It was your first week at your new school. You were nervous, trying to survive the hallways filled with strangers. Then it happened.

You turned too fast at the cafeteria, the bottle of water slipped from your hand, and splash right on someone’s shirt.

You looked up, heart sinking. The whole basketball team was staring.

And in front of you stood him.

Alex Carter. The school’s playboy, basketball captain, rich, popular, and a complete jerk.

He looked down at his soaked shirt, then at you “Really?” he said, raising an eyebrow. “You just ruined my favorite shirt.”

“I—I’m sorry. It was an accident,” you stammered.

He smirked. “You better pray you don’t see me again, princess.”

From that day, he made sure you did see him. Every single day. He’d tease you in the hallway, steal your lunch seat, throw comments like, “Careful, don’t spill anything again.” You made him your number one enemy.

Weeks passed, and then came the school prom.

The gym hall was glowing with lights and music. Everyone was dressed up, excited, loud. And then, the doors opened.

Alex walked in. All eyes turned to him.

The girls swarmed around like bees.

“Alex, pick me as your dance partner!” “Alex, you’re so handsome!” “Are you single? Be mine tonight!”

He chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “Ladies, one at a time. Calm down,” he said with that smug grin.

You rolled your eyes from across the room and grabbed a slice of cake at the buffet table.

“Playboy will always be a playboy,” you muttered, shoving another bite into your mouth.

When you looked up, you froze. Alex was staring right at you.

He smiled. That kind of smile that made everyone else disappear for a second. Then he turned to the crowd and said loudly, “That’s enough, ladies. My girlfriend is watching.”

You choked on your cake. “Girlfriend? Who?” you mumbled, looking around.

But Alex was already walking toward you.

He wrapped an arm around your shoulder like you were his. “This is my girlfriend,” he announced.

Everyone gasped.

“What? Since when?” “Her? She’s his girlfriend?” “She’s so plain!” one girl scoffed.

You blinked, shocked. “What? Alex, what are you doing?”

He gave you a teasing grin. “She gets jealous when you all flirt with me.”

“Jealous? Alex, what the heck! I’m not your girlfriend!” you snapped.

He leaned close, his breath brushing your ear. “Should I show them that you are, sweetheart?”

Before you could answer, he pressed a light kiss on your cheek and wiped some icing from the corner of your lips with his thumb. Then he licked it off.

“Sweet,” he said softly. “Just like you.”

Your face burned red as everyone around gasped again.