Page 1 of Only When It Breaks

Chapter One

Emmie

I find Kai Banks’ mobile phone face-down in a puddle of melted slush. It’s just outside the car park, and at first, I walk right past it. I mean, it could belong to literally anyone. But then I catch sight of the cracked black case with the white KB he’d scrawled in sharpie on the back, and well, of course, I stop. Kai’s the football golden boy. Self-declared college royalty. Also, my personal hell.

I glance around to check if anyone is looking before crouching down to pick it up, fiddling with my shoelace for extra cover. I wipe the screen using my hoodie sleeve, and it lights up instantly. No passcode. Typical, classic Kai. Cocky enough to think no one would ever touch his stuff. And maybe he’s right; anyone else would take it right to him. But today I’m feeling extra dangerous.

I drop it in my bag and head up the college steps, my heart thudding harder than it was just minutes ago. Not because I’mdoing anything wrong, okay, maybe a little, but because I already know exactly what Ava will say. “Are you seriously keeping Kai Banks’ phone? What, are you gonna ransom it for nerd rights or personal security detail?”

Not the worst idea, to be honest.

Inside, the halls are mostly empty. The final bell had rung over an hour ago, and most of the student body had cleared out. Probably off to whatever college rituals popular people take part in. Like drinking overpriced iced frappes and discussing lip gloss.I wouldn’t know.I’m never invited.

I tuck my hair behind my ear and make a beeline for my locker. I pretend I don’t hear the high-pitched squeal from behind me. “Move geek girl.”

Bella Hart.

I step aside without looking at her, mostly because if I did look, I’d probably glare, eyeroll, or something else that would set her off. She feeds off my bad attitude like some sort of chaos demon.

As she passes, her shoulder knocks mine. It’s just enough to be ‘accidental’, so I ignore her. “Gross,” she mutters, shuddering. Her bitching friend, Luna, giggles. “Now I need to shower. I can’t see my Kai now I’ve touched that.”

I can’t hold it in; I don’t even try. “Your Kai?” I ask, and she stops, turning to face me. “Only I heard Jessica Coles tell her friends she was seeing him later,” I say innocently, smiling like I suddenly have her back.

Her eyes narrow, and she hooks her arm in Luna’s “Come on,” she mutters, “I don’t want to be late.” And they flounce off at speed.

I roll my eyes, taking the books I need from my locker and stuffing them into my bag. I don’t care if Bella and Kai are a thing.Ifthey’re even a thing. I don’t even care that she’s carvedtheir initials and a heart on the gym bench. It’s none of my business.

Except now I have his mobile phone. And a very petty, tempting idea.

I smile to myself all the way to history class, where I wait for Ava to finish homework club.

Ava often comes back to my house after college. Her parents are always busy working, and my mum is the sort of woman who loves company. She’d cook for the street if she could, having everyone join us for dinner. So when we get back, and Mum’s plating up a chicken roast dinner, it’s no surprise there are three plates out.

“Just in time,” she tells us as we drop our bags by the door. “Wash your hands and set the table.”

It’s not until we’ve eaten and retreated to my room that I pull the phone from my bag.

Ava’s eyes narrow instantly. “Where did you get that?”

“Found it,” I say, unable to hide the grin stretching across my face.

She leans forward, already suspicious, but then recognition flashes in her eyes. Her jaw drops. “No way,” she breathes. “Is that . . . Em, is thatKai Banks’phone?”

“Yup.”

Her gasp could shatter glass. “Why do you have it?”

“I’m going to have some fun,” I say, casually unlocking the screen like I’ve done it a hundred times.

She’s already shaking her head, eyes wide in warning. “Absolutely not. Emmie, no. This is, like, off the scale of bad decisions.”

“Absolutely I am,” I reply, voice bubbling with excitement as I swipe through the screen. “After I’ve checked through the entire thing.”

“Em . . .”

“I’m not hacking into the government’s top secrets, Ava. I’m just scrolling through the personal secrets of the school’s biggest prick. This is practically public service.”

She groans, collapsing onto my bed. “You are going to get hexed. Or expelled. Or worse, he’ll find out and tell Bella.”

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