On Kane’s feed is a picture of Luisa, wearing a sultry white dress, cap, and her valedictorian honors sash and National Honor Society cord. She’s holding the cap on her head and laughing with all her teeth, and it’s an amazing picture because it makes her look practically ethereal. He’d written: My beautiful girl <3. So proud.

I check the time. It’s nearly seven.

My destination closes at eight. When I finish my doughnut, I kiss my mom goodbye and head out in my Jeep. When I get to the campus of Bucks County Community College, most of the cars are clearing out. The registrar is almost empty. I approach the desk, and an elderly lady with glasses smiles at me. “Can I help you?”

I take out my transcript. “I applied online for the fall semester but was hoping to take some enrichment courses this summer,” I say. “Can you help me?”

“Oh, of course. What are you looking to take?”

“English literature,” I say as the door behind me opens. The woman lays out a rather long-looking form and outlines the sections I need to complete. I start to fill it out as someone sets their elbows on the counter next to me.

“I need to add a class, please,” a deep, low voice says.

I look up into two of the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. He’s studying the form I’m filling out. “New student, Hailey?”

I stare at him. How does he know my name?

He must read my mind, because he points to the form. Then he grins and extends a hand. “I’m Silas.”

I shake it. “Yes, I’m new.”

He lifts his bag onto his shoulder. “Need someone to show you around?”

I shake my head. “No, I’m good. Thanks.”

“Here we go, English Literature,” the woman behind the counter says, handing me another paper. And just like that, I’m enrolled in my first college-level class.

“English Lit? Seriously?” Silas asks, holding a Jane Austen book. “That’s the class I’m adding.”

I smile.

“It’s fate,” he says.

And maybe it is.

7 Days Before

Deer Hills was like a minefield. Before, I’d barely ever see Luisa or Declan in the hallway, but now I started seeing them all the time. The two of them didn’t flaunt their relationship with massive PDAs. Neither of them was like that, unlike Kane, who’d have his hands all over her. But they did hold hands. Once I came around the corner and saw them staring into each other’s eyes, not even speaking. They looked deep, meaningful, like a picture postcard. Where I used to think Kane and Luisa were enviable as a couple?

It was nothing compared to this.

They were both brilliant. They were both talented. It almost seemed as though Kane and I were roadblocks on their path to true love.