Newbie

I rummaged through my wardrobe, knowing that the first day of my last year in high school was just around the corner. I could already picture myself in my favorite black hoodie, the one with my name printed boldly on the back, paired with ripped-free black jeans, a cozy black head warmer, and my sleek black sneakers. As I grabbed my car keys, the excitement bubbled within me—kaelin had just texted to say he was waiting at the school gate for me, and I could imagine the smirk on his face when he saw me.

Yes, I've come to notice that he often wears a mischievous smirk instead of a smile. While he doesn't smile much, I find that his smirk adds a playful element to his personality, making our interactions intriguing in a different way.

When I finally walked up to him, his eyes lit up to my surprise. "You look really good for the first day of the last year," he said as he pulled me into a tight hug. It felt like ages since we last saw each other. Kaelin was there too, looking effortlessly cool in his black hoodie, baggy jeans, sneakers, and a face cap worn backwards—a total bad boy vibe that I knew was hard to resist.

“Hey, Kaelin, could you ease up a bit?” I joked, and he stepped back, giving me a once-over. “What? Did you find anything after checking me out?” I added playfully.

“You're sexy,” he blurted out, which was so typical of him—always so shameless. I couldn't help but grin as I walked ahead, and he casually threw his arm around me. As we made our way down the hallway to our lockers, I could feel the curious eyes on us, and I overheard a girl whisper to her friend that Kaelin was totally her type. I chuckled—if Kaelin heard that, he didn’t let on, but I knew it could lead to some fun banter later.

Suddenly, Kae placed his hand on my waist, but as I turned to question him, he embarrassingly brushed against me. I slapped his hand away, feeling a rush of heat as I caught sight of a girl staring at us, her expression a mix of curiosity and perhaps envy. She had the look of someone who was just starting out, her wide eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of uncertainty. There was an undeniable charm about her—her long, wavy hair framed her delicate features, and a soft smile graced her lips, making her all the more captivating. Just as I found myself lost in her beauty, Kae caught me in the act and let out a teasing chuckle.

I shot him a disapproving glare, but he seemed completely unfazed by the embarrassment he’d just stirred in me. It gnawed at my insides for reasons I couldn’t fully understand.

“She must be new here,” he commented casually, his voice dripping with amusement. Rather than engage in a conversation that would only deepen my discomfort, I grabbed his arm and pulled him away, desperate to escape the situation and regain some composure.