The secretary grinned as she handed over my schedule. Her thick curly hair was sprayed so high it bounced when she moved.

"Do you need someone to show you around?" Bouncy Hair asked.

I shook my head as I scanned over my schedule. Damn. Why did I have choir and drama? Who the hell told them I could sing and act? I was supposed to have two free periods this year, but my schedule was totally full.

I sighed, trying to hold back my anger. "Who do I see about getting my schedule changed?"

Bouncy Hair glanced at the paper in my hand. "Oh, you'll need to see the counselor, Mr. Wilkins."

"Where's his office?" I asked.

"Just down the hall, dear, but he's not in yet. I'll have him call you down to his office after the school day begins." Bouncy Hair's smile was sickly big and real. Did I mention I hate morning people?

"Okay, but I don't sing or act, and I have choir and drama right before lunch, so can you have him call me down before that?" I was lying through my teeth, but she didn't need to know. Screw choir and drama. My mom could go to hell.

"Okay, dear. I'll let Mr. Wilkins know." Bouncy Hair nodded, jotting something down.

Thanking her, I left the office in search of my locker. It seemed like I wandered through the entire school before I found it on the second level.

After failing at my combination three times, I let out a groan and hit my palm against the metal. A loud, clang echoed through the empty hallway. Stupid locker.

"Need help?" A low voice asked behind me.

I didn't turn to look because screw whatever help they wanted to give. I could figure this out. I used combination locks all the time. I wasn't stupid.

"Spin it a few more times first, then right, left, right." He instructed from over my shoulder.

"I know what I'm doing." I tried again and failed.

"Just let me do it." He sounded irritated.

"No. Go away." I glanced over my shoulder to see sky-blue eyes studying me carefully.

Crap. I didn't know the voice belonged to him. The wolf emblem on his hoodie seemed to stand out even more now. His black hat was still on backward. Why was that so frigging attractive?

Besides the two of us, the hall was still empty and his blond makeout partner was nowhere in sight.

"I would leave if I could, but I can't." He studied my face as he pressed his lips into a thin line.

Squinting in suspicion, I narrowed my brow. "Why?"

"You're blocking my locker." He gestured to the locker underneath mine.

Damn. Okay. Now I felt like a bitch. "Oh. Sorry."

He shut his eyes and shook his head. "Whatever. I just got shit to do. Let me help so I can get going."

Feeling bad for holding him up, I held out the tiny piece of paper with my combination. When he snatched it, his finger barely brushed over mine causing a familiar energetic jolt to spin to life in my belly. Damn it. Not now.

Trying to remain calm, I pulled my trembling hand back as an immense vibrating energy rippled over me. Fear took over when I realized this one wasn't anything like the others, and I had no choice but to ride it out.

Steadying myself against the lockers, I stiffened as the monstrous surge licked throughout every vein in my body. When it finally ended, I prepared for the aftershock, which was more powerful than ever.

Slamming my eyes shut, vertigo took over as bright blue light exploded inside the darkness behind my eyelids, nearly taking me to my knees. Well, that was new.

Crap. This meant another migraine from hell was coming, and since I'd forgotten to take my pill this morning, it would definitely be a bad one. Great. This day was just getting better and better.

When I finally opened my eyes, his gaze searched mine with shock and confusion. "Are you okay?"

Damn. He'd watched the whole thing, and I wasn't in the mood to answer questions about my medical condition, especially his questions. Anything I told this guy would be spread around the school in seconds.

"I'm fine." Trying to hold it together, I cleared my throat and folded my arms. "What's the holdup? I thought you said you had shit to do."

Knotting his brow, he scanned my face before spinning to my locker. In three seconds flat, he had my locker open, making me feel like a complete dumbass.

"How'd you do that?" I asked.

"These lockers are old, so you have to be patient enough to clear out the previous combo. Just spin it to the right like five or six times first." He knelt to open his locker, grabbed something, and slammed it shut. He didn't look at me before stalking away. "Later."

I didn't answer as I watched him leave, wishing I could get a better look at the muscles under his hoodie. My gaze wandered down the rest of his body. Those jeans certainly did justice for that ass.

Realizing what I was doing, I looked away instantly. What the hell was wrong with me? I didn't do guys like him and especially athletes that eat face in front of the school for everyone to see, which reminded me that we were both in committed relationships.

