Are you KIDDING me? Sara felt her cheeks flame.

The mysterious stranger had removed his sunglasses. His piercing, dark brown eyes matched the tangle of dark, chocolate curls of his hair. He stared fixedly at her exposed thigh.

He's so beautiful. He's so beautiful. He's so--

Sara's thoughts were interrupted by the teacher's loud voice. "Sara Smith, please stop staring at our new student and turn around in your seat."

A new wave of blood flooded Sara's face. She whipped around in her chair and attempted to cover as much of herself as possible with her long hair. She made a pathetic attempt to hide the tear in her skirt by laying an open notebook across her lap.

"Now, everyone. I'd like to introduce a new student," Dr. Frost began. Dr. Frost was a former university professor who now worked as a high school math teacher. She was super smart. Super strict. And super mean.

"I'm assuming you already completed the school's academic assessment test?" Dr. Frost asked him.

The new guy cleared his throat. When he spoke, his voice carried a warm, yet husky tenderness.

"I completed it this morning. It only took me half the time of the allotted testing period," the new guy replied.

Sara's insides burned at his words. She could barely feel his breath tickling the back of her neck.

So that's why we couldn't find him anywhere, Sara realized.

Dr. Frost smiled approvingly. "If you please, say your name and where you're from so we can get to know you better."

Sara could have sworn she saw Dr. Frost bat her eyelashes. Gross! Dr. Frost has a crush on this guy too? This could NOT be happening.

Sara tried as hard as possible to not turn around. Of course, everyone else turned to stare at the new guy. But since she had already been called out by Dr. Frost, she would not look at him again.

"Thank you, Dr. Frost. I believe you already know that information. Care to share it with the class?" he said.

Sara froze. Had he just spoken back to a teacher? And not just any teacher. Dr. Frost of all people. Sara closed her eyes, waiting for the teacher's wrath. But she was mistaken.

Dr. Frost nodded her box-colored brown head. "Of course, of course. Class, this is Bentley Prince. His family just moved to our small town of Red, Connecticut only a few weeks ago." She crossed her arms. "You're from out-of-state, correct?" Dr. Frost again fluttered her eyelashes.

He let out a loud sigh. His breath caressed Sara's neck, sending her pulse racing.

"My family came over from a country outside South Africa. I'm sure you've heard of it. South Fortland."

At that, even Sara managed a glimpse behind her. South Fortland, as she'd been told, had cities as rich as New York. That country had mountains as beautiful as the Rockies. Their forests were as lush and green as those in New Zealand. As the country was almost the same size as Australia and the United States, they had expansive beaches that rivaled those of Hawaii and Mexico. Quite frankly, if you could live anywhere in the world, anyone would choose to live in South Fortland.

The country even had a royal family. But the main difference was that the royal family of South Fortland still controlled the government and its laws, unlike the UK.

Sara wracked her brain to remember the names of the royal family. It would be good to try and impress him with her knowledge of his homeland. She squeezed her eyes shut. Think. Think! The name of the royal family was Charlies? Charleslane? Charlesgone? No Charleslane. Yes! That was it!

She twisted timidly around in her seat to look at him. Immediately, she regretted her decision. His blazing, dark eyes bore straight through her, almost shining as hot and bright as the sun. God he was gorgeous!

"Did y-you ever meet the r-royal family? T-the Charleslanes?" Sara's voice came out pinched.

He scowled down at her. "Don't you mean the Charlestons? And no, I've never met them. No one gets to just meet the King and Queen of South Fortland."

His words stung. Sara ducked her head as a new wave of humiliation enveloped her. Of course! The family was called Charlestons. NOT Charleslanes. She could hear several students around her snickering.

Ella Woods, the bratty popular friend of Trish, sat a few rows over. She gave the new guy an appreciative, dangerous smile.

Out of the corner of Sara's eye, she distinctly saw him wink at Ella. That b*tch!

Sara bit her lip and tried not to cry. She silently cursed herself and willed her body to disappear from her chair. Oh why did I have to open my big, fat mouth? Sara thought. If only he had been sitting in front of her instead of behind her. Now she'd have to feel his eyes boring into her back for the rest of the period.

But then, to Sara's luck, the fire alarm sounded.