Ivey's Pov
The rest of lunch passed in a blur. Josh was still glued to his phone, and Kayla kept throwing me those side-eyes — the kind that said I see what you're not saying.
I tried to shake off the way my thoughts kept drifting back to him. The new guy. Every time I managed to push him out of my head, something would pull him right back in. A memory of his laugh. The way his eyes had met mine. The way my stomach had flipped.
By the time the bell rang, I felt drained — like I'd already survived an entire week of school, not just half a day. Afternoon classes dragged. I tried to focus, really tried, but my brain wasn't cooperating.
Who is he?
And why did it feel like there was some invisible thread tying me to him?
Kayla and I walked together to our next class, our footsteps echoing through the halls. And then I saw him — again.
Leaning against a locker, laughing with a group of people. His voice carried easily, smooth and confident, like he belonged here. Like he'd always belonged.
He moved between conversations effortlessly, like he knew exactly what to say to everyone. Charming without even trying. The kind of guy people just liked, even if they didn't know why.
But then, then… our eyes met.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
A jolt of something ran through me — not fear, not quite excitement. More like... recognition. I looked away fast, my heart thudding like I'd just run up three flights of stairs.
What is wrong with me?
His gaze lingered in my chest, in my skin, like it had left a mark.
I never felt like this with Josh.
I shook my head, trying to snap out of it.
"Earth to Ivey," Kayla said, waving a hand in front of my face. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
I forced a laugh, brushing it off. "Just tired, I guess. All this first-day stuff is getting to me."
Kayla gave me a look. "Uh-huh. Just don't forget you already have a boyfriend, okay?"
Her teasing made my face go hot. "I know," I muttered. "I'm not even thinking about that."
Except… I was.
I couldn't stop.
What's wrong with me?
I thought I loved Josh. I mean, we'd been through a lot together. Maybe things were just off right now. Maybe I missed him. Maybe he missed me. Maybe—
Maybe.
Later, as I sat down in history class, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to find Josh standing there, leaning over my desk with a grin on his face.
"Hey, babe," he said, casually brushing his fingers over my arm. "Mind if I sit with you?"
I smiled — but it felt... wrong. Like it didn't quite reach my eyes. "Of course."
He slid into the seat beside me. I tried, really tried, to focus on him. To feel something.
The teacher started talking about the French Revolution. Something about guillotines and power and rising tension.
But all I could think about was his smile.
His eyes.
That strange electricity I couldn't explain.
What is happening to me?
Josh was saying something , joking maybe , but his voice faded into the background.
All I could think was:
Who is he?
And why am I so drawn to him?