I glance at the door and see Ashton step in. "Sorry, I got lost..." He says sheepishly.

Ms. Parker waves away his excuse and says, "It's fine. Just pick a free desk." I scan the room and realize the only free desk is the one beside me.

I inaudibly sigh, and Ashton looks around. When he spots me, he smirks and walks in my direction. Girls around him perk up in their seats and adjust how they look.

"Guess we're desk buddies," Ashton whispers with a grin.

I roll my eyes and continue to listen to Ms. Parker. I start dozing off during a classmate's story when someone lightly kicks my leg.

My eyes open, and I turn to glare at Ashton. "Fuck off." I tiredly whisper.

Ashton gives me an amused look, and I stick out my tongue. "Just warning you. I'm pretty sure the teacher was going to yell at you." Ashton whispers back.

I try to sit up in my chair and pinch myself to stay awake.

When class finally ends, Ashton asks, "I'll see you around?"

"I hope not," I answer, not really meaning it.

Mila, Ella, and I walk into the cafeteria and sit at an open table. My eyes unintentionally spot Ashton, and he catches me staring. I quickly look away and pretend to use my phone. In my peripheral vision, I notice him walking toward our table, with two guys trailing behind him.

"Adalynn," Ashton says, stopping in front of our table.

"Ashton," I reply, looking up.

"Ladies, would it be okay if we sat with you?" The guy on the right asks.

Before I can respond, Mila says, "Of course."

Ashton sits beside me, and the other two sit by Ella and Mila. The one who sits beside Ella winks at her, and she blushes.

Mila whispers not so quietly, "These are the hot guys I was telling you guys about."

Ashton chuckles and says, "Thanks for the compliment."

"Awww... So there aren't any actual hot guys?" I ask, disappointed. La la la can't hear you.

Ashton bumps his shoulder against mine, and I restrain myself from breaking his finger. "Don't be like that." He says with a pout.

"What are you guys doing here?" I ask.

"Not that we don't mind that you're here." Ella chimes in.

Ashton smirks, and I glare at him. "Eating lunch... What does it look like?" He asks.

"No, I mean, why are you sitting here?" I ask. Something just seems off about these guys...

"Do you not want me to sit with you?" He asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Just thought you'd be sitting with people like them..." I say, pointing at the popular table. "You'd make a lot more connections."

His lips quirked upward, and he said, "If I wanted to hang out with assholes, I wouldn't be here..."

"Awwww, I'm so touched!" I say, placing a hand over my heart.

"No need to get cheesy on me." Ashton teases.

"On you? Never." I say confidently.

The other two guys laugh at our interaction and then introduce themselves. "I'm Zane, I'm also a senior." He says.

"And I'm Tristian. Ready to graduate and be free." He adds.

I shut my locker and push through the crowd to leave. I start heading toward my motorcycle when someone shouts, "Hey, wait up!"

I turn around and lock eyes with Ashton. Is he talking to me? "Are you doing anything after school?" He asks.

"Depends... Why?" I ask.

"Well, since we both have motorcycles, I thought we could just drive around." He says, scratching the back of his neck.

Do killers say that before they murder their victims? Cause I could beat him up in less than a minute...

"I also am new here... So it'd be nice to know what's there to do." He states, shrugging.

"I guess I'm free..." I say, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Cool! I'll get my motorcycle, and I'll just follow you around." Ashton says.

"Actually, wouldn't it be easier if I just went home, dropped my motorcycle there, and then we just use yours?" I ask.

"That works too!" He says, smiling. Please stop.

"Yes!" I murmur to myself. Now I get to test out the motorcycle I want!

"Let's just pretend you're not using me for my motorcycle..." He says, looking hurt.

"No, I swear I'm not- Well, like a little bit-" I say, trying to come up with something.

He smiles and says, "I'm joking, Lynn. Can I call you Lynn? I'm gonna call you Lynn..."

"What's wrong with Adalynn?" I ask.

"Nickname." He says, shrugging.

"Just follow me to my house, and then after I drop it off, we'll go around town," I explain.

"Sounds like a plan." He says, nodding.

"Wait. You're not going to stalk me, are you?" I ask suddenly.

"How did you find out?" He asks, surprised.

I punch his arm and say, "Stop it!"

He actually stumbles back, and his face is surprised. "Damn. You have a good arm." He says with a grin. Bad people! Not innocent people.

I smirk and say, "Maybe you're just weak."

"You wound me, Lynn." He says, placing a hand on his heart.

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