The afternoon sun was still blazing over Lincoln High, throwing long shadows across the courtyard. Most students were either heading home or hanging around to kill time.
Brandston slung his backpack over one shoulder, heading toward the front gate casually, minding his own business — like always. Joel trailed beside him, munching on a bag of spicy chips, talking non-stop about the vending machine stealing his dollar earlier.
"Dude, it's a conspiracy," Joel said, crumbs flying everywhere. "They rig those machines! It's like... organized crime or something!"
Brandston laughed under his breath, but honestly, he wasn't listening.
His mind was elsewhere.
Still stuck on the scene earlier — Vanessa leaning against his locker, that wink, that light touch on his arm. It replayed in his head even when he didn't want it to.
What does she even want from me...?I'm not looking for that drama.
As he adjusted his backpack, Brandston caught something from the corner of his eye.
Someone... watching him.
His eyes shifted — subtle.
It was Audrey.Standing under one of the big oak trees near the school parking lot, sipping from a water bottle, talking to some friends.
She was laughing at something they said, but every few seconds... her eyes flickered toward him.Quick glances.Almost shy.
Brandston felt his stomach twist slightly.
She noticed...
Before he could think too long about it, another voice snapped him back.
"Hey, captain," a sweet, teasing voice called out.
Vanessa.
She strutted toward him, hips swaying like she owned the entire campus.
Behind her, her crew followed — three girls, each of them looking like they belonged on the cover of some teen magazine. Madison, the bubbly blonde. Kylie, the quiet but deadly pretty one. And Roxanne, the tall, athletic one who always had a lollipop in her mouth.
Joel's jaw dropped mid-chip bite. He elbowed Brandston so hard he almost dropped his bag.
"DUDE. BRO. BROOOO," Joel hissed, voice cracking.
Brandston straightened up, acting calm.
Vanessa stopped right in front of him, barely a foot away.
"Going somewhere?" she asked, tilting her head with a smirk.
Joel, now pretending to casually read the nutrition facts on his chip bag, was watching like it was a live TV show.
Brandston shrugged coolly. "Just heading to the dorm."
Vanessa leaned in slightly, lowering her voice so it sounded almost intimate.
"Walk me to my car?" She stayed close so she wasn't in the boarding house.
It wasn't a request.
It was a move.
Straight up.
Brandston hesitated for half a second — enough time for Joel to nudge him in the ribs, whisper-shouting, "BRO SAY YES OR I'LL DO IT FOR YOU."
He rolled his eyes but nodded once.
"Sure."
Vanessa flashed a victorious smile and turned, leading the way — but not before shooting a glance at Audrey under the oak tree.
Audrey had frozen mid-sip, the water bottle paused near her lips. Her eyes met Vanessa's for a split second.
And she knew.
Everyone knew.
This wasn't random.
Vanessa was staking her claim.
Brandston followed Vanessa across the lot, her crew trailing a few steps behind, whispering and laughing about something he couldn't hear.
Meanwhile, Joel stayed rooted in place, shaking his head like a disappointed dad.
Bro got drafted without even trying...
As they reached her sleek black car, Vanessa spun around, hair flipping perfectly like it was out of a movie scene.
She leaned casually against the hood, smiling at him.
"So..." she said, dragging the word out playfully. "Are you always this... serious?"
Brandston shrugged again."I guess."
Vanessa laughed softly, tapping a polished nail against his chest lightly.
"You're kinda cute when you act like you're not interested."
Brandston was about to answer when —
SMACK!
A football — badly thrown from across the lot — smacked straight into the side mirror of Vanessa's car.
Brandston and Vanessa both jumped.
Across the lot, a group of freshmen were waving apologetically, yelling, "SORRY!"
Vanessa huffed, rolling her eyes.
"Ugh, kids," she muttered.
Brandston couldn't help it — he laughed.
Real, full laugh.
And for a split second, Vanessa's face softened — not her usual calculated smile, but a real one.
"I like that sound," she said quietly.
Before he could react, she pushed off the car and leaned up slightly, whispering near his ear:
"Get used to me, Brandston Reid."
Then, with a wink and a flip of her hair, she slid into her car, started the engine, and drove off — her crew piling into the backseat, giggling and waving.
Brandston stood there for a second, stunned.
Get used to her...?What the hell does that mean?!
Behind him, Joel came running up, gasping like he had just sprinted a marathon.
"DUDE! YOU'RE IN! YOU'RE SCREWED! YOU'RE DEAD, BRO!" Joel screamed dramatically.
Brandston shoved him lightly.
"Shut up."
But even as they joked, Brandston's eyes drifted back toward the oak tree.
Audrey was gone.
Gone before he could even try to explain.
And somehow...That made his chest feel a little heavier than it should have.