In my head, I went over the facts I knew about Riley Bay: he was new in town, so new that no one seemed to know anything about him. He was in every single one of my classes. He was extremely, ridiculously good-looking. He was a total jerk.

Okay, so those last two were technically opinions, not facts. But I didn’t see how anyone could dispute them.

“Has he spoken to you yet?” Bree asked. Or at least, I think that’s what she said. It was hard to tell, given that she was talking through a mouthful of corn dog.

I shook my head. “I haven’t heard him talk to anyone yet.”

“Weird,” said Bree.

“What’s weird?” Vik queried, sitting down next to me.

“Nothing,” I said hastily, but at the same time, Bree blurted, “Andi’s mystery man.”

Instantly, Vik’s face darkened. “He hasn’t been bothering you, has he?” he asked me urgently.

I shot Bree a dirty look. Why did she have to go and mention Riley to Vik? Now I was going to have to put up with his overprotective pseudo-brother shtick for the rest of lunch.

“He hasn’t done anything other than glare at me in every class,” I reassured him.

Vik relaxed visibly. “Well, speak up if he does,” he said sternly.

I rolled my eyes. “Sure. Whatever. Can we please change the subject?”

Of course, changing the subject didn’t help me forget about Riley Bay, because the boy himself was sitting on the other side of the cafeteria. And, as always, I could feel his eyes fixed on me.

~*~*~*~

The next day, Bree passed me a note during third period:

‘Craving lobster rolls like u wouldn’t believe. Etta’s 4 lunch?’

Henrietta’s was a little cafe down by the harbor. Naturally, it specialized in seafood. It was the kind of picturesque locale that drew tourists like flies to honey, but on a weekday afternoon in September, it would be relatively empty. Bree was obsessed with the place, which she insisted was the only really good restaurant in the whole town.

I frowned, and not just at Bree’s text speak. Only seniors were allowed to leave campus for lunch. Underclassmen sneaked out all the time, but knowing my luck, we’d be the first students in history to actually get caught and punished. I caught Bree’s eye and shook my head.

Pleeeeeeese? she mouthed.

I sighed deeply. Well, I was getting pretty sick of cafeteria food. I passed the note on to Vik, who nodded enthusiastically.

When the bell rang, I bolted out the door. If we were going to drive to Henrietta’s, eat and get back in time for fourth period, we couldn’t spare a minute. I was halfway down the hall before I realized Vik and Bree weren’t following me. I retraced my steps and found Bree hovering outside the Biology classroom.

“What’s the holdup?” I asked.