She walked through the school hallway, passing the group in the corner that everyone had learned to avoid. Someone—though it was unclear who—was talking about the race coming up that weekend. Sylas barely registered the words; his eyes and mind were too focused on Kira, who was reaching for a book on the top shelf of her locker.

Kira looked like a proper nerd today. The colder weather gave her an excuse to wear cozy sweaters, and her radiant joy at the chill in the air was infectious. No matter how hard Sylas tried to hide it, a smile crept onto his face.

“Sylas, buddy,” Logan’s voice cut through his haze. He flashed a lopsided grin. “You’re drooling,” he pointed to Sylas's chin, chuckling. “Right there, you know?”

Sylas didn’t frown or grimace, nor did he lash out as he usually might. Instead, he nodded and swatted Logan’s hand away. “Shush.”

Everyone knew about Sylas’s growing infatuation with Kira—everyone except Kira herself. Sometimes, he wondered just how oblivious she could be, especially given her unhealthy obsession with those cheesy romance novels.

“Speaking of Kira,” Logan continued, “have you heard about that internet debate recently?” Sylas raised an eyebrow, unsure what debate Logan was referring to; there were countless trending topics online each week. But before he could ask, Logan launched into his explanation. “It’s about your favorite topic, Sylas. Everyone’s talking about whether the ‘book girls’—” he made air quotes—“belong to us bikers. I want to know why.”

Sylas spoke before he could fully process. “Why wouldn’t we be? I mean—” He paused, struggling to collect his thoughts, then cleared his throat. “They’re pretty, I guess.”

As he spoke, Kira closed her locker and turned toward them, her sweater slipping slightly off her shoulder. Sylas’s heart raced; he hoped she hadn’t overheard.