CHAPTER THREE
"A new guy is joining our class,"I had slipped into my first-period, slipping into the back row. "Mid school year?" Sage had saved me a seat next to her. " Yeah, weird right," she whispered back to avoid Mr Turners gaze. I nodded."I heard he's from a rich family,"
It would make sense how he transferred here mid school year. Granfinx High holds itself in such high regard it usually turned away anyone who didn't fit into its shiny little mold. Money made exceptions. Always did.
Sage leaned in, "I bet he's one of those spoiled trust fund babies who thinks he owns the hallway just by breathing."
I smirked. "You say that now, but if he's cute, you'll fold."
She gasped. "Rude. But not wrong."
Mr. Turner cleared his throat at the front. Sage snapped straight in her seat. I dropped my gaze, trying to blend into the chair, the wall, the shadow I was always good at being. My cheek still ached from yesterday. I'd covered most of it with concealer, but the tenderness pulsed beneath the surface like a bruise that refused to let me forget.
The classroom door creaked open.
Everyone turned.
The new guy walked in with that quiet confidence that made people sit up straighter without knowing why. He was tall with messy dark hair, a sharp jawline and stood like he owned the room. Black jeans, charcoal hoodie layered under a uniform blazer, hands in his pockets like he had nowhere better to be but didn't really want to be here either.
His stormy blue eyes scanned the room—dark, unreadable. Then they paused.
On me.
Something tightened in my chest. Not because he was good-looking—which, objectively, he was—but because it felt like he recognized me.
But I didn't know him. I was sure of it.
"Class, this is Kai." Mr. Turner's voice broke through. "He'll be with us for the rest of the term. Please make him feel welcome."
Sage stiffened beside me.
"Kai?" she whispered sharply, eyes darting to me. "Summer's Kai?"
I blinked. Oh.
That Kai.
The one she said stopped texting. The one who asked to borrow my pencil that day in Chemistry. The one who made Summer spiral hard enough to put my face into a locker.
My breath caught. This wasn't going to go well.
Summer straightened in her seat,her perfect blonde hair catching the light just as she adjusted her posture, throwing her shoulders back.
Kai gave a polite nod to the class,then settled on the empty seat a few rows ahead of me. He dropped into it slinging his back under the desk.
Mr Turner clapped his hands together. "Alright, Kai I understand you transferred late ,so you might need a little help catching up," Before Summer could leap in with her syrupy offers to show him around,Mr Turner's looked on me. My heart sank.
"Elise," he said, a small, tired smile curving his lips," You're one of my top students. Would you mind helping Kai get up to speed ?"
Summer's eyes shot on me, a flash of irritation passing through her perfectly mascaraed lashes. She quickly composed herself, leaning forward so her necklace caught light. " Oh , I can show him around,Mr Turner," she offered,her voice dripping with fake innocence. "I'd be more than happy to help."
Mr Turner chuckled, shaking his head."I'm sure you would,Summer, but Kai needs more than just a tour. He needs someone who can help him with his assignments." Sage laughed loud enough for Summer to hear. She shot a piercing gaze.
" You're up for it , right, Elise?" he turned back to me. I felt a dozen pairs of eyes on me ,but his were the heaviest. Kai's eyes were on me , curious, maybe a bit amused. I swallowed hard.
" Yes, sir," I replied, forcing my voice to stay steady . I didn't need more people hating me ,since most of the girls in class were already eyeing him ,but I also couldn't refuse a direct order from a teacher.
" Great. I'll pair you two up for the term," Mr Turner nodded, satisfied, before turning back to the board. "Alright, let's get back to Shakespeare."
Summer's sharp gaze bore into my head, I could almost feel her plotting ways to remind me I was still at the bottom of the social ladder.
As the bell rang , signing the end of class , I quickly gathered my things , hoping to slip out before anyone could corner me. "Don't worry ,you have me," Sage comforted me after noticing how tense I was. " Catch you at lunch,you got this" she darted off to her class.
As I stood Kai turned,his eyes meeting mine across the rows of desks. " Thanks, Elise," he said his voice was surprisingly warm. " I appreciate the help." I blinked, caught off guard. " Uh, sure."
Summers heels clicked against the tile as she made her way over to his side ,looping her arm through his without so as a glance my way. She whispered something to him, and he chuckled,his eyes still on me for a split second before he turned and let her guide him out of the class room.
I watched them go, my heartbeat settling into an uneasy rhythm. This term was about to get more complicated.