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Chapter One
He’s never looked at me.
It didn’t stop me from watching him, and no, I’m not some secret stalker. Everyone watches Jeremy Archer. He is the unobtainable bad boy at school, or at least that’s what the girls call him.
And he’s just been assigned as my science lab partner for next year.
We are back in for our sixth form induction before the summer, and not only are we in the same class, but we’ll be partners.
I don’t know if I’m excited or terrified. We’ve barely spoken two words in the last three years of school, but that hasn’t stopped my heart beating a little harder each time he walked past me. And now we’re meant to be working together in my favourite class. He’ll have to look at me then, and I’ll be able to stop dreaming about what it would be like to look into his piercing sea-blue eyes and have him see me.
“Earth to Anna.”
“Um, yeah?” I tune out of my daydream and focus on Sammy.
“Did you hear anything I just said?”
“Nope.” She won’t mind. Given the information that I’ve just received, there are extenuating circumstances. Everyone else is packing up, so I shove my new textbooks into my bag and follow her towards the door.
“Okay, understandable. What are you going to do? Talk to him?”
“I guess.” We head down the corridor towards the common room.
“Seriously, Anna, Jeremy Archer. You lucked out. I got Adam McVey, and I’m not even in the same class as you.”
“There’s nothing wrong with Adam. He’s a good student.”
“He’s not Jeremy Archer, though.”
“Granted. But Jeremy could turn out to be a big dork.” Please, no, no, no, I pray under my breath.
“Someone that good-looking and that broody can’t be a dork. And seriously, Anna, are you twelve?”
“Fine. He might be stupid.”
“Wrong again. He’s clever. He’s in the same class as you, isn’t he? So, you just need to go and talk to him.” She shoves me out in front of her. I turn and glare, but all she does is stick her tongue out.
“Fine.”
I can do this.
He’s already at his usual table in the common room, with a group of guys around him, flanking him like he’s their prized possession. It’s intimidating, but I suck it up. They shouldn’t bother me. I’ve been flying under the radar at school for years, keeping to myself and not interfering with the popular crowd.
As I approach, the chatter and gossip between them hushes, and they all seem to turn to look at me — so much for my inner don’t-give-a-shit attitude. I stand there with no words, just staring at Jeremy. Only he doesn’t even look up from his phone.
“Hey, Archer. Little Miss Anna here looks like she wants to talk to you. What’s up, Anna, got something to say?” My nickname isn’t especially imaginative, considering I haven’t been the shortest in my year for years, but it seemed to stick with some of the boys. They all turn to look at me, waiting for me to say something.
“Easy, Derek, you jerk.” Jeremy stands and ushers me out of earshot from the others. I freeze as he puts his hand on the base of my spine. The air catches in my chest as he looks down at me. He’s six foot tall and towers over my five-foot-two frame.
And there they are — those eyes. They’re both haunting and vivid and a permanent distraction that I’d happily drown in.
“Anna, you wanted to speak to me?” His voice is kind. Encouraging.
“Yeah. Right, sorry.” I fidget from one foot to the other and resist the urge to grab my school skirt. “I just thought, as we’re going to be working with each other in science, that maybe we should swap numbers. Maybe?”
“We’re not back until after summer, right?” He smiles, but his eyes narrow.
“No, I know. But if there’s anything set for over the summer, it’ll be good to, well, make sure—” My words start tumbling together, and my cheeks start to roast.
