Taking a deep breath, my dry throat feels like sandpaper, I open the classroom door to a room full of students. Their eyes suddenly all on me. I freeze.

“Can I help you?” an older man standing at the front of the class wearing a blue polo shirt and khaki pants asks.

“I’m River, the new student.” I hand him a slip that the front desk gave me, and his eyes light up with recognition.

“That’s right! Well, welcome to biology. Find a seat and I’ll—”

My bag clutched to my chest, I look around for an empty seat. It’s so packed in here I start to panic I’ll have to sit on the floor. Alas, there’s one empty chair and it’s at the back of the class and I all but run to it.

“Excuse me.” I turn sideways, snaking myself through the tight space between desks.

Setting my bag down on the floor, I slip into the seat and it wobbles from my weight. Eyes wide, my hands strangle the side as I try and catch my balance. Looking down, one of the legs is shorter than the other three, like it’s missing a peg or something. Shit.

Not daring to move, I situate myself carefully and look up just in time to find a tall guy wearing a letterman jacket with the number nine printed along the back of it. His choppy blond locks fall into his face, and he hits me with a charming smile while he walks toward me.

Holy shit, it’s the guy from the party with baby blue eyes I could never forget, looking right into my line of sight.

“Trade me seats?” he suggests. His hooded eyes, sharp chin, and kissable lips remind me of that night like it was yesterday. Tension builds between us as he knows who I am and I know who he is. My body fills with liquid heat that couldn’t compare to the bonfire of that night we met. Everyone is watching us, and I clear my throat and avert my eyes downward.

“Oh, that’s okay, I—” The desk wobbles, and a couple girls start to laugh at my expense. Giving them a side glance, I can already tell they’re the popular clique of the school. The type everyone hates but secretly wants to be. Except me.

Pressing two palms on top of the desk he leans in, the smell of Old Spice wafting around me. Goddamn was he this good-looking back when we hooked up?

“Come on, don’t make me look like an ass in front of everyone.” He winks, and I feel his smoldering stare all the way to my toes. Closing my eyes, I breathe through the sound of his familiar voice. It’s definitely him. It’s the guy I gave my virginity to one hot spring night, and I didn’t even catch his name. This is awkward.

No names, no seeing each other again, and definitely no ocean blue eyes I’d ever have to look at again. That was the way it was supposed to be. Especially after letting myself go like a Catholic school girl who was pissed at her parents.

“Okay fine.” I shrug. He’s already made a big enough scene. Standing, I grab my bag and head to the desk he was sitting in with shaky knees. He slips into the broken one without problem, it doesn’t even wobble on him. Go figure. The girls in the corner stare at me with red faces, obviously not happy Mr. Letterman Jacket was nice to me. I wonder if one of them is his girlfriend? Were they together when we were together?

Tucking hair behind my ear, I try and keep my head down the remainder of the class, but adrenaline fills my veins knowing he’s staring at me, taking in every inch of skin I have to offer from just two seats over. Risking a glance, I look at him – he’s watching me. He smirks, chewing on the end of a pencil before taking his gaze back to the teacher who is talking about what they’ve learned this year. I don’t know what that is at the moment. I can’t think, I can’t even breathe.

“Warner, do you think biology will help you this summer?” the teacher calls upon him and it catches my attention that his name is Warner. I like it. It’s strong and bold. Like him.

“Oh, I’m sure I’ll have a lot of experience with biology this summer, Mr. Lightner.” The whole class begins to chuckle, and Warner looks at me as if I am his newest prey.

Gulping down the lump in my throat, I continue to draw on my notepad. He is cute. His face is sharp, cheeks covered with stubble. His eyebrows thick giving his baby blue eyes the touch of haughtiness that has me curling my toes when he looks at me. And those lips, Jesus I’ve never seen such a full pair of lips on a guy, his cupid bow making me nibble at my own.

Side-eyeing him, my eyes trail down the rest of him, curious if he’s muscular. Is he tan? Does he have tattoos?

He catches me looking, and I still. Our eyes locked, my mind replaying the moans of that night on repeat in the back of my head.

The bell rings, and everyone stands instantly, breaking mine and Warner’s stare-off. Blinking rapidly, I gather my things for the next class, ready for this day to be over with. I feel like an idiot joining a school at the end of senior year.

“So you’re the new girl?” My eyes snap up to a cheeky blonde girl glaring at me. I give a fake smile, and try and step around her but she steps in my way. “I saw the way you were staring at Warner. Hell, the whole class saw you nearly throw your panties in his direction.” She scoffs.

My brows pinch together, and my mouth drops at the tone of this bitch. I’m not usually one for confrontation, I’m more relaxed and forgiving, but she is coming on super strong and pissing me off.

“Wow, you need to chill.” I don’t know why she’s so bent out of shape.

She takes a step up, closing the gap between us. “Stay. Away.” She enunciates each word, making her glossy lips pucker.

I raise a brow at her threat. She clearly isn’t friendly and isn’t going to relax any time soon. I bet if I told her Warner and I hooked up she’d have a stroke right here. Hmm, it’s tempting.

“Come on Kellie, she gets the message,” a girl that looks identical to Kellie whispers from behind. Kellie doesn’t budge, and I’m done with theatrical drama queens for one day.

I step forward, slamming my shoulder into Kellie causing her to drop her things to the floor.

Glancing over my shoulder at the mess I left behind, the group of blondes gasp horrifically and instantly begin to help Kellie pick her things up.

“You’ll regret that,” one of them threatens.

I stop, not sure how to handle the situation. I’ve seen bullies and school fights, sure, but nobody has ever had a problem with me. I’m the girl that is friends with everyone. That can sit anywhere and be accepted. However, these girls clearly are not going to be friendly any time soon, and I won’t let someone jerk me around either. One of the blondes continues to stare at me with a heated look, and anger builds in my chest at the way she’s treating me. These girls don’t even know me and they’re already deciding to hate me.

“Yeah, maybe if you all put your brains together you can come up with a really good comeback,” I insult. A smile breaks through my lips, a little proud of myself at that one, and head out of class.

Thank God there are only a couple weeks left of school, then again, I like a good challenge.

Not that I’m threatened by Kellie or her squad. But maybe stirring up some trouble in this town will keep me from being so bored.