Lily Carter stood outside Westbrook High School, staring at the huge glass doors in front of her.
New school.
New city.
New life.
She took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The hallway was crowded with students laughing, talking, and slamming lockers. She clutched her schedule and tried not to look lost.
Room 214.
She pushed the door open.
Every head turned.
Her heart raced.
She walked toward the only empty seat near the window. Just as she sat down, someone slid into the chair beside her.
"Hey," a voice said.
She turned.
The boy beside her had messy brown hair, warm eyes, and a lazy smile.
"I'm Ethan," he said. "You must be new."
She nodded. "Lily."
Their eyes met.
And in that moment, everything else faded away — the noise, the nerves, the fear.
The teacher cleared her throat.
"Class, settle down."
But Lily couldn't stop thinking about the boy sitting next to her.
And Ethan couldn't stop looking her way.
Neither of them knew it yet, but this was the start of something neither of them would ever forget.