Chapter 1

CHAPTER

ONE

Lena

Seventeen years old. Where it all began.

Today marks the first of a new journey. A new school for my senior year of high school. I hate I had to leave all of my friends behind, but I understand why we had to move.

Six months ago, we lost my father to cancer. One day, he was this vibrant, full-of-life man, and the next, he was lying in a hospital bed as we said our last goodbyes.

I hate cancer.

My mom stuck it out to let me finish the school year, but the house was too big for her to afford on her own. My father had life insurance, but medical bills and the burial took most of it. So, that means my mom and I had to pack up our lives and move to a smaller house. That just so happens to be in a little town just south of Nashville. A little town that's forty minutes from my old high school but closer to my mom's work.

I didn't scream and yell or act out like most kids my age. I understand why we had to do it. I don't like it, but it's what we had to do in order to be able to survive on my mom's salary alone. She's a nurse at a surgery center. She makes good money, or that's what she tells me, just not enough. I understand this is what we needed to do.

I hate this move almost as much as I hate cancer.

Anyway, that brings me to this moment. I'm standing in front of the bathroom mirror, fussing over my hair. It's my senior year, and I have no friends. I don't know a single soul in this new school, and I'm nervous. When Mom asks, I tell her it will be fine, and I know that it will be. Life has a way of working out. What I don't tell her is that my insides have been churning for a week, dreading walking into that school on my own.

"Lena!" Mom yells from the kitchen. "It's time to go. You don't want to be late on your first day."

I sigh and take one last look in the mirror before turning off the light. I rush across the hall to my bedroom and grab my backpack. I do a quick look, making sure I have my house key, everything the school said I would need for today, and money for lunch. I'm supposed to report to the office to get my class schedule, and lists will be provided by the teachers for any other supplies we might need for classes.

"It's only one year," I mutter as I slowly head toward the kitchen where my mom will be waiting in her scrubs, with her brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and her tumbler of piping-hot, way-too-sweet coffee in her hand.

"You look beautiful." Her eyes mist with tears as she smiles, and I give her a watery smile of my own.

Neither of us needs to say it, but we both wish Dad was here. He's supposed to be here for this—to watch me start my final year of high school. I don't let myself go there. I can't think about all the things he's going to miss. That's an emotional journey I can't take today.

Instead, I hike my backpack over my shoulder, grab the bottle of water and protein bar Mom laid out for me on the counter, and smile at my mother. "Ready?"

"You're going to be great, Lena."

"Of course I am." We both know that my confidence is false, but neither one of us mentions it. Fake it until you make it or until the end of your senior year. You know, whichever comes first.

"Are you sure you don't want me to drive you?"

Inwardly, I shudder at the thought. "Mom, I'm fine. You'll be late for work. Besides, I can't be the new girl who's going to be eighteen in a few weeks and lets her mommy drive her to school."

She laughs at that. "Fine, be safe. You have your house key, right?"

"I do. I'll see you when you get home."

"I love you, Lena."

"Love you too, Mom." I don't stick around for more words. We're both ragged with emotions, and we need to get on with our days.

Pulling open the door of my Jeep, I climb behind the wheel. Every time I do, I think of my dad. I can still remember the day he pulled up to the house in this Jeep. He got out and handed me the keys before wrapping his arms around my mother and kissing her temple. I stood there in shock while they smiled at me. He was healthy, then, but that changed not long after.

"Love you, Daddy," I whisper as I start my Jeep and carefully pull out onto the road.

The drive to the school is a short one. Ten minutes later, I'm easing into the parking lot. I don't give myself a single second to let fear and anxiety take over. I quickly grab my things, pull the key from the ignition, and climb out. I lock the doors and make my way inside.

The hallways are bustling with students, all excitedly talking about their summers. I keep my head held high and follow the signs to the main office. I push open the door. The room is much quieter, muffling the sounds of the hallway I just left behind. I stand in the small line, waiting my turn. When I step up to the counter, I smile at the receptionist.

"Hi, my name is Lena Hartford. This is my first day. I was told to stop here to get my schedule."

"Hi, Lena, welcome." She types on her computer and smiles with a slight nod as the printer whirs to life, and she reaches behind her to grab what I assume is my schedule. "Here you go, dear. If you have any issues at all, you come right back to see me. Now, let me see who your buddy is going to be."

"My buddy?"

