Chapter 1 : Convincing Liar

Danilo’s Pov

A fist slammed into my chest, shoving me hard against my locker. Pain exploded through my ribs.

I barely had time to register the attack before a meaty hand fisted my maroon shirt, yanking me forward until I was nose-to-nose with some oversized jock. His breath—hot, rancid, and reeking of rotten bacon—hit me like a slap.

I gagged.

“What the hell is your problem?” I wheezed, struggling against his grip.

His blue eyes burned with fury of a thousand suns. “I got an F in history because of you, four-eyed freak.”

Ah. Now, it made sense.

I recognized him now—one of the many jocks who shoved their assignments onto me. I had six essays to write last week. One had to slip through the cracks.

Unlucky bastard.

“I might get kicked off the team because of you,” he snarled, slamming me back against the metal. My head snapped against the locker with a dull thud.

A sharp bolt of pain shot through my skull. I gritted my teeth.

The hallway bustled with students, but no one even glanced our way. Classic Wentworth High—where nerds get jumped, and no one gives a damn.

I forced myself to think fast. Fighting wasn’t an option. This gorilla would snap me in half.

Talking my way out? That, I could do.

“Look, man,” I said, my voice tight from the pressure on my chest. “I think you got the wrong nerd.”

His brow furrowed.

I pressed on, sensing doubt creeping in. “No one fails my assignments. You must’ve given yours to the other nerd—the one that kinda looks like me.”

“The other nerd?” His grip loosened slightly.

I sucked in a quick breath. “Yeah. Robbie. He is Latino. Black curly hair. He never takes off his glasses. Biggest difference? He’s got a mole on his nose. Me?” I forced a grin. “Flawless.”

The jock stared at me, eyes narrowing as he processed the information.

Then, just like that, he dropped me.

I hit the ground hard, knees smacking against the linoleum, but I kept my expression neutral. I couldn’t let him see how bad that actually hurt.

The jock cracked his knuckles. “Lunch break, cafeteria. If you’re lying—” His grin was slow, menacing. “You’re dead.”

I swallowed, nodding like the good, terrified nerd I was pretending to be.

He turned and stomped off.

The second he was gone, I let out a shaky breath, my hands trembling as I adjusted my glasses.

I’d just sent that dumbass on a wild goose chase. Hopefully, he keeps looking for “Robbie” until the end of the semester.

I was still straightening my shirt when a low chuckle sounded behind me. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Only Antonia had a voice like that—husky, like she smoked ten packs of cigarettes every morning. It had always baffled me how a girl my age could sound so old.

“Danilo, please tell me—who exactly is this ‘Robbie’ You just fed that idiot?” Antonia asked, a smirk stretching across her face.

I smiled, finally turning to face her. “Wait a minute… You go to this school, and you don’t know who Robbie is?”

Antonia’s smirk didn’t waver. “Come on, drop it, cousin. You’re good, but you don’t fool me.”

“And just like that, you killed the vibe.” I sighed, opening my locker and pulling out the books I needed for my next class. “How long were you standing there?”

“Long enough to see him slam you against your locker. I was going to help, you know—attack him from behind.”

I arched my brow. “You mean punch him in the nuts?”

Antonia grinned, casually smoothing down her shoulder-length black hair. “Yeah, if the moment called for it. But then I got closer and overheard you talking your way out of it. You’re a damn convincing liar, cousin. And frankly, it’s shitty that you’re not auditioning for the school musical.”

I grabbed the last book and shut my locker with more force than necessary, pretending I didn’t hear that last part. But, of course, Antonia wasn’t about to let it slide. She repeated herself, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

“Toni, we’ve talked about this. My father would never allow it. You know how he is. He is still pissed off that I am not part of the football team.”

“And I know you want to do this. Forget about your father for a second—do you want to do it?” Antonia’s hazel eyes bore into mine, unrelenting.

I hesitated. “Yes, I want to. But it doesn’t matter what I want, Toni. I still live under his roof, so I do whatever he says.” I turned away, avoiding her gaze.

“Come on, cousin. Be rebellious for once in your life. This is our senior year—if there was ever a time to go for it, it’s now.”

Her words dug into me, hitting a nerve I tried to ignore. But what could I do? My father had held a tight grip on my life ever since my mother and brother died three years ago. His hatred of me had only grown stronger in his grief. I am almost certain that he would have preferred that I was the one in the car that night and not my older brother.

I was still lost in thought when a sudden hush fell over the hallway. A ripple of whispers and murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire.

Then, he walked in.

Tall. Blonde. Blue-eyed. An I don’t give a fuck attitude wrapped around him like a leather jacket. Carter Hayes.

Late to class. Again.

My breath hitched as my gaze locked onto his face. Beautiful. That was the only word my brain could come up with as I imagined how it might feel to kiss those full, pink lips. For a moment, I forgot this gorgeous stud was trouble in the flesh.

Serious trouble.

Carter walked past me, completely oblivious to the way my entire body locked up. I forced myself to look away, but it was too late—my breath had already hitched, my pulse already spiked.

Then—whack!

Antonia smacked the back of my head.

I winced. “What the hell, Toni?!”

She grinned. “Dios mío, you’re drooling. You are literally fucking drooling.”

I scowled. “No, I am not. You’re insane. Why would I be drooling over that guy?”

Antonia just smirked, but before she could tease me further, a voice cut through the hallway.

“Hayes!”

The principal’s sharp tone stopped Carter mid-step. He turned, eyes half-lidded with disinterest, but there was something about the way his jaw clenched that made my stomach flip.

“My office. Now.”

Carter exhaled through his nose, then—just for a second—it felt like his gaze flicked in my direction.

And then he smirked.

Shit. Was he looking at me or Antonia?

I swallowed hard as he turned and strolled off, not a care in the world.

Am I going to be his latest target? Why am I excited at the thought of it?