Chapter Four WILLOW

“What did you think?” Iris asks once we’ve finally exited the auditorium with the rest of the students pouring out. “Can’t help but get swept up in the school spirit, am I right?”

My nod is reluctant, as are my feelings, which I can’t even explain. “It’s definitely something.”

Iris’s steps slow and I can feel her staring at me, but I refuse to look at her. “Seriously, Willow? You didn’t like it?”

“What do you want me to say? That I’m a Lancaster Lion until the day I die?” My sarcastic tone makes me laugh, but I clamp my lips when I see the look on Iris’s face. It’s obvious she’s displeased with my reaction.

“Well, you’re exactly that. We’re more Lancaster than anyone else on this campus. Shouldn’t we show that we have school spirit?”

“It’s just so … rah rah, go team.” I shake my hand in the air like I have a pom pom in it. “That’s never been my thing. That’s never been our school’s thing either.”

“It is now,” Iris says firmly. “And I think it’s fun. We needed things shaken up around here after having Matthews in charge for so long. He wasn’t one for change.”

“True.” I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I’m afraid I’ll just offend her further and right now, I need as many allies as I can get, considering I feel like I might’ve lost one. “What do you think is going on between Silas and Alana?”

As if conjured up by my question alone, the crowd parts ahead of us and I see them. Walking hand in hand yet again, Alana glances up at Silas, laughing when he says something to her.

Curiosity courses through me and I wish I knew what he told her.

“I hate to say it, but they look pretty serious to me.” Iris touches my arm lightly, and I know she’s trying to comfort me, which I appreciate. “Forget him. Forget the both of them. How dare she pretend I don’t even exist when she gets a boyfriend? I’m still pissed about it.”

“I would be too, but maybe she just got wrapped up in—him.” I get it. I would ditch all my friends and spend every waking second with the boy of my dreams too. I just didn’t figure one of my best friends would steal him from me.

What am I even thinking? Not like I owned him. He wasn’t mine to steal. Maybe in my mind he was, but that’s it.

“Still shouldn’t ditch your friends for some guy. Boyfriends only last so long. Friends are forever,” Iris points out.

“You’re right,” I say, my mind drifting to the football player on the stage, the one who showed up at the house a few days ago. He stared at me like I was a tasty steak and he was craving red meat. “Rhett Bennett is pretty popular, huh?”

Iris goes right along with my subject change. “Definitely.”

“His jersey number is one? Isn’t that … arrogant?” I wrinkle my nose. I don’t really understand how numbers are chosen for team sports, but if the guy is walking around with the number one on his jersey, I’m thinking it could go to his head.

“His dad is a retired quarterback, but now he’s a coach. His dad’s number was always number one. He’s just following in his father’s footsteps,” Iris explains.

“How do you know this?”

“Row told me. If you spend any amount of time with your brother, you find out all he wants to talk about is football.”

He wasn’t like that at all last year. It feels like everything has gone haywire and nothing’s the same. It’s so weird.

“Rhett is a great football player, much like his dad according to Rowan. Rhett took the team all the way to the league championship, but they lost in the playoffs. He’s popular, too. Flirts with every girl on campus, including me,” Iris continues. “You saw how he was a few days ago when he came to pick up his brother and Row.”

I did. Touching him was electrifying. Having him watch me so carefully from where he stood on the stage was much the same. Like a shock to my system. Not that I’m anything special. He just has really good flirting skills.

“I did,” I confirm, not wanting to delve too deeply into it. “He flirts with you too, huh?”

“Nothing beyond flirting,” she reassures. “He’s not my type.”

I think about his handsome face. Sharp jaw and cheekbones, lush, kissable mouth. I think of the photos I found of my parents and the kiss marks all over my dad. Embarrassing, yes, but also …

Rhett is extremely good looking. And for whatever reason, I can imagine doing the same thing to him that Mom did to Dad. Lipstick stains all over his face. Weird considering I don’t know him at all, but it’s there, lingering in my brain. Teasing me.

“Why isn’t he your type? You don’t like football players?”

“Nope.” Iris lets the p pop. “Why are you asking anyway?”

“No reason,” I say way too quickly.

Iris catches on because of course she does. “Wait a second. Are you suddenly into football players, Willow?”

“No, of course not. He just—he looked at me when he was on stage,” I admit, my voice hushed as I glance around. I don’t want anyone to hear, but no one is really paying attention to us.

“Oh yeah?” She bumps her shoulder against mine. “And how, exactly, did he look at you?”

Like I was the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen. As if he was undressing me with his eyes. “Like he was trying to figure me out.”

“Maybe he couldn’t place you at first. You two did just meet after all, and did you even tell him your name?”

“No. I don’t know. I can’t remember.”

“That must be it then. He has so many girls throwing themselves at him. You’re just one more face he’s trying to recognize.” She laughs.

Iris sounds perfectly logical and I just nod, trying to push him out of my thoughts. I need to focus on my new classes. My schedule in Italy was so lax compared to here. I never felt like I was behind, but we definitely focused on subjects that we rarely study here.

The program I was accepted into had a section that was solely devoted to art. Roman art. Medieval. Renaissance and Baroque art. We traveled all over the country, visiting various museums and art galleries, and I was in absolute heaven. That is why Mom convinced my father to let me do it. She’s just as into art as I am, and my grandmother too. It was so much fun, but now, I’m back to work.

