He noticed me!

Sienna woke up late.

Not fashionably late.

Not “I had a long night” late.

She woke up so late that Maya was already dressed, had eaten breakfast, and was standing by the door staring at her.

“Sienna.”

“Mmm?”

“Get up.”

Sienna pulled the blanket over her head.

“I’m dead.”

“You've been asleep for ten hours.”

“That’s how I know I’m dead.”

Maya sighed.

“You have your first lecture in twenty minutes.”

Sienna's eyes flew open.

“Twenty?”

“Eighteen now.”

She jumped out of bed.

“Why didn't you wake me?”

“I tried.”

“When?”

“An hour ago.”

“And?”

“You told me to stop talking because you were having a dream about eating pancakes.”

Sienna paused while pulling on her jeans.

“That sounds important.”

“You also tried to throw a pillow at me.”

“I was defending myself.”

“From what?”

“You interrupted my pancakes.”

Maya stared at her.

“You're insane.”

“I've heard worse.”

Sienna grabbed the first hoodie she could find and pulled it over her head.

She ran a brush through her hair, looked at herself in the mirror, and immediately stopped.

“This is bad.”

Maya looked over.

“What?”

“My hair.”

“It looks fine.”

“It looks like I fought a lawn mower.”

“You're going to class, not a wedding.”

“That doesn't make me feel better.”

“Good.”

They rushed out.

Sienna made it halfway down the stairs before realizing she had forgotten her notebook.

She turned around.

Maya grabbed her arm.

“No.”

“My notebook.”

“You don't need it.”

“I absolutely do.”

“You're going to be late.”

Sienna looked toward the exit.

Then toward the stairs.

Then sighed.

“Fine.”

She followed Maya outside.

The campus was already busy.

Students moved in every direction, and Sienna had to dodge three people within the first thirty seconds.

“Does everyone here walk like they're being chased?” she asked.

“It's college.”

“Terrifying.”

They reached a large lecture hall just as the professor was closing the door.

Sienna froze.

Maya whispered, “Go.”

“You go.”

“Why?”

“Because if we both get thrown out, that's embarrassing.”

Maya pushed her.

Sienna stumbled through the door.

The professor looked up.

The entire room went quiet.

Sienna smiled.

“Good morning.”

The professor glanced at the clock.

“It is 10:07.”

Sienna looked at the clock too.

“Then... good morning with an apology?”

Someone laughed.

The professor tried not to smile.

“Find a seat.”

“Yes, sir.”

She hurried down the aisle.

There was one empty seat near the back.

Sienna dropped into it.

Then she noticed who was sitting beside her.

Jace.

She stared at him.

He stared back.

His lips slowly curved.

“Morning.”

Sienna looked around.

Then pointed at herself.

“Me?”

He laughed quietly.

“Unless there's someone else sitting here.”

She looked at the empty seat on his other side.

“Actually, there is.”

Jace glanced at the empty chair.

“You want to sit there?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Better view.”

“Of the board?”

“Exactly.”

He smiled.

“Right.”

Sienna turned toward the professor.

She could feel Jace looking at her.

She ignored him.

Or tried to.

“You were at the court yesterday.”

She kept her eyes forward.

“Was I?”

“You were.”

“Maybe you saw someone who looked like me.”

“I don't think so.”

Sienna finally looked at him.

“You remember me?”

“Hard to forget.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“Take it however you want.”

She turned back around.

“You're annoying.”

“I've been told.”

“By many people?”

“Usually.”

“I'm not surprised.”

Jace laughed under his breath.

The professor suddenly stopped talking.

“Sienna.”

She froze.

“Yes?”

“Since you seem to have something more interesting to discuss, perhaps you'd like to answer the question.”

The entire class looked at her.

Sienna looked at the board.

Then at the professor.

Then at Jace.

Jace was trying very hard not to laugh.

“What was the question?”

The professor sighed.

Jace leaned slightly toward her.

“Supply and demand.”

Sienna whispered, “Thank you.”

Then she looked at the professor.

“Supply and demand.”

“That was the topic, yes.”

She smiled.

“I'm glad we're all on the same page.”

A few students laughed.

Even the professor shook his head.

“Pay attention.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jace leaned closer.

“You're terrible at this.”

She whispered back, “You're distracting me.”

“I haven't said anything.”

“You're sitting there.”

He smiled.

“That's my fault?”

“Obviously.”

For the first time, Jace actually looked caught off guard.

Sienna turned back to her notes.

She could feel his smile beside her.

After class, Sienna walked outside with Maya.

“You sat beside Jace for an entire hour.”

“Yes.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“You didn't die.”

“Should I have?”

Maya grabbed her arm.

“Do you know how many girls would sell their souls for that seat?”

Sienna laughed.

“That's concerning.”

“You seriously don't find him attractive?”

Sienna thought about it.

“He's okay.”

Maya stopped walking.

“Okay?”

“Very okay.”

“Sienna.”

“What?”

“He's one of the hottest guys on campus.”

“That's your opinion.”

“You're impossible.”

“Thank you.”

They continued toward the student center.

Then someone bumped into Sienna.

Hard.

Her phone slipped from her hand.

“Watch where you're going,” a girl's voice snapped.

Sienna looked up.

The girl was dressed perfectly, from her expensive-looking bag to her perfectly styled hair.

She looked Sienna up and down.

“Sorry,” Sienna said.

The girl rolled her eyes and walked away.

Maya watched her.

“Don't mind her.”

“Who was that?”

“Vivienne.”

“Friend?”

Maya laughed.

“Definitely not.”

Sienna watched Vivienne disappear into the crowd.

Something about the girl bothered her.

Not because of what she'd said.

Because of the way everyone around her moved aside.

Like they already knew not to get in her way.

Sienna looked at Maya.

“She's important?”

“Very.”

“How?”

Maya lowered her voice.

“She knows everyone.”

“That's it?”

“Her family has money. A lot of it.”

Sienna nodded.

“Ah.”

She bent to pick up her phone.

The screen lit up.

Another message.

Unknown Number.

Her smile faded.

He's watching you.

Sienna's eyes moved across the crowded campus.

Students.

Cars.

People coming in and out of buildings.

Then she saw him.

Jace stood on the steps of the student center with two teammates.

He wasn't looking at her.

At least, she didn't think he was.

Then his eyes lifted.

Straight to hers.

Sienna's phone buzzed again.

Don't let him get too close.

Her fingers tightened around the phone.

Jace said something to his teammates and started walking toward her.

Maya smiled.

“Oh my God. He's coming here.”

Sienna forced a laugh.

“Maybe he needs directions.”

Maya rolled her eyes.

“You're ridiculous.”

Jace stopped in front of them.

His eyes settled on Sienna.

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

“You busy?”

Sienna glanced at Maya.

Then back at him.

“Depends.”

“On?”

“Why you're asking.”

Jace smiled.

“Come to the game tonight.”

Sienna blinked.

“Why?”

“Because I asked.”

“That isn't a reason.”

He laughed.

“Fine. Come because I want you there.”

For a second, Sienna forgot about the message.

Forgot about the strange warning.

Forgot everything.

Then her phone buzzed again.

She didn't look at it.

She didn't need to.

Somehow, she already knew what it would say.

And this time, she wasn't sure she wanted to know.