"Yeah, we pull another senior from first period study hall and have them give you a tour of the school. We've found it much easier if a peer does the tour instead of the office staff. Makes newcomers like yourself feel more at ease and helps you meet new people." She offers me a kind smile, which I return. I'm not sure if her theory is correct, but meeting new people and not feeling like an outcast is super appealing.

I'm standing off to the side, staring out the window, waiting for whoever it is that's going to take me under their wing this morning. I hope whoever it is, he or she is nice and aren't all angry and broody that they're missing their study hall catch-up time with their friends to show me around. The last thing I need is to make an enemy on day one.

"Mrs. G, you're looking as beautiful as ever," a masculine voice says behind me.

I don't turn to look. Whoever he is, he's probably trying to charm his way into something.

"Mr. Riggins, what can I do for you this morning?"

"I'm here for you, Mrs. G. Mr. Harper sent me from study hall." Great, Mr. Smooth is my tour guide. I still don't turn to look. Instead, I choose to keep my eyes trained out the window.

"Oh, well, I thought Abigail was on the rotation list for this week."

"She is, but she has a headache, so I volunteered."

"All right, but, Stanley Riggins, I'm warning you now. You must be on your best behavior. Don't make me call your momma."

"Mrs. G.," he gasps as if he's offended. It's hilarious, and I have to bite down on my lip to keep a chuckle from escaping. This guy, he's full of confidence, and just from this conversation alone, I know he's trouble.

"Fair enough. Lena Hartford, this is Stanley Riggins. He's going to show you around the school and help you identify each of your classrooms."

Time's up.

I turn my gaze to the kind receptionist. "Thank you, Mrs. Garrison." I give her a kind smile before turning to look at Mr. Suave. I open my mouth to say hello, but I can't seem to find my voice. Standing before me is the hottest guy I've ever seen. He's tall, well over six feet, with dark hair and broad shoulders.

"Lena." He says my name like a caress. His eyes are locked with mine, and suddenly, it's hard to breathe.

I swallow thickly. "Yes. That's me. Lena." I point to my chest, and my face flames with embarrassment. I clear my throat. "It's nice to meet you." I offer him my hand, remembering my manners, and he doesn't hesitate to take it.

Instantly, there's a spark that ignites between us. His eyes flare, and he whispers, "Magic." His eyes are wide, and his grip on my hand is firm.

I don't hate it.

"Go on now. You've got all of first period to show her around. I expect you both in your second-period classes." Mrs. G shoos us out of the room.

I'm shocked when Stanley laces his fingers through mine, an intimate gesture as he leads me out of the office into the now-quiet hallway. He guides me to the end of the hall, away from any windows, and stops. He stands still, his eyes raking over me. He stops at our joined hands.

"Where you from, Lena?" he asks softly. He lifts his gaze from our hands, waiting patiently for my answer.

My throat is dry, but I manage to answer, "Tennessee. About forty minutes from here."

He nods. "You here for good?"

I return his nod. "Yeah." I don't get into why I'm here, and right now, Stanley doesn't seem to care about that either.

"You got a boyfriend waiting for you forty minutes from here?" He takes a step closer, putting us toe-to-toe as he tilts his head to the side. Again, he waits as if we have all the time in the world for my reply.

"N-No."

A slow, sexy grin pulls at his lips. "Good. That means I don't have any competition." He winks, and a million butterflies take flight in my belly. I've never responded this way to anyone before.

Why Stanley? Why this guy? Why now? When my world has been uprooted, and I'm trying to find my footing.

"What?" I ask, not sure I heard him right. I let myself get lost in my thoughts. Surely, he didn't say what I thought he did.

"You and me, we're going to do great things." His voice is husky, and his gaze is intense, as if the words he speaks are some unwritten rule.

"I'm not having sex with you," I blurt. I'm embarrassed, but he might as well know his efforts are wasted. I'm not that kind of girl, no matter how hot he is or how many butterflies he causes to flutter inside me.

He smiles at my outburst. "Do you believe in magic, Lena?"

I have whiplash from this guy. "When I was a kid, maybe." I shrug. How did we go from talking about sex to magic? My head is spinning as I try to decipher this moment with him.

"Yeah," he agrees. "I didn't used to believe in it either."

"What changed your mind?" I find myself asking. For some strange reason, I need to understand why he's suddenly spouting about magic and how he suddenly believes. What am I missing?

He lifts his hand, which isn't holding mine, and presses it against my cheek. His eyes bore into mine. "You."