Chapter 3

Lila's Pov

Monday morning rolled around faster than I wanted it to. I was still half-asleep when Mom called from the kitchen, her voice bright and too cheerful for seven a.m.

“Lila! You’re going to be late if you don’t get up now!”

I groaned into my pillow before forcing myself to sit up. The sunlight slipped in through the blinds, cutting across my bed in thin stripes. I stretched, dragging myself out of bed and into the bathroom for a quick shower.

By the time I got downstairs, Harper was already sitting at the counter with a piece of toast in her hand. She looked way too awake for my liking.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” she teased.

I rolled my eyes, grabbing a banana and my bag. “Morning. How do you get up so early?”

She laughed at my statement. “Easy. I always sleep early. You know that.”

“Where's the fun in that?” I asked and we both chuckled.

Mom glanced at both of us as she sipped her coffee. “Ready for school?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I muttered.

She smiled. “Let’s go, girls. You don’t want to be late.”

The ride to school was filled with Harper talking about random stuff, her weekend, her brother’s terrible guitar playing, Clint's possessive side, the history assignment we still had to finish. I mostly listened, throwing in a few words here and there.

I don't know what it was but I was in a terrible mood that morning. Mostly like I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

When we pulled up in front of the school, Mom wished us a great day. “Be good, you two.”

“No promises,” Harper said with a grin, hopping out of the car.

“Bye, Mom.” I told her and she threw me a kiss before driving off to work.

We headed inside, the morning air crisp against my face. The second we stepped through the main doors, it hit me, there was a strange buzz in the air.

Students were clustered in little groups, whispering and laughing. Some were leaning against lockers, others huddled in corners, all with the same look of gossip lit in their eyes.

“What’s going on?” I asked, glancing around.

Harper smirked. “You seriously don’t know?”

“Nope.”

“They’re talking about the new transfer student,” she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I raised a brow. “He hasn’t even arrived yet and people are already talking about him?”

“Are you kidding? People have been talking for weeks. Today’s his first day.”

I shrugged, opening my locker. “Not my problem.”

Harper laughed. “You keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true.”

The bell rang, and we made our way to the first period. My morning was a blur of classes and half-hearted note-taking. I was just happy when the final bell for the day rang, signaling freedom.

Or at least, I thought I was free.

“Lila,” Mr. Turner, my English teacher, called as I was packing my bag. “Can you do me a favor? I need you to watch the students in detention until I get back from the office. Just for a few minutes.”

I hesitated. “Uh… sure.”

The detention room was quiet when I walked in. A few kids sat slouched in their seats, looking bored out of their minds. I let my eyes drift over them one by one.

Then I saw him.

He was sitting at the back, leaning casually in his chair, arms crossed. Dark hair fell slightly into his eyes, and there was something about the way he looked at me, steady, unblinking, almost like he was trying to read my mind.

Our gazes locked for a few seconds. My chest tightened. Then I looked away first, pretending to focus on a loose paper on the teacher’s desk.

The air felt heavier with him in the room. I didn’t know why.

Five minutes later, Mr. Turner walked back in. “Thanks, Lila, you can go now.”

I grabbed my bag, glancing back before I left. He was still watching me. Same piercing gaze, same unreadable expression.

When I reached the hallway, Harper was waiting for me.

“So?” she asked.

“So what?”

“Did you see him?”

I frowned. “Who?”

“The new guy! Ryder. Don’t tell me you didn’t notice him.”

I shrugged. “He was in detention.”

“Yeah, because he corrected a teacher and he was late to History class.”

I stopped. “Wait, History? Our History?”

She grinned. “Yup. That means you two will be in the same class.”

“Good for him,” I said flatly. “Not like I’m going to talk to him.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t care. I just want to be left alone.”

Harper studied me for a second. “Fine. But… what do you think about him?”

I hesitated, then said, “He’s cute. But definitely not my type.”

She burst out laughing. “You’re impossible.”

Before I could respond, the detention door opened and students began to file out. Ryder was the last one.

He walked like he owned the hallway, shoulders relaxed but confident. His eyes found mine immediately, and for a split second, it felt like he could see straight through me. Like he could see every thought, every memory I tried to bury.

I looked away, turning to walk in the opposite direction.

But the image of his eyes stayed with me, sharp and unshakable. I told myself it was just my imagination, that I hadn’t really seen myself reflected in them.

Deep down, I knew I was lying.

Somehow, I could tell… we were both messed up in our own ways.

We were halfway to the exit when Harper spoke again. “You know, Ryder’s had a rough past. He’s not just some bad boy for the sake of it. He’s… been through stuff.”

“Everyone’s been through stuff,” I muttered.

“Yeah, but this is different. He’s got talent. If he doesn’t get a scholarship, he’s done. That’s all he wants, college. A fresh start.”

I sighed. “And why are you telling me this?”

“Because…” She gave me a hopeful look. “Maybe you could help him. Just think about it.”

I shook my head. “Not happening.”

But even as I said it, my mind wandered back to that piercing gaze in the detention hall.