LOGINSydney So here I was, planning a secret mission to stay in the library until the entire school emptied out so Maeve and I could make a quiet exit. Little did I know that a grey eyed butthole was somewhere waiting for me to show up. I didn’t even notice him at first. Maeve was going on about what happened at her grandaunt’s wedding—some of which I could swear she was exaggerating. But I was listening anyway, letting her on so she wouldn’t drag me to the boutique later on to pick out clothes I probably wouldn’t wear. I didn’t even see him standing there—maybe because I didn’t expect anyone to still be in school that late. Especially not jocks like him. But the moment Maeve stopped talking and nudged me, I knew something was wrong. I turned, my eyes landing on Tyler’s. He was just standing there, blank face, damp hair clinging to his temple, his bag slung over his shoulder in a way that looked normal on everybody else but somehow looked cool on him. I swear, I didn’t know wh
TylerPractice started the same way it always did.Sneakers squeaking across the gym, balls bouncing from different angles, the guys talking and chuckling when they could, and coach’s whistle shrieking whenever he barked orders.But none of it calmed the storm raging inside me, or kept my mind focused.This time, the cheer squad weren’t even there on the sidelines, forgetting to gossip in low tones.But because my brain had decided to replay three steady things on a loop.Sydney’s smile at Dean, her cheeks flushing in class.And then Dean’s sick ass voice. “Girl’s too easy. Trusts easily, too.”Whistle shrieked across the court.“Warm up!” Coach yelled.The guys jogged to their spots, balls thumping across the court. They stretched, laughed, and ran on the spot.But for some reason, I dribbled harder, bouncing the ball really hard on the ground.“Dude,” Michael said, raising a brow, “Your mom planning on changing the floors soon?”“Shut up.” I muttered as he laughed.My eyes strayed t
TylerThe next day should have been easy. Just another day at Lakeview—classes, practice, and the usual trash talks in the hallways.I was mostly over Sydney’s smile yesterday, and I forced myself to laugh at Dean’s jokes throughout the first period.But the thing about lying to yourself is that it eventually hunts you. Because somehow, my brain still kept noticing Sydney Walker everywhere.At her locker, walking past the science wing, sitting two rows ahead in history class.The way she tucked her hair behind her ear, and ducked her head when laughter grew too loud.Focus, Tyler. Focus.I had better things to worry about. Like the game next week. Or the fact that coach had managed to convince the principal to let us practice during lunch and through the last period.So that meant the gym would basically be ours until the end of school.Perfect distraction, right? No Sydney, nothing to remind me of that insignificant exchange between her and Dean.But before I could look away and sin
Tyler I noticed it on Monday.But I told myself to focus, take my mind off whatever had Sydney Walker in it, and just walk away.But the next day, though, it became a little more obvious, and there was no way I was going to ignore it.I didn’t even want to think about it before, but the idea of Dean and Sydney as partners had struck me the wrong way after that class.There’s no problem with that, right? Dean is just some wild, flirty piece of shit that makes jokes about the littlest things and always gets away with it because he has a reputation.But the truth is, Dean, like me, is capable of winning any girl over.Actually, not exactly like me because I’ve heard stories of Moms cussing at him.Most moms love me.The point is, Sydney around Dean was bad news.Unlike me, Dean moved without conscience, and as much as he was a ladies’ man, a lot more hated him—and not just because he’d broken their hearts.At first, I thought Dean wouldn’t show up for the project at all, and Sydney woul
SydneyBy the end of school, I was sitting at my desk staring at my chemistry notebook like it carried a virus.And I could swear I’d never been so scared of a piece of paper in my life.The assignment was due tomorrow, and just during the last class, I’d realized Dean didn’t have a copy of the reaction results. And you might be wondering why that’s so important.The reason is, we weren’t paired for nothing.As a group, we had to submit the assignment together—with the same results written in both our notebooks.And being the unserious jock that he was, Dean hadn’t even bothered asking for it. He just rushed out of class with everyone else once the last bell rang.Now I’m sitting alone in class, searching for a strategy, a plan or a way out other than walking down to the gym to hand it to him in front of the entire basketball team.“Shit!” Just the thought made the hair on my neck stand.I never liked the gym. And let’s not even talk about a gym filled with about thirteen of the tall
SydneyThe weekend came and passed in just two minutes, and the next thing I knew, I was pulling the blanket off my mirror to take a peek at my hair, while getting ready for school.Yay.The talk with Mom had done something different in my chest. But like always, that feeling stopped right outside the main doors of Lakeview High.The moment I walked in, the stares followed like they were never tired of wondering how many pounds I weighed. Or when next something bad would happen to me.Or the next thing Tyler Sinclair would say about me, because I could already feel something in my guts.But today I planned to stay out of everyone’s way and ignore the excitement buzzing through the school about Brooklyn’s birthday.The same birthday she’d said I probably wouldn’t want to attend.And honestly, she was right.I’d already decided to stay in my room.Because pretending I didn’t care that people were watching me was easier than showing up somewhere I clearly wasn’t wanted.“Bro, this week’s







