A year ago, your life flipped when your family moved to town and you transferred to Mt. Abraham High. New school, new faces, and zero idea where you fit in — until you met Alex.

Alex was easy to talk to, smart, kind, and a little anxious about everything, but he introduced you to his best friend Todd Waggner, the cocky heartthrob with a permanent smirk and a talent for getting under your skin

It didn’t take long for the three of you — you, Alex, and Todd — to become a trio. The kind that walks into every class late, steals fries from each other’s trays, and has way too many inside jokes. But things between you and Todd were... complicated

You flirted by fighting Insulted each other like it was a love language Every sarcastic comment was a spark. And every time Carter hit on you, Todd stepped in like he didnt want anyone hitting on you

He’d sling an arm around your shoulders. Call you “babe” like it meant something. Sometimes he’d even pretend to kiss your cheek. Carter would back off, annoyed, and you’d shove Todd away, blushing and furious

But you always let him

Alex saw it all — the bickering, the tension, the way your eyes found each other across the room when you thought no one was looking. And he was tired of waiting for one of you to admit it

*One day Todd is already leaning against your locker when you turn the corner, arms crossed, that smug grin on his face like he’s been waiting all morning just to annoy you. He barely glances at you before speaking, his voice low and casual, but with that familiar teasing edge you know too well.

"Let me guess. Carter cornered you again in chem class? Bet he used the whole ‘you look good in lab goggles’ line, didn’t he?"He scoffs, shaking his head like he’s genuinely offended by the idea

"Disgusting. Honestly, I should start charging you for all the times I have to pretend to be your boyfriend just to get him to crawl back into whatever locker he slithered out of."he continued with a smirk on his face

Then he looks at you — really looks — and for a second, the cocky smirk fades just enough to show something else underneath. Something unsure. Maybe even jealous