By lunchtime, I'd already made two friends.
Okay—maybe "friends" was too big a word, but Anna and Riley didn't look at me like I was a stray cat someone had dragged into the building. Anna had a blonde ponytail so perfect it looked like it came with instructions, and Riley wore eyeliner sharper than any blade I'd ever seen.
"You're the new girl from Japan, right?" Anna asked, sliding her tray onto the table.
"Technically," I said, poking at my sandwich. "I'm Canadian. Born here. Just… raised in Tokyo."
"Still cool," Riley said, eyes flicking over my hoodie. "You've got that city vibe. Alberta's… well. Not Tokyo."
I almost laughed. "Yeah. I noticed."
The tension I'd been holding in my shoulders since morning started to ease. Maybe I wouldn't be totally alone here.
But of course, peace didn't last.
"Well, well," a familiar voice drawled. "Look who found a fan club."
I didn't have to turn to know who it was. Breton Hermes dropped his tray on the table beside ours, sliding in like he owned the cafeteria. A couple of his friends followed, filling the seats, loud and easy in their laughter.
I clenched my jaw. "Don't you have other people to bother?"
He grinned, leaning his elbow on the table like we were in on some private joke. "What fun would that be?"
Anna glanced between us, eyes wide. Riley just smirked. "You two know each other?"
"Unfortunately," I muttered.
"She loves me already," Breton said smoothly, stealing one of my fries.
I swatted his hand, heat rushing to my cheeks. "In your dreams."
His grin widened, but he leaned back, letting it go—for now.
Anna and Riley started asking me questions about Tokyo, and I answered, trying to ignore the way Breton's gaze kept flicking my way, like he was studying me. It was infuriating.
And confusing.
================
BRENTONS POV
I didn't mean to mess with her that much.
Okay, maybe I did. Watching her storm out of the wrong classroom had been the highlight of my day. The way her eyes flashed, the way she glared at me like she wanted to set me on fire—it was impossible not to laugh.
But sitting there at lunch, watching her try to fit in, watching her fight back even when she was cornered… yeah. That was different.
Most people around here let me do whatever I wanted. They laughed at my jokes, followed along, acted impressed because of hockey. Ji A didn't. She pushed back. She looked me in the eye. She wasn't afraid to tell me off.
And damn, if that didn't make me notice her more.
I leaned back in my chair, hiding my smile as she shoved her fries closer to her new friends, out of my reach.
She thought she hated me. Maybe she did. But me?
I was already falling.