I woke up the next morning with the same heavy feeling sitting on my chest. It was almost funny—how one stupid necklace could mess with my entire mood. How one boy… no, not just any boy… James Adams, my brother's best friend, could make me feel so stupid and small.
And the worst part?
He acted like nothing happened.
I kept replaying it in my head—him buying the necklace, him handing it to me with those annoyingly gentle eyes, him actually saying happy birthday like he meant it. And then thirty minutes later, that girl on Twitter posting her own necklace with the caption:
"Spoiled. He really knows how to choose gifts."
She didn't mention James, but the comments did.
And my best friend confirmed it.
So yeah… I didn't see it coming. Not from him. Not from the guy who barely talked to me before the accident of me seeing him naked in the hallway. Not from the same James who started acting strangely around me ever since then.
But clearly… he was the same James.
James the playboy.
James the heartbreaker.
James who didn't care who he hurt.
And I was just stupid enough to think I was different.
---
When I arrived at school, I did the only thing I knew how to do when I felt too much:
I avoided him.
Like my life depended on it.
I hugged my books to my chest and walked fast, ignoring every guy in the hallway who shoved past me, ignoring the whispers, ignoring the loud group of cheerleaders laughing near the lockers.
Then I saw him.
James.
Standing with my brother, as usual. Leaning on the lockers like he owned them. Laughing like his life wasn't ruining mine.
He looked up at the exact moment I turned in the opposite direction.
"Lizzy!" he called.
I pretended not to hear him.
"Lizzy!" he said louder.
I kept walking.
I could feel him watching me walk away.
It burned.
---
Second period came, and I sat down, drowning myself in my notebook. I wasn't even writing—just dragging my pen across the page like I wanted to tear it in half.
A shadow fell over me.
I didn't need to look up to know who it was.
"Why are you avoiding me?" James asked.
"I'm not," I said, flipping my page.
He pulled out the chair beside me. "You literally sprinted when you saw me at the lockers."
"I walk fast."
"Lizzy—"
"James, can you move? People are staring."
He actually looked around, annoyed because I was right. A few girls in the back were already whispering.
He lowered his voice.
"What did I do?"
"You didn't do anything," I lied.
"You're lying."
"So?"
"So, I want to know."
I let out a small, humorless laugh. "James, since when do you care about anything I feel?"
He stared at me—surprised. Hurt. Confused.
Good.
Let him feel something for once.
The teacher walked in, and James sat back, still staring like I had flipped his world upside down.
I kept my eyes on my book.
But I could feel his gaze burning holes into me for the rest of class.
---
By lunchtime, I was emotionally exhausted.
My best friend, Chloe, slid into the seat across from me.
"You look like someone died," she said.
"Someone did," I muttered. "My dignity."
"It's about the necklace thing, isn't it?"
"No."
"Yes."
"Mostly yes."
"Liz, you already knew he was a playboy."
"I know," I whispered. "But I didn't think he'd treat me like… like I'm just one of them."
Chloe gave me a sad smile. "Because you like him."
I froze.
"I hate that I do," I whispered.
She squeezed my hand. "You deserve someone who actually sees you."
Her words stung.
And then—
James walked into the cafeteria.
With her.
The Twitter-necklace girl.
She was hanging on his arm, laughing too loudly.
James scanned the room.
When he saw me, he stopped walking.
She tugged his arm, but he didn't move at first. He just stared at me, confused, like he was trying to understand why I looked so hurt.
I looked away first.
Because it hurt too much.
---
I avoided him the rest of the day.
He kept appearing.
He kept staring.
He kept walking toward me—and I kept disappearing into classrooms, bathrooms, anywhere.
My brother Liam noticed.
"Why are you avoiding James?" he asked.
"I'm not."
"Lizzy, you literally dove behind a vending machine when he came out of history."
"It was instinct."
"He said he wants to talk to you."
"I don't want to talk to him."
"Why? Did he do something?"
Yes. But I couldn't say it.
"I'm tired."
Liam sighed. "Whatever. But he's confused as hell."
Good.
Let him be confused.
---
At home, I rushed into my room. I stared at the necklace on my dresser.
"Why did you buy it for me?" I whispered.
I picked it up… and threw it into the laundry basket.
Then I cried.
I cried until my chest hurt.
Because I wanted someone who didn't want me back.
Because I let myself believe he saw me.
But he didn't.
---
The next morning, something felt different.
People were whispering near the notice board.
"A new student?"
"He's cute."
"You should see his jawline!"
Lila ran up. "Lizzy! Oh my God—there's a new guy!"
"So?"
"He's in Liam and James's class! His name is Kevin Pierce, and he's… wow."
I rolled my eyes.
"No, listen! He transferred from Albany. His mom moved here after the divorce. He's calm, polite—"
She suddenly froze.
"What?"
"He's looking at you."
My heart skipped.
And there he was.
Tall. Brown hair. Hazel eyes.
Looking right at me.
And then—
he smiled.
"Smile back!" Chloe hissed.
I panicked and looked away.
He was still smiling.
---
In class with James, the tension was real.
Kevin sat beside him.
After a minute, Kevin asked, "Who's the girl with the dark curls and the backpack full of keychains?"
James tensed.
"That's my sister," Liam said.
"Oh." Kevin leaned back, smiling. "She's cute."
James's head snapped toward him.
Liam laughed. "Don't say that around James. He acts weird whenever someone brings up my sister."
"Shut up," James muttered.
Kevin smirked. "Why? Something going on between you two?"
"No," James said too quickly.
Kevin didn't look convinced.
---
After school, I walked home alone.
As I turned the corner, someone stepped beside me.
Kevin.
"You're Lizzy, right?"
"Yeah…"
"I'm Kevin." He smiled softly. "Figured I should introduce myself since I've been staring at you half the day."
I flushed.
Then—
"Lizzy!"
James.
He walked toward us, jaw tight.
"What are you doing?"
"Walking home."
"With him?"
Kevin smirked. "Is that a problem?"
James ignored him.
"We need to talk."
"No, we don't," I said.
"I'm busy. And I have company."
Kevin looked pleased.
James looked like he wanted to break something.
And for once…
I didn't walk toward him.
I walked away.
And he watched me with something new in his eyes.
Something that looked a lot like jealousy.