Chapter Five
Emmie
Ava is staring at me with wide eyes. She’s the only girl our age without social media, but for once, I’m glad.“That’s why people are whispering,” she hisses, glancing around.
I grab her hand and force her to look at me. “They’re laughing at him , not you.”
“Are you going to give Kai his phone back now?”
I shake my head. I didn’t reply to him last night. He deserves to wait. But when I do answer, it’ll be a firm no . There are still so many lessons he needs to learn, and I’m enjoying teaching him.
Then, the tension shifts. A hush falls over the corridor like a wave, and clapping starts. Girls start cheering as Kai strolls in. My mouth falls open.
I’ve literally made him a hero.
He doesn’t bask in it, though. Instead, he gives a small, awkward smile, pushing his way through the crowd until he stops at his locker. Two down from mine.
We make brief eye contact. I look away fast, pretending to search for something in my locker.
Then Ava gasps and I realise he’s beside me. I slam the locker shut. He gives me an easy grin.
“Morning,” he says, voice smooth as silk.
“Good morning.”
“Sleep well?”
I narrow my eyes. What’s his game? This is the same guy who ignored me for two years unless I was the punchline. Now he’s being nice ?
“Why aren’t you enjoying your hero status?” I ask, hugging my books. “Think of all the girls you’ll con into bed.”
He shrugs. “Everyone loves an underdog. If they see me talking to you? Bonus points.”
I stare at him for a second, then smirk.
“You sure you can spell underdog without help?” A few nearby girls snigger and there’s a sharp intake of breath from Ava.
Kai’s smile falters for half a second, long enough to see I’ve hit a nerve.
I shift my books to my other arm and tilt my head.
“Careful, Kai, don’t blow your hot guy cover by talking to me. ”
Then I turn on my heel and walk away.
Someone behind me mutters, ‘She’s savage,’ and it makes me smile.
But I realised something when I took Kai’s phone.
He’s just the same as me, just the same as every other teenager.
He’s got his insecurities, his own worries.
He’s not some untouchable God with a great body, although he’s that too.
I give my head a shake. What am I thinking?
At lunch, Ava drops her tray beside mine, eyes wide. “Okay. That was legendary earlier. You had him speechless.”
I shrug, picking at my sandwich. “Just gave him a taste of his own medicine.”
Ava watches me for a moment, then leans in. “You liked it, though. Having him that close.”
I pause mid-chew. “I liked putting him in his place.” But it’s not the whole truth. And Ava knows it. “Besides, I had some inside information.” She waits for me to swallow. “He has spelling apps on his phone, loads of them. It’s an insecurity.”
Ava frowns, “That’s a little mean then.”
I laugh to hide the shame I’ve been feeling since the words left my mouth this morning. “You heard what he said to me first, right?”
She shrugs, picking at her own sandwich. “Well, yeah, but that doesn’t make it right.”
I shove my food away and stand. “I need to go to the library,” I mutter. “Catch you later?” And I rush off.
I find a table right at the back where Mrs Tippleton can’t see me finish my lunch. She’s very strict on that sort of thing. I tap my pen against my notebook, pretending to be productive. Really, I’m watching the minutes crawl by.
My phone buzzes.
Kai: Do your friends ever just drop you? Like, overnight?
I stare at the screen, lips twitching.
Me: Is this a general question or are you having a dramatic lunch alone right now?
Kai: Lunch alone. No sarcasm needed.
Me: Plenty of people are alone right now, look around. How many loners do you see?
Of course, he doesn’t see other people face this kind of thing daily, mainly because they’re not in his circle. If you’re not popular, you’re a nobody.
Kai: Surprisingly, a few.
Me: Welcome to the world of being misunderstood.
Kai: Are you?
I laugh. Nice try.
Me: Go and talk to one of them.
Kai: I can’t.
Me: Why? You’re alone and you don’t want to be. They’re probably trying to blend into the background to avoid kids like you and your friends.