My stomach twisted. I wasn't allowed to look at other guys like that. Josh was perfect, and he was good to me. What Josh didn't know wouldn't hurt him, but I also had standards, and I wouldn't appreciate my boyfriend ogling some other girl's ass in the middle of senior hall.

After situating my locker, I searched for my first class. Calculus. Yeah, I would have to get this class changed too. Solving equations first thing in the morning was a torture I refused to endure.

Luckily, the class was near my locker, so I still had time. My head was beginning to hurt. How was I going to get through the day? Operating on such a tiny amount of sleep combined with a migraine was going to make today nearly impossible.

Deciding to find caffeine, I made my way downstairs. Any caffeine would be welcome at this moment.

Once I made it to the cafeteria, I zeroed in on Missy and Lucas. They were making out against a wall, completely on display for all eyes to see. I was related to that? Ew.

I looked around for teachers, but I only saw students. I thought public displays of affection were against the rules in school, or at least they were in my old school.

Once I spotted the soda machine, I bought a bottle of Mountain Dew. Usually, soda was my last choice, but hey, I needed all the help I could get.

Finding a seat at an empty table, I did my best to chug down the carbonated drink as fast as possible, which was no easy feat. After a few large gulps, a loud belch erupted from my throat. Much better.

Laughter caught my attention, and I glanced up to see a group of boys making fun of me. I rolled my eyes and began chugging again.

During mid-chug, someone fisted my hair and ripped me backward, causing the fizzing liquid to go straight up my nose, and that was just the beginning. It poured all over my face, streaming into my eyes and hair before my back hit the floor. I shut my eyes as pain tore through me.

What. The. Fuck. I was going to kick someone's ass.

Getting to my feet, I turned to find the blond makeout queen smirking at me.

"I told you I'd fuck you up, skank." Makeout Queen had the audacity to smile at me like she'd won this battle.

I didn't move to clean myself off as I clenched my teeth and got right in her face, glaring daggers. "Let's do this then."

"Ember, no," Missy instructed from somewhere behind me.

Ignoring Missy, I whipped my head back and forth, wildly slinging drops of soda all over Makeout Queen's perfect makeup. I'm pretty sure some of my long brown hair slapped her across the cheek, which was a satisfying bonus.

Makeout Queen squealed and stepped back as her nose scrunched in disgust.

"Doesn't feel good, does it?" I yelled. I felt another burp coming up, and I did my best to push it down as I whipped my wet hair again, trying my hardest to get her as wet and sticky as possible. When dizziness took over, I stopped, and my hair slapped against my cheeks and neck, clinging to my skin in crazy patterns.

Makeout Queen wiped at the mess I'd created of her foundation. "If you ruined my makeup, I'll make your life a living hell."

"Oh, you can bet on it. Your foundation and mascara are totally ruined." I smiled wickedly as the burp came up in my throat. I let the belch fly free with all the volume I could muster before I blew it in her face.

The gathering crowd burst into laughter.

Makeout Queen glanced around in embarrassment. "You bitch! I'm going to fucking kill you."

I threw my arms out. "Do it, then! I'm right here."

Her expression contorted into evil bitch mode as she stalked toward me with her hands balled into fists.

I tensed, ready to defend myself. Just before she threw her first punch, someone grabbed my shirt, and yanked me to the side.

What the hell? Pulling away from the person's hold, I spun to yell at them and my glare landed on worried green eyes. It was my cousin's boyfriend, Lucas.

Missy was suddenly in my face. "She's my bestfriend! Just say you're sorry!"

I laughed harshly and wiped soda out of my stinging eyes. "You're joking, right?"

"Just say you're sorry. Please, Ember." Missy's brown eyes grew wide and helpless as she pleaded.

Lucas didn't chime in as he watched me closely, waiting to see what I would do next.

Crap. I released a long breath.

Missy wasn't my favorite person, but she was family, and I'd never meant for any of this happen. I'd woken up on the wrong side of the bed and this whole fight had started over something I never should've said.

Yeah, I was covered in soda and had no clothes to change into, but I needed to try and make this right.

Giving in, I nodded at Missy and turned to apologize. That's when Makeout Queen smashed her fist into my jaw.

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