Chapter 1: Worst Day Ever

ELENA’S POV:

The rain in Ridgewood was aggressive and not a cute little drizzle. No, this was the kind that slapped you in the face, soaked through your clothes in seconds, and made you question every decision that led you outside including my entire life.

I dragged my hoodie tighter over my head, which did absolutely nothing except make me look like a wet, miserable ghost. My jeans were already clinging to my legs and my sneakers squelched with every step like they were personally offended.

“Fantastic,” I muttered, kicking through a puddle I didn’t even try to avoid this time. “Love this for me.”

My bag slipped off my shoulder, and I caught it just before it hit the ground. Too late. The damage was already done. Water had definitely gotten inside.

My notes.

Hours of sitting in that cramped, coffee-stained media office, trying to prove I actually deserved to be there were all gone. I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Yeah, that tracks.”

My phone buzzed in my hand, and I almost dropped it because my fingers were freezing.

Lora.

Finally.

I answered immediately, pressing it to my ear while trying to shield it from the rain with my sleeve. “If you tell me you’re at home, warm, and doing absolutely nothing, I will forgive you for every bad decision you’ve ever made.”

Loud music blasted through the line.

So. Not at home.

“Oh my God,” Lora shouted over the noise, laughing like she was having the time of her life. “Why do you sound like you just crawled out of a river?”

“Because I basically did,” I groaned, pushing wet hair out of my face. “I’m literally drowning out here. Like, if I die, I need you to tell people I went down fighting.”

“Relax, Titanic,” she laughed. “Where are you?”

“Walking back from the journalism meeting.”

There was a pause. Then, “Wait you walked? In this weather?”

“I didn’t think it was going to turn into a natural disaster!”

“Girl, the sky has been threatening violence since noon.”

“Okay, well, I missed the warning signs, clearly.”

She laughed louder again this time, and I could hear people shouting in the background, music thumping, and glasses clinking.

“Where are you?” I asked, even though I already knew.

“Raven’s Nest,” she said, completely unapologetic. “And before you start, it wasn’t my idea. I got dragged here.”

“By who? Your lack of self-control?”

“Wow, rude. I have excellent self-control. I just choose not to use it.”

A car sped past me, sending a wave of water up onto the sidewalk. It hit my legs, soaking me even more, and I stopped walking just to stare at the road like it had personally betrayed me.

“I hate this school,” I said flatly.

“No, you don’t,” Lora shot back immediately. “You hate your tragic backstory. The school is just the setting.”

I rolled my eyes, even though she couldn’t see me. “You’ve been watching too many movies.”

“And you’ve been overthinking since 2003. What else is new?”

I huffed out a breath, trying not to smile. “I have not been overthinking since 2003.”

“Please. You came out of the womb analyzing people.”

I shook my head, stepping around another puddle this time because I had some self-respect left. “Can you come get me or not?”

She made a dramatic groaning sound. “I would, but I just got a drink and if I leave, I’m not getting back in. The line is insane.”

“Lora.”

“Elena.”

“I’m freezing.”

“Okay, valid.” I could hear her shifting, like she was moving somewhere quieter. “Call your brother.”

I hesitated. She caught it immediately. Of course she did.

“Oh my God,” she said. “Don’t start.”

“I’m not starting anything.”

“You are literally starting something right now.”

“I just got back, Lora. I don’t want to—”

I sighed, dragging a hand down my face. “He’s probably busy.”

“Yeah, busy being hot and probably banging some girl,” she said dryly. “Just call him. That’s what big brothers are for.”

“Lora...” I groaned, “spare me the details about my brother’s sexual escapades.”

“Please,” she scoffed. “You know the girls can’t resist, he puts the H in hot.”

Despite everything, I laughed. “Lusting over my bro?”

“Please honey, he’s not my type but call him. Worst case, he ignores you. Best case, you get rescued and stop sounding like a soggy child.”

“I do not sound like that.”

“You absolutely do.”

I rolled my eyes again. “Fine.”

“Text me when you’re safe, okay?”

“I will.”

I hung up before and for a second, I just stood there in the rain, staring at Ethan’s name on my screen then I hit call. It rang twice.

“Hey, El.”

“Hey,” I said, trying to sound normal. “Are you busy?”

“Just finished practice,” he said. I could hear noises behind him. “What’s up?”

“I’m kind of stranded,” I admitted. “It’s pouring, and I underestimated it, and now everything’s soaked and I’m pretty sure I’m five minutes away from hypothermia.”

He went quiet for half a second. Then, “Where are you?”

I told him.

“I’d come get you, but Coach is on my ass right now,” he said, frustration slipping into his voice. “We’ve got early drills, and he’s already pissed about something.”

“Ethan, it’s fine,” I said quickly. “I’ll just—”

“No,” he cut in. “Text me your location.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Elena.”

I exhaled. “Fine.”

“I’ll send someone to pick you up.”

My stomach tightened a little. “You really don’t have to do that.”

“I’m not leaving you out there,” he insisted. “Just stay where you are.”

I didn’t argue again.

“Good. I’ll text you when he’s close.”

“Thanks.”

“You really okay?”

I stared out at the rain, blinking against the water on my lashes. “I’m good.”

He didn’t push. He never did. “Alright,” he said. “Hang tight.”

The call ended. I shoved my phone back into my pocket and wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold in what little warmth I had left. Minutes passed or maybe it was longer. The rain didn’t let up. If anything, it got worse, pounding against the pavement and soaking me even more.

Then headlights cut through the storm. A dark sleek Mercedes pulled up in front of me. I straightened a little. That had to be the ride. I stepped closer, hesitating just a second before leaning down toward the passenger window.

It rolled down slowly and everything in me went still. Noah Hale looked back at me and for a second, I forgot how to breathe.

“You're not waiting for me to get the door for you, I hope.” His deep velvety voice send shivers down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold.

I let out a angry breath and reached for the door, pulling it open and sliding into the passenger seat. Trust Noah to still be the same asshole he was in high school. The car pulled away from the curb, and I sat there, soaked, heart pounding too fast realizing I wasn’t cold anymore.

Just trapped in a car with the one person I never should have had to face again and my day couldn’t get worser.