“Have you seen the new guy yet?” Madison slumps against the locker next to mine, fake swooning. “He had me clutching my pearls in Biology.” She sighs deeply, holding a perfectly manicured hand to her brow.

I snort, letting my own locker door fall shut, backpack now slung perfectly over my shoulder. “What happened to Marcus? Last week you were convinced you were going to marry him.”

“I’d hit Marcus and bury his body in the woods if it meant a chance with New Boy,” Madison said solemnly. “Out with the old, in with the new, you know.”

Laughing, I link my arm with hers. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to homicide.”

By the time I get to AP Lit, the whole school is abuzz with news of the new kid. The rumor mills been taken to a whole new level; Christina Bianca swears he just broke out of juvie, while Eddie Stone announced to our entire US history class that he toured with a popular band, and would only be in town until after their next show.

I’ve yet to actually lay eyes on him, but every source seems to agree on one thing at least: he’s extremely good looking.

I throw my bag down onto my desk, conveniently located in the back row of this class due to my unfortunately late in the alphabet last name.

Trina leans over from the table next to mine, golden hair falling gracefully across her shoulder. “Have you seen-“

“The new guy? Nah, not yet,” I don’t even look up, searching at the bottom of my bag for a pen I’m sure I threw in there last period.

I hear Trina let out a delicate ‘hrmph’ from across the aisle, likely annoyed I don’t have any information for her. Trina’s universally regarded as the prettiest girl in our grade; I’m sure if she sets her sights on the new guy the rest of us mere mortals won’t stand a chance.

“Excuse me, is this seat open? Mrs. Dodds said I should sit here.”

“Sure, sure,” I say absentmindedly, still hunting in my bag. Triumphantly, I finally pull out a pink gel pen, covered in crumbs and a little sticky, but still. Turning to the voice in question, I find myself staring into the deepest green eyes I’ve ever seen.

“Thanks,” his mouth quirks up as he says it, the hint of an accent in his tone. He slides into the seat next to me, pushing chestnut hair from his forehead, and offers me a hand. “I’m Edwin.”

Before I even have a chance to react, Trina’s pops up out of her seat and bounces over jauntily. “Hi Edwin, I’m Trina. Would you rather sit with me? I have an empty seat too.” This was an outright lie, as her seat mate was in fact already sitting down in the seat besides hers, and looking mutinous at her pronunciation.

But Edwin doesn’t even look at her, his intense eyes still locked with mine as he says, “No thanks.”

She blinks stupidly a few times, not seeming to comprehend what he’s said, until Mrs. Dodds calls the class to order.

I break into a giggle; I’ve never seen Trina put down a few pegs but she definitely needed it.

“Sammy,” I whisper to him, quickly shaking his hand, warm and large and calloused compared to my own suddenly clammy hands.

He smiles back, and I get the sudden feeling that my life is about to change.