Against my better judgment, I look. Crystal-blue eyes peer at me, unashamed and unapologetic. I’m very sure my eyes do not convey the same thing. I think the guy looking at me is Caleb. Both have blond hair, short and styled in a swept-to-the-side fashion. Both wear crisp, navy pants and button-up shirts with the sleeves rolled to the elbows. It’s like the rich-guy uniform.

Caleb dips his head in my direction, his blond hair falling just a fraction out of place. And then he’s gone.

The bell dings again as the door opens and closes.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, my head spinning from the lack of oxygen.

“Did you see that? He looked at you!” Hazel gushes. “Like, he looked at you! And you know I love you, babe, but your hair is a total mess right now.”

“Thank you,” I mutter sarcastically. I push the rest of my pastry away. After that, I suddenly don’t feel much like eating. Caleb couldn’t have been looking at me really, though, could he? Not that it matters. I’m too young for him. “Let’s get our bikes. I need to go home and figure out my makeup before tonight.”

Hazel stands. “Don’t forget to do something with your hair, too.”

2

I lock my bike to the rack outside the library.

It’s eight at night, but the sun hasn’t yet set yet behind a sea of gray clouds. Shame it’s still drizzling, too. I walk down the long path to the lake and pull my hood up.

I straightened my hair, and it now hangs to my waist. It took forever, but it does look much better. I didn’t bother with much makeup since I’d probably come out looking like a clown. But I have on mascara and some lip gloss, which is more than I usually bother with.

I reach the path leading to the dirt trail down to the lake when a guy, an impossibly good-looking guy, runs across the road from the other side. He doesn’t even look where he’s going…because his eyes are on me. Wait. It’s Caleb. Again?

He stops in front of me and smiles. Wow, he has a nice pearly white smile. “Hey,” he says.

“Hi,” I reply, trying not to frown. “Are you okay?”

Why is he here?

“Yes. Sorry, I saw you from back there.” He scratches the back of his neck as if he’s nervous talking to me. “And this morning. Are you going to the lake?”

He remembers me from this morning!

“That was the plan. Can I help you with something?” I say, keeping my voice ice cool like a total champ. Inside, I’m somersaulting.

“Kind of,” he replies with an amused grin. “You could talk to me.”

Sort of an odd request from a virtual stranger.

“Talk to you?” I ask.