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I pull into the school parking lot with music rattling my windows, some punk track I don’t even like anymore but refuse to delete because Kieran hates it.
Ever Best High hasn’t changed. Same faded parking lines, same smell of exhaust and sharp perfume, same idiots blocking traffic to hug people they saw two weeks ago. A freshman sprints past my bumper, tie flapping probably late already.
Huh? Since when do they wear a tie?
Hmm. Must be another weird Gen Z trend. Tsk, tsk. Kids these days.
Anyway, I made it to the final semester of high school. The finale of dealing with Kieran. By graduation I’ll never have to see Kieran Lockwood again.
…
Tsk. Who am I kidding?
Our parents have been friends forever, so that weed is never getting uprooted. I seriously detest him, though. Nobody remembers why we hate each other and we both stopped caring.
I check Kieran’s space. It’s empty. Nice! I get a few more minutes of air before he shows up. It’d be great if he never came to school.
Kieran and I don’t share the parking space. Years ago, we claimed opposite ends of the same row. Nobody else parks in the space between us anymore. Not after several conflicts involving paint, glitter bombs, and one inflatable swimming pool.
I see my best friends, Lydia and Robert—Robin, as I insist on calling him—standing outside the main entrance exactly where they usually are. Lydia’s hands are flying, her voice reaching halfway across the parking lot, while Robert stands there wearing his signature half-casual-half-annoying smile.
Typical.
I climb out of my car, slinging my backpack over one shoulder, and walk toward them. I wave yet neither of them looks at me.
Excuse me?
“You’re exaggerating,” Robert says calmly, despite Lydia’s glare.
“I am not exaggerating,” Lydia snaps. “I’m saying people should have boundaries! Just because a girl invites you to her house, doesn’t mean she’s begging to get fucked!”
“That’s exactly what she’s begging for if she opens the door in clothes that barely count as clothes.”
I know that tone. He’s not serious—he’s just digging for a reaction. And Lydia’s giving him exactly what he wants.
“That doesn’t count!” she stomps her foot.
I stop a few feet away and blink.
This is what they’re ignoring me for?
I raise both hands. “Okay… I’m clearly missing something.”
“Kara.” Lydia whirls on me like I’m the solution she’s been waiting for. “Back me up.”
“I absolutely refuse.”
Lydia narrows her eyes. “Excuse me?”
“I’ve been standing here for, what, four seconds? Maybe five if we’re being generous.”
She frowns.
I only shrug, completely unapologetic.
“How am I supposed to pick a side when I don’t even know what we’re fighting about? You could be arguing about another load of bullshit again.”
Robert lets out a snort, quickly covering his mouth with his fist when Lydia shoots him a glare, her hazel-brown eyes practically turning red.
Lydia drags a hand down her face before pointing at him. “You’re insufferable.”
“And you’re dramatic.”
She scoffs loudly enough for three nearby freshmen to glance over before turning on her heel, her brown hair whipping his face, and marching toward the building.
I watch her go, then turn to Robert, raising an eyebrow. “What was that about?”
He shrugs. “No idea. I said something, she disagreed, and now I’m the problem.”
“Robin, when have you ever not been the problem?”
He grins.
I study him with a squint. “Robiiiiin.”
He sighs, but avoids my gaze. “Don’t start.”
“You started something,” I say, my brows knitting as I notice his hair. What has he done to it? His usual dark brown has been dyed neon green. I'm not even going to ask why. There's barely ever a tangible reason with this guy.
“It wasn’t even that serious.”
I stare at him, deadpan. “What did you say?”
He hesitates, the corner of his lips twitching.
“I mentioned someone I hooked up with over the break,” he admits.
I click my tongue. Of course.
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