Underneath It All

Ava Sinclair had one rule for her senior year "stay invisible".

At Westbridge Academy, disappearing wasn't as hard as people thought. It was easy when you didn't belong or when you weren't rich or famous or one of the people who ruled the school. And after what happened last year, she had no intention of standing out again.

She adjusted the strap of her backpack, keeping her head low as she weaved through the marble hallways. Around her, clusters of students laughed and whispered, perfectly polished and untouchable. Girls in designer heels compared summer vacations in Monaco, while boys in pressed blazers talked about the cars their parents had gifted them.

None of it had anything to do with her. And that's how she wanted it.

As she slipped into her AP English class, the hum of conversation faded. She scanned the room, spotting the only person she trusted in this school.

Grace Taylor.

Ava slid into the seat beside her, exhaling in relief. Grace had been her anchor ever since... everything. Unlike the other girls, Grace didn't care about social hierarchies. Her focus was music, not gossip, and she was the only person who hadn't turned on Ava after Madison's betrayal.

"You barely made it," Grace whispered, flipping one of her sleek braids over her shoulder.

"The bus was late again," Ava murmured, pulling out her notebook.

Grace gave her a sympathetic smile. "Still no word on the car?"

Ava shook her head. With her father still recovering from the accident, money was tight. Too tight for things like car repairs new clothes or anything that the students at Westbridge took for granted.

At least she had her scholarship for now.

Grace leaned closer. "I heard Mr. Reynolds is assigning partners for the senior project today."

Ava stiffened. Group work. She hated it. Too many people in this school saw "partners" as an excuse to let her do all the work while they coasted by.

As if summoned by her thoughts, the classroom door swung open and in strolled Caleb Hayes.

The room shifted when he entered, like the air itself bent around him. West bridge's golden boy. Tall, effortlessly handsome, and draped in casual arrogance. With dark hair that always seemed perfectly messy and sharp blue eyes that missed nothing, he carried himself as if the world owed him something.

And in a way, it did.

His father owned half the city. People moved out of his way without question, and the rules rarely applied to someone like him. Ava had never spoken to him directly-people like him didn't notice people like her-and she planned to keep it that way.

"Still the king of the castle," Grace muttered, rolling her eyes.

Ava smothered a smile as Caleb dropped into the seat near the back, flanked by his closest friends. His voice, low and careless, filtered across the room as he laughed at something one of them said. His world was easy, and it would always stay that way.

A world completely separate from hers.

---

"Alright, settle down," Mr. Reynolds said, stepping to the front of the room. He adjusted his glasses and held up a stack of folders. "Your senior project will account for fifty percent of your grade. You'll work in pairs-partners I've chosen for you."

Ava tensed, her stomach twisting into knots.

Please, anyone but-

"Caleb Hayes and Ava Sinclair," Mr. Reynolds announced.

Her heart dropped. Of course.

A quiet ripple of amusement swept through the room. Caleb's friends snickered softly, and Ava's pulse pounded in her ears. This was exactly the kind of attention she'd spent months avoiding.

Grace shot her a sympathetic glance. "Ouch. Good luck surviving that."

---

Ava bolted out of the classroom the moment the bell rang. She just wanted to escape. She could already hear the whispers.

"Why would he be stuck with her?"

"What does she even have to offer?"

She pressed her books against her chest and hurried down the hallway. She didn't care what anyone thought-Caleb Hayes wasn't her problem. She would do the project, stay quiet, and finish the year unnoticed.

At least, that was the plan.

"You're quick, Tutor Girl."

Ava froze mid-step. She knew that voice.

Slowly, she turned around to find Caleb leaning against the lockers, hands shoved in his pockets. Up close, he was even more frustrating-he had the kind of face people noticed, and he knew it. But there was an edge to his smile-like he was waiting for the world to amuse him.

"I'm not your tutor," she said quietly, gripping her books tighter.

His smile widened. "Technically, you kind of are. And since you care about grades..." He gestured vaguely. "You'll want to keep up."

Ava swallowed her irritation. "We'll meet after school. The library."

"You're serious?" Caleb tilted his head like he couldn't believe she was giving him rules. "And what if I'm busy?"

"Then you fail," Ava said flatly. "And I'm not doing your work for you."

For a moment, Caleb just looked at her-like she was some puzzle he couldn't quite figure out. Most girls at Westbridge fell over themselves to get his attention. Ava wasn't one of them.

Finally, he shrugged. "Fine, Tutor Girl. Library at four."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away-leaving Ava standing there, her heart thudding in her chest.

---

"You told him off?" Grace asked, eyes wide, as they walked toward the library after lunch.

Ava sighed. "Not exactly. I just want to get this over with."

Grace nudged her playfully. "Still. I'm impressed. Most people wouldn't dare stand up to Caleb Hayes."

Ava shook her head. She wasn't brave-she was just tired. Tired of people like him thinking they could do whatever they wanted.

When they reached the library doors, Grace hesitated. "Want me to stay?"

Ava forced a small smile. "I've got this. But thanks."

Grace squeezed her arm before heading toward the music wing, leaving Ava to face the storm alone.

---

When Caleb showed up-ten minutes late-he didn't bother apologizing.

"Hope you didn't miss me," he drawled, dropping into the seat across from her.

Ava ignored the warmth crawling up her neck. "Let's get started."

As she opened her notebook, she made a silent promise.

No matter what Caleb Hayes thought-she wasn't going to be another girl caught in his world.