15

LUNA

AS THE FINAL BELL RANG, I walked through the crowded hallways towards the parking lot. I slung my backpack over my shoulder, my mind drifting to my non-existent weekend plans. Since my breakup with Austin, Maya has been my only friend in our large group.

As I reached the parking lot, my ears perked at a commotion ahead. A cluster of students gathered around something with expressions of amusement and bewilderment. My curiosity piqued, and I weaved through until I reached the front. I gasped and slapped my hand over my mouth.

Austin's car was in the center of the crowd. Its once pristine exterior was now marred by graffiti and missing wheels. My eyes widened as I took in the sight. A mixture of disbelief and satisfaction flooded through me.

"I'm going to murder him." Austin said. "He's dead."

I couldn't wipe the smirk off my face as I watched the chaos unfold around me. He stood beside his vandalized car; his face contorted in rage. The crowd's laughter drowned out his threats, as everyone became caught up in the spectacle and didn't take him seriously.

I scoped the rest of the car. The words " small package on board" were spray-painted on the front window. My eyes fell on the side mirror. A jockstrap was dangling on the mirror, moving side to side as the gentle breeze blew through it. My smirk widened into a grin. It was a dead giveaway of who the culprit was. A part of me thought I should feel guilty for taking pleasure in Austin's misfortune, but the devil on my shoulder convinced me it was what he deserved.

With one last glance at his angered face, I turned on my heel and walked away with a spring in my step and a smile. Seeing him get his comeuppance was the sweetest revenge I could have asked. It's hard to believe that Hudson Wilder was the one to avenge me.

?

The soft glow of my desk lamp illuminated my bedroom as I sat with my attention on my homework. The room was quiet, bar the scratching of my pen against paper and the occasional rustle of pages.

A movement in the window caught my eye. I glanced up. My heart skipped a beat as I saw a figure in the reflection. With a gasp, I turned to find Hudson, leaning against my doorway, a mischievous smirk on his lips as he took a bite of a cookie.

"Your mom made cookies." He said through a mouthful.

My surprise turned to confusion.

"How did you get into my house?"

"Your mom let me in." He said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I shook my head, my brows furrowed in disbelief as I wondered why my mom would let him into my room, but the answer was obvious. My mother adored Hudson. I glanced back at him and noticed his attention was on something else.

Following his gaze, I spotted the dusty old camera sitting in the corner of my room, a relic from a past that seemed like another lifetime. The one his mom bought me for Christmas when I was ten.

"You don't take pictures anymore?" He asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

"No."

"You used to love it."

I shrugged; a sudden pang of sadness gripped me.

"Things change." I said, averting his gaze.The room fell into a heavy silence as we both absorbed the weight of my words. Unable to dwell on it any longer, I broke the silence."What are you doing here, Hudson?"

His smirk returned as he straightened up and approached me. I tensed, knowing that smirk only meant trouble.

"I have a proposition for you."

It sparked my interest.

"I'm all ears."

He cleared his throat as if he was about to deliver a business presentation.

"Since you and Jockstrap called it quits, I figured we should date. Or, at least pretend to."

My jaw dropped to the floor. Was he serious?

"What's in it for you?"

His grin widened.

"It would help me get Stacy Henderson off my back." He said. "She texted me four times, just as I crossed the street to your house."

I was shell-shocked, my mind racing as I weighed his proposition.

"I don't know."

"Think about it, Snow." He said. "What would annoy Chambers more than you dating the guy he hates most in this world?"

He made a valid point. I wanted revenge, and this was the perfect way to do it. After a moment of hesitation, I made my decision.

"Fine, we have a deal."

A triumphant spread across his face.

"Should we hug it out?" He asked, with outstretched arms.

I scoffed and folded my arms across my chest.

"Don't push it."

He smirked, before nodding his head.

"Well, I guess I'll see you later, girlfriend. "

As he turned to leave, I couldn't help but feel that my life was about to take a drastic turn.

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