even as Julian's knuckles split skin. Julian looked ready to kill him.
It took a booming voice to end it. "Julian Vaughn! Catherine Brown! Collins Effron!"
Everyone froze. The teacher's glare could've melted steel.
"To the Dean's office. Now!"
Julian wiped the blood from his lip, glaring at Collins one last time before turning away.
Collins only grinned wider, spitting blood on the ground like it was a badge of honor.
I just stood there, heart pounding, realizing I had just gotten myself dragged into their war like Tessa mentioned earlier on.