CROSSED PATHS

ness than the day before. She had survived her first day, and even though she wasn

l window that let in soft sunlight. As she fiddled with the lock

New

casually against the lockers, his

face heat up. She wasn't used to s

's easier than day one, right?

It's... a little

er for a moment. "Well, if anyon

the crowd like he owned the place. Sophie stared after him, unsure of what to make

nowhere, nearly making

up her hands. "Did I interrupt your m

wasn't a moment. He was ju

es a trail of broken hearts behind him. Amber would not

Sophie said firmly. "I just w

through Sophie's. "Come on, let's get to c

-

hang out in the library or the quad, but Sophie decided to explore the school a little. She wandered down

. Curious, she followed the noise to the gym, where she spotted Ryan practicing al

she should interrupt. But before she could

k!" he called

was her nickname now. She steppe

e?" Ryan asked, catchin

ie said. "I didn't know y

th a shrug. "It helps m

occer? Uh, no thanks. I'd p

air and catching it. "Fair enough. So,

g?" Soph

o you do for fun? S

o read. And I used to write a

g her with his genuine inter

Nothing special," she sai

ke you're underselling yourself. You

ad quickly. "No way

r mind, I'd love to check it

an didn't press further. He returned to his practice,

hat she had expected. He seemed... real. Not just some cocky jock like she'd assumed. But she couldn

-

ck of the cafeteria, where they could eat in peace. Jenna was sketching in her

e again," Sophie

ed up. "Seriously?

"He just... asked about me. Lik

Ryan don't just talk to random new girls for n

oes Amber even care?

im," Jenna said with a shrug. "It's co

supposed to be watching for. She wasn't intereste

-

ime before going home. She found a quiet corner near the windows and

ted when someone slid into

d, flashing his

m, surprised. "What

up a notebook. "Well, trying

you have teammates to s

geniuses. Besides, I thought it'd be nice to hang o

d to that. She closed her book,

e said quickly. "I'm sure yo

eaning back in his chair.

k cover. It was a fantasy novel with a dra

approval. "I used to read stuf

?" Sophi

much time for reading," he adm

le. "You don't seem like the

layers," Ryan

ings. Sophie was surprised by how easy it was to talk to him. He wasn'

hat crept onto her face. Maybe Jenna was right to warn her about Ryan

-

er desk finishing her homework

and froze. It was a mess

not too buried in homework. Let me kn

ng moment, unsure of how to respond.

I'll let

nd stared at it, her hea

eemed like her path had a