I can feel him before I even see him.
It's ridiculous, honestly.
The hallway is packed with students—lockers slamming, people shouting across the corridor, someone blasting music from their phone—but somehow my attention keeps drifting to the same spot near the end of the hall.
And when I finally look up, there he is.
Luca Hayes.
Leaning against the lockers like he owns the place.
Dark hair falling into his eyes.
Watching me.
My stomach does an annoying little flip.
"Wow," Lily mutters beside me.
"What?"
"You two are doing that thing again."
"What thing?"
"That intense eye contact thing where it looks like you're about to either kiss or start a fight."
I slam my locker shut.
"Nothing is happening."
Lily snorts.
"You literally kissed him last night."
"In the rain," she adds dramatically.
"That detail was unnecessary."
But before I can argue further, a shadow falls across the floor.
And suddenly he's standing right in front of me.
"Morning," Luca says.
His voice is rough, like he hasn't talked much yet today.
"Morning," I reply.
Lily looks between us with the excitement of someone witnessing live drama.
"Can I borrow her?" Luca asks.
Lily beams.
"Absolutely."
"Lily—"
But she's already walking away.
Traitor.
Now it's just me and Luca standing in the middle of the hallway.
And somehow the air feels heavier.
"Walk with me," he says.
Not really a question.
For some reason, I follow.