Only When It Breaks

Chapter One

Emmie

I find Kai Banks’ mobile phone face-down in a puddle of melted slush.

It’s just outside the car park, and at first, I walk right past it.

I mean, it could belong to literally anyone.

But then I catch sight of the cracked black case with the white KB he’d scrawled in sharpie on the back, and well, of course, I stop.

Kai’s the football golden boy. Self-declared college royalty. Also, my personal hell.

I glance around to check if anyone is looking before crouching down to pick it up, fiddling with my shoelace for extra cover.

I wipe the screen using my hoodie sleeve, and it lights up instantly.

No passcode. Typical, classic Kai. Cocky enough to think no one would ever touch his stuff.

And maybe he’s right; anyone else would take it right to him. But today I’m feeling extra dangerous.

I drop it in my bag and head up the college steps, my heart thudding harder than it was just minutes ago.

Not because I’m doing anything wrong, okay, maybe a little, but because I already know exactly what Ava will say .

“Are you seriously keeping Kai Banks’ phone?

What, are you gonna ransom it for nerd rights or personal security detail? ”

Not the worst idea, to be honest.

Inside, the halls are mostly empty. The final bell had rung over an hour ago, and most of the student body had cleared out. Probably off to whatever college rituals popular people take part in. Like drinking overpriced iced frappes and discussing lip gloss. I wouldn’t know. I’m never invited.

I tuck my hair behind my ear and make a beeline for my locker. I pretend I don’t hear the high-pitched squeal from behind me. “Move geek girl.”

Bella Hart.

I step aside without looking at her, mostly because if I did look, I’d probably glare, eyeroll, or something else that would set her off. She feeds off my bad attitude like some sort of chaos demon.

As she passes, her shoulder knocks mine. It’s just enough to be ‘accidental’, so I ignore her. “Gross,” she mutters, shuddering. Her bitching friend, Luna, giggles. “Now I need to shower. I can’t see my Kai now I’ve touched that.”

I can’t hold it in; I don’t even try. “Your Kai?” I ask, and she stops, turning to face me. “Only I heard Jessica Coles tell her friends she was seeing him later,” I say innocently, smiling like I suddenly have her back.

Her eyes narrow, and she hooks her arm in Luna’s “Come on,” she mutters, “I don’t want to be late.” And they flounce off at speed.

I roll my eyes, taking the books I need from my locker and stuffing them into my bag. I don’t care if Bella and Kai are a thing. If they’re even a thing. I don’t even care that she’s carved their initials and a heart on the gym bench. It’s none of my business.

Except now I have his mobile phone. And a very petty, tempting idea.

I smile to myself all the way to history class, where I wait for Ava to finish homework club.

Ava often comes back to my house after college.

Her parents are always busy working, and my mum is the sort of woman who loves company.

She’d cook for the street if she could, having everyone join us for dinner.

So when we get back, and Mum’s plating up a chicken roast dinner, it’s no surprise there are three plates out.

“Just in time,” she tells us as we drop our bags by the door. “Wash your hands and set the table.”

It’s not until we’ve eaten and retreated to my room that I pull the phone from my bag.

Ava’s eyes narrow instantly. “Where did you get that?”

“Found it,” I say, unable to hide the grin stretching across my face.

She leans forward, already suspicious, but then recognition flashes in her eyes. Her jaw drops. “No way,” she breathes. “Is that . . . Em, is that Kai Banks’ phone?”

“Yup.”

Her gasp could shatter glass. “Why do you have it?”

“I’m going to have some fun,” I say, casually unlocking the screen like I’ve done it a hundred times.

She’s already shaking her head, eyes wide in warning. “Absolutely not. Emmie, no. This is, like, off the scale of bad decisions.”

“Absolutely I am,” I reply, voice bubbling with excitement as I swipe through the screen. “After I’ve checked through the entire thing.”

“Em . . .”

“I’m not hacking into the government’s top secrets, Ava. I’m just scrolling through the personal secrets of the school’s biggest prick. This is practically public service.”

She groans, collapsing onto my bed. “You are going to get hexed. Or expelled. Or worse, he’ll find out and tell Bella.”

I freeze for a second. It could go terribly bad if he were to find out. But then I shake it off. “He won’t. I’ll be careful.”

I go straight to his photos. They’re exactly what I imagined. Mirror selfies. Gym pictures. Blurry concert shots. Bella . Eugh. I roll my eyes. “He’s even more annoying than I thought.”

Ava peeks over my shoulder. “Wow. That much ego really can fit in one phone.”

“I might message him on his socials. Mess with him a little.”

Ava shakes her head in disapproval. “How, he’ll see it’s you.”

“Not if I make an entire fake profile.”

“This is going to get out of hand. You can’t catfish Kai Banks.”

“I can hold his phone to ransom.”

“Why?”

