The new guy walked confidently to our table. His brown hair caught the light, and his gray eyes seemed to take everything. My heart raced a little, but I tried to stay calm.

I could feel Mal and Tanya tense up beside me. I thought he would sit somewhere else, but instead, he stopped right in front of us and looked straight at me.

"Hey," he said, his voice surprisingly friendly, "Can I sit here?"

I blinked, caught off guard. I had expected him to be distant or maybe rude from the way he looked, but his tone was casual, almost warm.

"Uh, Sure," I mumbled, shifting to make space.

He pulled out a chair and sat down smoothly next to me.

"I'm Warwick," he introduced himself, a small forming at the corner of his mouth. "Just transferred here."

I cleared my throat, trying to shake off my surprise. "I'm Audrey; I said quietly, glancing at Mal and Tanya for backup. "And this is Mal and Tanya."

"Nice to meet you," replied, his eyes locking onto mine for a second longer than I expected.

Mal, never the one to stay quiet for long, leaned in with a grin. "So, Warwick, what brings you to our school?"

Warwick shrugged casually, resting his arm on the back of the chair. "Family moved. Needed a change, I guess."

His answer was vague, but something about the way he said it made me think there was more to the story. I didn't press, though. I was too busy trying to figure out why he was being friendly. Most kids, especially ones with quiet confidence, didn't make an effort to join in so easily.

"What do you think of it so far?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

He gave a small smile, glancing around the cafeteria. "It's……….. different. But in a good way."

Tanya, who had been oddly quiet up to this point, finally spoke up. "Everyone's been talking about you, you know."

He smirked, leaning back a little. "Yeah, what did they say?"

Tanya shot me a look before answering. "Just that you are…………. mysterious. And that you got kicked out of your last school."

Warwick's smile didn't falter, but something in his eyes shifted like he wasn't even surprised by the rumor. "People love to talk," he said lightly. "But no, I didn't get kicked out."

For some reason, I did not buy what he said. There was something about the way he said it-too smooth, too quick to dismiss.

"Right," I slowly said, keeping my tone casual. "People love to talk."

Mal glanced at me, catching the shift in my mood, but she didn't say anything.

Tanya, on the other hand, was fully invested, leaning forward like she was about to grill him for more details.

"But if you didn't get kicked out," she pressed, "then what happened? Why'd you leave?"

Warwick's eyes flickered toward her, still calm, but there was a hint of something else-something guarded. "Like I said, my family moved. Nothing more to it."

I raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. He was way too collected for someone who supposedly just transferred here under normal circumstances. I didn't push, though. Not yet, anyway.

Tanya sighed, clearly not satisfied with his answer. "Well, either way, you've got everyone curious. I heard a few people say you were some kind of troublemaker."

Warwick chuckled softly. "Let them think what they want."

He glanced over at me again, and I could feel those gray eyes studying me like he was trying to figure out what I was thinking. "You don't seem to believe me, Audrey."

His voice was calm, but the challenge in it was clear. I met his gaze, refusing to look away.

"I just think there's more to your story," I said evenly. "But it's not my business, right?"

Warwick's smile widened slightly as if he was impressed by my response. "Fair enough."

Mal, sensing the tension, decided to jump in and change the subject. "So, Warwick, what are you into? Any hobbies?"

He shrugged again, clearly more

comfortable with this line of questioning. "I play basketball, sometimes. Mostly, I just like to keep to myself."

"Basketball, huh?" Tanya perked up. "Our team's not bad, you should try out."

Warwick looked like he was considering it for a moment before shaking his head. "Maybe. We'll see."

As the conversation drifted back into safer territory, I couldn't help but steal a few more glances at him. There was something about Warwick that didn't add up. The rumors, his guarded answers, and the way he seemed to slip so easily into our group like he'd been here all along.

I wasn't buying his story. Not yet, anyway.

But something told me I'd find out soon enough.

The rest day was a blur of classes and half-heart attempts to focus on my work.

As students streamed down the hall out of the school, I made a quick decision. I needed to avoid Logan and get home without attracting attention.

I headed to my locker, deliberately taking my time and keeping my eyes on the floor. I planned to blend into the crowd and slip out of the school before Logan could spot me or the driver coming to pick us up. I fumbled with my books and tried not to glance at the door too often.

When I finally felt the hallway clear a bit, I took a deep breath and started toward the nearest exit. I moved quickly but casually, trying to appear like any other student rushing to get home.

Just as I neared the exit, I spotted Logan's figure in the distance, heading toward the locker area. My heart skipped a beat, and I immediately ducked into a nearby restroom, hoping to wait it out. I pulled out my phone and pretended to be engrossed in it, listening for any sign of Logan's approach.

The bus ride was a welcome change of pace from the chaos of the school. I found a seat near the back and settled in, trying to relax.

The rumble of the bus and the hum of conversation around me were soothing, providing a brief respite from the stress of the day.

When I finally reached my stop, I took a deep breath of relief. I'd managed to avoid Logan and get home without incident. The quiet of my house greeted me as I stepped inside, and I could finally let my guard down.

I went up to my room, dropped my bag, and kicked off my shoes, as I fell on the bed letting out a big sigh.

Twenty minutes almost half asleep, I heard a knock on my door.

"Audrey!" Logan's voice muffled but insisted.

I rubbed my eyes and swung my legs over to the side of the bed, trying to gather my thoughts. I wasn't in the mood for any shenanigans, but it seemed like I didn't have a choice.

"What now!!"