16

LUNA

STROLLING THROUGH THE SCHOOL HALLWAYS, the atmosphere crackled with whispered words and darting glances. Hudson had his arm draped around my shoulders, igniting a firestorm of gossip.

I felt a rush of insecurity as we passed clusters of students, their eyes following us like hungry predators tracking prey. As if they were dissecting our every move. Hudson seemed unfazed, his stride confident and his expression unreadable.

"You're tense." He said, keeping his eyes trained in front of us.

"Do you blame me?" I asked. "Everyone is staring."

"Did you expect any other reaction?"

"No," I said with a sigh. "I was not expecting this."

"They'll have something new to gossip about by the end of the week." He said, brushing off my concerns.

As we reached my locker, I felt the weight of a hundred eyes on us. I could hear the murmurs rippling through the crowd. As I fidgeted with my lock, I glanced at Hudson beside me. His cool demeanor was infuriatingly calm.

"What are you looking at?" I asked him once I got my combination.

"Just looking."

I turned and followed his gaze to a group of freshman boys. He glared at them with a look that had me quivering, before they bolted with their tails tucked between their legs.

"Don't be a jerk." I said, nudging his side with my elbow.

"Isn't that your type?"

Ignoring his comment, I reached for my books, but there was an unmistakable sensation of someone's gaze burning into my back. Turning my head, dread pooled in the pit of my stomach, to find Austin watching us with a mixture of surprise and an expression I couldn't quite place. Our eyes locked, and a myriad of emotions passed between us.

"Hold my hand." I said, turning my attention to Hudson.

"Why?"

I motioned over my shoulder. A light bulb went off above his head.

"Oh, right." He reached to clasp his hand over mine but retracted it. "Why are your hands so cold?"

He's so dramatic.

"Just hold it!" I said and intertwined our fingers together.

The look of shock on Austin's face brought a sadistic sense of pride. Now you know how I felt.

"Can we get to class now?"

"Are you always going to be this annoying?"

"Are we having our first fight?" He asked with a cheeky grin.

"Let's just go."

I dragged him through the hallway, past Austin. Hudson winked at him as we sauntered past. I shoved him the moment we turned a corner.

"What now?" He asked, rubbing his shoulder.

"I saw the look you gave Austin."

"So, wasn't the whole point of this to annoy him?"

"We're not starting a fight. I know that's a hobby of yours."

His nose scrunched in disgust.

"I can just tell you're going to be a great girlfriend." He said before we strutted into class.

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