Weaving my way through the crowd of students, I examined all the entrances, trying to figure out which door would be easiest to enter the school.

Students stood in large groups right outside the doors like they weren't standing directly in everyone's way. None of them were doing anything productive. Most of them were just goofing off.

Why are people so stupid? I mean, hello! We're all entering the school in the exact same spot, and these people were acting like it's entirely normal to block all the doors until they felt like going inside. People used to do this same crap at my old school, and then they would act like it was a major inconvenience when someone had to go inside.

So here I was again, trying to figure out where I would upset the least amount of people. I could feel the eyes of multiple students closely probing me from every angle.

Holding tight to the straps of my backpack, I sighed in relief when I spotted an opening near the last door where a couple worked effortlessly to glue their mouths together with saliva and tongues. Gross. Get a room.

Making my way over to them, every set of eyes drilled holes into me as if I was the one doing something wrong. Go figure. Stopping in front of the couple, I thought maybe I could just skim by, but with the way the guy was leaning, it was impossible.

That's when I noticed two of the hoodie guys standing off to the side, leaning their backs against the brick wall. Missy and a cute blond with an orange-tipped ponytail were hanging all over them. I could only assume that the blond was another cheerleader.

The two guys had their hoods pulled back. And damn. They were sex on a frigging stick. Like Greek Gods or something. No wonder all the girls were gaping.

The guy talking to Missy had short dark chocolate hair gelled into a fauxhawk. His fierce demeanor and sexy boyish looks made it hard to look away, but I managed to tear my eyes away just as flutters filled my belly.

The second guy had dirty blond hair spiked perfectly in crazy directions. When Spiky sent a dimpled smile to the blond hanging on his every word, heat spread throughout my entire body.

Just like his friend, he was insanely gorgeous with a movie star face. As if Spiky could feel my assessment, he slowly licked his bottom lip. His gaze slid over the crowd, skimming over me, but not quite seeing me.

My heart literally skipped a beat. His piercing light brown eyes held a powerful depth I'd never seen before. I wanted him to look at me. To see me. Like he'd heard my plea, Spiky's eyes seemed to brighten into a liquid gold. How was that even possible? Was I seeing things?

That's when Spiky's piercing gaze landed on me, causing goosebumps to ripple over every piece of my skin. His lips parted before he scanned me from head to toe as my teeth sank into my bottom lip.

What was I doing? I had a boyfriend, and from the looks of it, he had a girlfriend. And why couldn't I look away? I wanted to focus on something else, anything else.

Suddenly, my ears perked up and zeroed in on Missy's conversation with her boyfriend. I couldn't hear them a moment ago, but somehow my hearing had amplified because now I could hear them perfectly.

Tearing my eyes from Spiky's golden assessment, I glanced at Missy and her boyfriend.

"Why didn't you text me?" The guy with Missy spoke low enough for only her to hear. His voice was just like his hair, smooth like melted chocolate.

"I didn't have time." Missy smiled and gave him a peck on his cheek, making me oddly envious. "I've been really busy with family issues."

What the hell was she implying? My arrival didn't stop her from living a normal life. And yeah, if the term 'busy' meant staring longingly at herself in the mirror, then she'd been 'busy' her entire existence.

Missy must've felt my irritation because she glanced back and instantly sneered. Damn. Would she just give it a rest? Yeah, I get it. We're not friends. Bitch.

Her boyfriend's bright green eyes found me and narrowed. "Why you throwin' shade at my girl like that, Newb?"

Missy released a fake laugh. "Lucas, this is just Ember. My cousin. And she always looks like that."

When Lucas actually focused in on me, something strange sparked to life between us and his entire demeanor changed. He squinted and stood up straight while his nostrils flared ever so slightly. The light green specs in his eyes noticeably expanded as his gaze slid over me like I was on display for him and only him. Were his irises glowing?

The corners of his lips quirked up just before he moved toward me. "So you're the reason why Missy's been so upset lately. I see why now. You're a feisty one, aren't you?"

If this was her boyfriend, why was he hitting on me?

My brow scrunched in anger. "What the hell is that supposed to mean, asshole?"

I hadn't realized he was still watching me, but Spiky burst out laughing.

I refused to stop glaring at Lucas. He needed to know I wouldn't bow down to them like everyone else.

Shock covered Lucas's face as he tried to figure out how to respond.

Missy tugged him away, eyeing me with frustration. "Sorry, Lucas. I don't know why I have to put up with her bullshit. Be nice, Ember."

Oh, my God. Why was she talking to me like I was her lap dog? I had to get away from Missy before everyone witnessed a good morning bitch fight between cousins.

Turning back to the couple playing tongue hockey in the doorway, it dawned on me that the male participant was the third hoodie guy. His hood was pulled back, but he'd replaced it with a black hat, and yeah, from what I could see, he was just as drool-worthy as his friends.

"Excuse me?" I cleared my throat, but the couple continued to suck face like I was invisible. I cleared my throat much louder this time. "Excuse me? I need to get by, please."

They still didn't stop. Instead, their groping and kissing intensified.

They were straight-up ignoring me and that pissed me the hell off. "Hello? Some people came here to learn. Can you peel your mouths off each other for one second so I can pass, please?"

Finally, the guy lazily detached himself from the blond's face while turning his fitted hat flawlessly backward. His sky-blue glare slammed into me. "What's your deal?"

He blinked hard before he audibly inhaled through his nose. Irritation instantly transformed into curiosity as his eyes seemed to shimmer, thoroughly raking down my body.

For the smallest moment, I let myself to take him all in. His square jaw was drowning under his neatly manicured dark facial hair. Even under his clothing, it was obvious that his body was muscular enough to cover any position on the football field.

Like the other two, this dude was every girl's dream and my biggest nightmare. I hated all guys like them, and I wasn't about to give in to their good looks like all the other girls.

Gritting my teeth, I squinted. "This may be a lot for your tiny little brain to handle, but I need to enter the school through the exact place you've decided to eat your girlfriend's face off. Believe it or not, we use doors as a method to enter and exit a building, which makes it a complicated place to put on a dry-humping show for the entire student body."

The makeout queen's face flooded with embarrassment and rage. "Fuck you, bitch."

I scoffed, giving her a fake smile. "Not my job, honey. That's your man's job. And, if you ask me, you shouldn't be so easy. You should think about playing hard to get and demand to have your makeout session in a private place. Or if you enjoy being easy, you could move your show to the guys' bathroom where everyone can take part."

Her boyfriend burst out laughing along with his friends. A large group of guys nearby joined in as well.

I didn't laugh since I wasn't trying to be funny. I just wanted to go to the damn office, and they still hadn't moved out of my way.

Makeout Queen moved out of the doorway, stopping in front of me. "I can tell you're new here, so here's some advice, you don't want to get on my bad side, bitch, or I'll fuck you up."

Returning her evil glare, my hold tightened around the straps of my backpack. "I'd like to see you try."

My reaction wasn't what she was expecting because she glanced to her boyfriend for help, but his penetrating gaze was invariably locked on me and only me. He had a strange smile plastered on his full lips, showing off his straight, white teeth.

Why was he looking at me like that? His girlfriend was standing right here. I huffed in anger, doing my best to keep it together.

Instead of waiting for them to say anything else, I stole my opening and skirted by them, stalking toward the office. Did I mention I hate high school?

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