Kai: What does that mean?
Me: Well, you’re in the popular group, so of course you don’t realise. Just go and talk to one of them. See that there are others out in the world, other than your dumb arse friends.
Kai: I’m starting to get the impression you don’t like my friends, little Rebel.
I smile. I can’t stop it.
Me: Maybe I’m starting to think you can do better. Sometimes the fall is the only thing that teaches you who you really are.
There’s a pause. I can almost picture him reading it, trying to figure me out.
Kai: If only you knew, little Rebel. This smile. This bravado, it’s all a sham.
I frown at his words. What’s that supposed to mean?
Kai
I’ve said way too much. But I can’t take it back now, so I tuck my phone away and decide if she asks any questions, I’ll just flirt.
I glance around the dining hall. Austin, Henry and the other guys are all in our usual corner.
Of course, the usual girls that surround us are giving him a wide berth, so they’re all over the other side of the hall with Bella.
And I could join them, Bella already tried to wave me over a few times.
But I’m not in the mood. I’ve spent the entire morning fighting girls off, something I never thought would irritate me, yet it has.
I take a breath and head over to Emmie’s friend, Ava. Her table is half-empty, surrounded by the usual quiet lunch kids and one girl braiding her own hair with a scientific focus.
I slide my tray across from her and sit down. Ava looks up from her book, eyes wide. Her mouth actually drops open.
“Hi,” I say with what I hope is a casual smile.
“H-hi.”
“What are you reading?” I lean forward and tilt the hardback toward me.
She snatches it back like I tried to steal her diary, slamming it shut and shoving it into her bag. “Nothing you’d like.”
I press my lips together and glance around. A few people are watching us; more like staring , actually. Is it really that weird I sat here?
“So . . . where’s Emmie?” I ask, trying to keep it light.
Ava’s eyes dart around like she’s about to get ambushed. “Library.”
Of course she’s in the library.
“Why aren’t you with her?” I ask.
Ava gives a little shrug. “She likes being alone sometimes.”
I study her face, but she won’t meet my eyes. “She okay?”
“She’s fine.”
I clear my throat and look at Ava again. “I’m not here to mess with you,” I say. “I just figured . . . I don’t know. Thought I’d try sitting somewhere different today.”
She squints at me like I’m a science experiment that might explode. “Right. And this has nothing to do with Emmie?”
I hold up my hands. “I mean, I like talking to her. But it’s not just that,” I add. “Maybe I’m tired of sitting with people who only care about followers and filters.”
Ava tilts her head, amused. “And you think the geeks will just take you in?”
“I’m hoping they’re feeling generous today , ” I say with a small grin. “I brought a tray. I’m unarmed.”
She snorts, actually snorts, and picks up her can of coke. “Okay, first of all, don’t ever call yourself unarmed again. You sound like a dad.”
I laugh, relieved. “Fair. What do I have to do to earn my spot here?”
Ava raises a brow thoughtfully. “You want to be friends with the geeks? You’ll have to pass the test.”
I lean forward. “There’s a test?”
She nods, solemn. “One question. If you answer wrong, you’re banished forever.”
I pretend to wipe sweat from my forehead. “Okay. Hit me.”
“Marvel or DC?”
I blink. “That’s the test?”
Ava shrugs. “Choose wisely, Kai Banks. This could determine your entire social future.”
I pretend to think very hard. “Marvel.”
She narrows her eyes. “Why?”
“Because Batman is overrated, and the MCU actually knows how to build a story arc.”
A pause. Then Ava breaks into a slow, impressed smile. “Okay. That was the right answer.”
I grin. “So, I passed?”
“Temporarily. Prove you’re not a jerk and we’ll talk permanent residency.”
I nod, genuinely grateful. “Thanks, Ava.”
She sips her coke. “Don’t thank me yet. I still think you’re up to something.”
“I’m just trying not to be the guy I was last week.”
A beat passes. Then she says quietly, “Good. Because that guy sucked.”