Iris and I already compared schedules the minute we got them, and we don’t have first period together so we part ways and I head toward the building where my honors English class is. Iris is in college prep English since she’s more of a science and math girlie, which works out nice for the both of us. We’re always helping each other out with our classes.

I missed that last year. It’ll be nice to be back into my normal routine. One more year here.

And then the possibilities are endless.

When I enter the classroom, I stop short, my gaze landing on Silas and Alana sitting right across from each other in the middle of the rows of desks. Alana’s gaze catches mine and she offers me a tight smile and a tiny wave.

I wave back, mouthing the word hi and turn on my heel, stumbling and losing my footing. My face goes hot as I realize in a split second that I’m falling. I want to die of mortification, especially when I land in someone’s lap.

A male someone’s lap.

“If you’re trying to catch my attention, it worked.” His voice is deep and delicious and makes my stomach twist in anticipation.

I jerk my head up, my gaze meeting twinkling hazel eyes. A knowing smile spreads across his face and I leap out of his lap, not even sure how I managed to fall into it, but oh my God, I so did.

“Sorry,” I mumble, scurrying away from Rhett Bennett and collapsing into a desk in the next row over, across from his.

He swivels in his seat, and I don’t look up from my task, though I can feel his gaze on me, hot and intense. I’m unzipping my backpack and pulling a notebook out, hoping he’ll look away. Hoping Silas and Alana didn’t witness me falling on him. There aren’t that many people in here yet, including the teacher, and maybe everyone will forget this ever happened.

“Wanting to sit next to me, huh, new girl?” Rhett asks.

A wave of giggles fills the room and I finally dare to glance up to find him still staring at me.

He ditched the jersey and is now wearing the requisite school uniform. His tie is crooked and loose around his neck, the white shirt wrinkled. The blue jacket clings to his shoulders, emphasizing how wide they are, and when my gaze finally meets his, I can see the amusement there.

My heart sinks into my stomach. I’m funny to him. Like I’m a joke. He probably loves that I fell into his lap. Might even think I did it on purpose.

He pats the desk directly behind him. “Sit with me.”

I slowly shake my head.

His disappointment is obvious. He even rests his hands over his chest, like he might be clutching his heart. “Come on, new girl. Do me a favor.”

“I’m not new,” I murmur.

He leans forward, as if he’s trying to hear me. “What did you say?

“She said she’s not new.” I’d recognize that voice anywhere, and I sort of want to die. “She’s a Lancaster, dumbass.”

It’s Silas.

Glancing over my shoulder, I send him what I hope is an evil glare before I turn forward, clearing my throat. “I was gone last year. Part of a foreign exchange program.”

“I remember you telling me that.” Rhett doesn’t seem affected at all by Silas calling him a dumbass, which was really … cruel of Silas to say. “You’re Row’s sister. We met a couple of days ago.”

“Right.” I frown. “I must not have been that memorable if you already forgot me.”

“I didn’t forget you. I was just teasing.” His gaze is warm and his expression is kind. Maybe he really was teasing me.

“Oh.” I swallow hard, not knowing what else to say.

“For a sophomore, your brother is pretty good. I’ve been giving him tips since he’s a quarterback like I am.” Rhett contemplates me, his gaze roaming, and my skin grows warm all over from his blatant examination. “We talked about you.”

My heart falls. God, what did they say? What did Row tell him? We haven’t talked much since we returned from our European vacation. The moment he came back here, he was all about practice. We talked some on vacation, but we haven’t had any deep conversations like we used to.

There’s a distance with Rowan and me that started when I left for Lancaster Prep to start high school. He came to campus last year while I was gone, so this is the first—and only—time we’ll be at Lancaster Prep together during high school. Meaning, right now, Row almost feels like a stranger. Things are happening in his life that I’m not privy to and I wish we were closer.

“Come sit by me, Lancaster.” Rhett’s tone is inviting and for a moment I’m tempted.

But I remain rooted in place, unable to move. It would probably be a mistake, sitting closer to him. Aren’t I close enough already?

“Don’t do it.” Again, this comes from Silas and I turn around in my seat to face him, noting the way Alana is watching our interaction, annoyance filling her gaze. “He’s just toying with you, Willow.”

Like you did with me,is what I want to say to Silas, but I don’t. “I’m a big girl,” I reassure him with a sniff. “I can handle myself.”

I shift my attention to Alana, who’s expression turns faux friendly the moment our gazes connect. “Willow, it’s so good to see you back.”

Her voice is warm, but her eyes are dead. Like she’s merely going through the motions versus actually meaning what she says.

“I sent you a text when I got home,” I remind her. “You never responded.”

And that hurt. She was avoiding me and I didn’t know why.

Now I do.

“I’m sorry. I’ve just been so busy this summer.” She shares a quick look with Silas before returning her attention to me. “Want to catch up at lunch?”

“Actually, I would love to,” I say just as our English teacher Mrs. Patel enters the classroom at the same time the bell rings. I turn to face forward once more, not looking in Rhett’s direction, though I can still feel him watching me. Can almost sense the disappointment he’s experiencing because I didn’t rush to sit next to him.

I don’t even know him. Just because he’s attractive doesn’t mean I’ll do whatever he wants when he snaps his fingers. I need to play it cool, which I’ve never really had to do before. I’m just … who I am, accept me or not. With Rhett though? It feels different. If I act like I’m into him, he might blow me off because from what I’ve seen and heard, lots of girls are into him. No way do I want to be just another girl who has a crush on Rhett Bennett.

I want to stand out.