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He shakes his head at me and mutters something as he sips his beer.

I glance at Violette when I sit. She’s looking back, until the precise moment my eyes meet hers, then she looks away.

It's only a second but it gives me the tiny spark of hope I need. She’s definitely gonna try to fight me, but I can be persuasive as fuck when I want something.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you rarely get second chances in life, so if this is the universe giving me one, I’m taking it.

AGE 18

Dalewood High, Library

“I gotta make this quick, got practice in an hour and I can’t be late,” Rowan says as he pulls the chair out across from me.

I feel the eyes on us from the table over, I know what they’re all thinking. Why is Rowan Kingsley, the most gorgeous guy in school, captain of the rugby team, sitting withViolette Taylor? That’s assuming they even know my name. Most of them are airheads who get drunk and party every weekend, but because I don’t, because I spend my nights studying and mornings prepping our school breakfast club for kids who don’t have enough food at home, I’m a social pariah.

I look up at him and my heart skips a beat as I smile. Rowan wears faded blue jeans and a white T-shirt with a black and white flannel over top, his standard Seahawks hat is on his head backward and a few stray dark blond waves escape it. God, he’s gorgeous.

How I got lucky enough to be paired with him for our final biology assignment, I’ll never know. Although, I did almost throw up in the girls’ bathroom before I came here.

I see him all the time because he’s always at our place. He’s my twin brother’s best friend and he’s always been nice to me. I’ve sat quietly and read my books while he and Jacob play video games in our basement. I’ve watched the two of them play rugby since junior year, and I’ve washed the dishes while he’s dried after many dinners at our house, but I’ve never been alone with him for any length of time, and that makes my palms sweat like crazy.

I pull my black hoodie away from my stomach a little to make sure it’s not clinging to the wrong places while he sits this close to me. I’ve been trying to stick to my diet and exercise routine because I really wanted to lose ten pounds before summer came and Rowan was hanging around our pool every day. But it was mine and Jacob’s birthday last week, so I’ll admit I’ve eaten way too much cake,andI’ve had my period, so in turn I’m feeling super bloaty today.

“You look nice today, Vi,” Rowan says as if he’s battling my inner thoughts.

I feel the blush creep up my neck.

“You always look nice,” I blurt out.

Rowan’s eyes narrow a bit and he smirks, taking a sip from a bottle of water.

“All right, well, since we both look nice, let’s get started.” He chuckles.

I’m pretty sure I’m beet red, but I start talking anyway. Small talk with Rowan Kingsley may not be my thing, but biology? I’m confident.

“Well…I’ve already started laying the project out for us,” I tell him, opening my notebook. I love science so I didn’t mind getting it started, and besides, Rowan has a lot on his plate with his varsity rugby playoffs coming up.

“Of course you did.” He grins. Butterflies take flight in my stomach. “I don’t deserve you, Vi,” he says.

“Hi, King,” Kyleigh Miller, captain of the cheerleading squad, says as she passes by our table. Just looking at her lowers my self-esteem by about a hundred points. She’s just one of those girls who is unfairly pretty. Every guy at Dalewood High thinks she’s the hottest girl in school, and her two lackeys, Brittany Tucker and Carmen Smith, follow behind, trying desperately to be just like her.

“Hey,” Rowan says without fully turning to face her. I watch his fists flex and his brow furrow, and I wonder why he doesn’t look adoringly at her like everyone else does. He pulls his book out of his backpack as she stops behind him, placing her hand on his shoulder.

“We can’t wait to watch you play Friday, you guys are gonna kill North Umber,” she says, running that hand down his broad shoulder, touching him the way I’ve always wished I could.

“Yeah, uh, thanks,” he says, shrugging her off.

She gives me the once over. Where she’s all tall and thin with blonde, shiny hair and the world’s most perfect body, I’m short and softer than I’d like to be, with wild curly hair that’s neither blonde nor brown. It’s a sort of in-between and never really straightens no matter how hard I try. And I’m plain. I don’t have big blue eyes like Kyleigh. Those blue eyes drift back to Rowan now. I’m no match for her and she knows it. She looks down at my notes and our biology textbooks between us on the table.

“Didn’t know you needed a study partner. I would’ve done that with you,” she says with a pouty little look, showing her hurt.

“Thanks, but Vi and I got this,” Rowan says, looking back at me with a grin “Don’t we, Vi?”

“Yeah,” I reply quickly, but to my horror, my voice cracks. I clear my throat. “Must be thirsty,” I mutter.

“I’ll say,” Brittany says as the other two girls snicker.

My cheeks heat with embarrassment.

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