That’s weird.

Isabella.

“I’m waiting for my thank you.”

“Thank you?” I asked in disbelief, folding my arms as I stared at him. “You are not getting it.”

He scoffed, like I had just said the most ridiculous thing in the world. “I just helped you out with those stupid assholes.”

“I could have handled them myself,” I shot back, lifting my chin slightly. I didn’t like how easily he inserted himself into situations like that, like I needed saving. 

I didn’t.

“Yeah, right,” he muttered under his breath, but loud enough for me to hear.

I exhaled slowly, trying not to let him get under my skin...which, annoyingly, he always did. “What do you want from me?"

“Well…” he started, dragging the word out like he had all the time in the world.

Before he could finish, an intercom rang sharply through the hallway speakers, cutting right through the moment.

“Jacey Carter, report to the principal’s office now.”

The voice echoed, firm and unmistakable.

      Conversations around us dipped for a second before picking back up in hushed curiosity.

I turned back to him, narrowing my eyes. “What did you do?" He smirked, that same careless, infuriating smirk that made it impossible to tell when he was serious.

 “You do not wanna know this time around.”

I shook my head, half irritated, half… concerned, though I refused to admit that part out loud. “Can’t you be less troublesome for once?"

He tucked his hands into his pockets coolly, rocking slightly on his heels like this was all some kind of joke. “Nah. That’s boring.”

“Jacey Carter, your attention is needed in the principal’s office,” the teacher repeated over the speakers, more impatient this time.

“You’re gonna get expelled,” I told him flatly. It wasn’t even dramatic...it felt like a real possibility with him.

He tilted his head slightly, his expression softening just a fraction. 

“I like that you care, Isa… but that’s never happening.”

Before I could respond, the voice came again, sharper this time.

“Carter, you have 30 seconds to get to this office this instant.”

He let out a small breath, like he was mildly inconvenienced. “That’s me. Gotta go.” He flashed me a quick wink...so quick I almost thought I imagined it...then turned and jogged off down the hallway.

I stood there for a moment, watching his retreating figure as he disappeared around the corner.

Why the hell is he like that?

Is it just his sense of humor… or is he actually mentally deranged?

“I think it’s the other one.”

I turned abruptly, startled. “Huh?”

Nessa stood there, arms crossed, one brow raised like she had been there longer than I realized. “I think my cousin is mentally deranged,” she added dryly, “but what do I know?”

I blinked at her, caught off guard. “I didn’t mean to say that about him. Just that…” I trailed off, unsure how to finish without sounding worse.

She shrugged lightly. “I get it. Jacey doesn’t just cause trouble.” She paused, then added with a small, knowing smile, “Trust me, he is trouble.”

A small laugh escaped me before I could stop it. “Yeah… you can say that again.”

She tilted her head. “Have you seen him?”

“He was just called to the principal’s office,” I said, gesturing vaguely in the direction he’d gone. “Maybe you can check there.”

Her eyes widened almost instantly. “The principal called Jacey?”

“Well… yeah. Through the speakers.”

“Bye.” She didn’t even wait for another word before turning and hurrying off in the same direction he’d gone, her steps quick and purposeful.

I watched her go, shaking my head slightly.

Okay… what’s up with Nessa?

She’s weird. Just like her cousin.

Jacey.

With a small sigh, I turned back to my locker, double-checking that it was properly shut. The metal clicked into place, solid and certain, unlike everything else about this school.

Then I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and headed toward study hall, trying to push the whole interaction out of my mind.

But somehow… I knew it wasn’t going to be that easy.