I shrug as Iean over my bed to pull out my bedside drawer. I dip my hand inside and pull out my laptop. “For fun. Because I know he’ll hate it. But mainly because he deserves it.”

Kai

There’s a hollow thud in my stomach the second I realise it’s gone. I recheck my bag, pulling out my sweaty football kit. It’s not here. “Bro,” Austin calls from the driver’s seat. “Are you coming or what?”

“Hang on, I think I left my phone,” I tell him.

“Again?” He laughs, “Man, get one of those grandma chains and hang it round your neck.”

I ignore him and swing the car door shut, retracing my steps to the changing rooms, scanning back and forth like it’ll magically appear. It doesn’t. And the worst part, I didn’t put a lock on it because I’m an idiot.

Back in Austin’s car, I stare out of the window the whole ride home, with my jaw tight. Bella’s probably already Snapchatted me a hundred times, demanding to know why I haven’t replied. And my dad? He’ll love this.

Sure enough, when I get in, Joel Banks, single father, top police officer and king of the ‘disappointed dad face’ is already in the kitchen.

I pull open a couple of drawers, even though I’m certain I had my phone at college.

“You lose something?” he asks, not looking up from his laptop.

“Yeah. My phone.”

He sighs, like I’ve just told him I’ve dropped out of college to become a circus clown. “You need to be more responsible.”

“Thanks, Joel. Super helpful.”

He raises a brow. “Don’t call me that.” I grab a glass of water and escape to my room before he can launch into a lecture.

I’m lying on my bed, debating whether I can live without a phone until Monday, when I remember I have my old one in the bottom drawer. It’s ancient. It has a cracked screen, and no front camera, but I grab it anyway and boot it up.

The second it connects to Wi-Fi; a message pops up on my WhatsApp.

Unknown Number: Missing something, pretty boy?

I frown.

Me: Who is this?

Unknown Number: Let’s just say I’m holding onto something of yours.

I sit up straighter.

Me: If this is you, Austin . . .

Unknown Number: I’m not one of your dumb arse friends.

Me: What the hell? Just give it back.

Unknown Number: Don’t you want to have some fun?

Me: What kind of fun?

Unknown Number: A little, get to know each other game. Although I have to say, I’ve seen your gym pics, and I’m at an advantage.

Me: Okay, then give me a clue.

Unknown Number: I’m not in your circle.

What the hell? And also, why is this a little hot.

Me: Male or Female?

Unknown Number: F

Me: Interesting. How do we know each other?

Unknown Number: That’s enough clues for one day.

I stare at the screen, my heart thudding with a mix of panic and something else. Curiosity. Annoyance. A tiny flicker of amusement.

This could be entertaining.

The music’s already thumping when I arrive at Henry’s place. It’s the usual Friday night chaos, bodies packed wall to wall, plastic cups everywhere, and half the football team crowded around the PlayStation arguing over FIFA.

Austin hands me a drink the second I walk in. “You looked fucked. Want a shot?”

I shake my head. “Nah, taking it easy tonight. I have a friendly game tomorrow with my Saturday team.”

“Any luck with your phone?”

I groan, holding up my smashed old one. “Nope. I got this dinosaur to work though. And guess what? Someone’s found my other phone and is messaging me.”

His grin spreads, “What? No way. What’d they say?”

Before I can reply, Bella slides up beside me, gently scratching the back of my neck with her fake nails and pouting her freshly glossed lips my way. “Hey,” she purrs, looping her arm through mine. “I was wondering when you’d show up.”

“Yeah?” I say, distracted. “Nice.”

Her smile falters. “Rude,” she mutters, “What’s got your boxers in a twist?”

I hold up the phone. “Some anonymous psychopath has my phone. They’ve been texting me. Teasing me. Maybe even flirting, I can’t tell.”

Austin laughs, “Wait, hold up, flirting?”

“I’m serious,” I say, shrugging, “She called me pretty boy, said she went through all my gym pics.”

Bella narrows her eyes. “So, you’re talking to someone, and you don’t know who?”

“Not a clue,” I state. “They know me . . . I think. That’s the impression I got. Like she knew Austin was a friend.”

Austin laughs harder, almost spilling his drink. “Man, you’re being catfished with your own phone.”

Bella flips her hair. “It’s probably some desperate cow just trying to get your attention.”

I raise a brow, “Like you?”

Austin is now crying with laughter. “Oof, cold, brother,” he says, fist-bumping me. “Cold.”

Bella scoffs, rolling her eyes and walking away, muttering something about me being a dick. I glance at the screen again . No new texts .

“What are you going to do?” Austin asks, nudging me.

I shrug. “Play along, I guess. Get them talking and see if we can figure out who it is.”

“And what if it’s someone weird like . . .” He thinks for a second, then grins, “That freaky girl from chemistry. The one that stinks like eggs all the time.”

I’m barely listening anymore. Because the truth is, weird or not, this mystery person has my attention.

And I kind of want to see what they’ll say next.