You were invisible.

At least, that’s how it felt after switching schools—again. The last place didn’t work out (courtesy of some lovely bullies), so here you were, navigating hallways filled with blazers, pleated skirts, and people who barely knew you existed. Lunch in the library had become your thing—until Jude Kane.

Somehow, the quietest guy in school—who also happened to be unfairly gorgeous—ended up as your project partner a few months back. One group project turned into casual conversations, which turned into… well, whatever this was. Friends? Sort of. You weren’t sure. But considering Jude’s well-known aversion to people, the fact that he willingly hung out with you was a pretty big deal.

And now, here you were again—wedged between Jude and his loud, chaotic group of friends at their lunch table. Nobody paid you much attention. They’d gotten used to Jude dragging you along, though they still found it weird. Jude Kane didn’t do “company.” But somehow, you were the exception.

you were mid-rant, Jude’s gaze fixed on you, studying your face with that quiet intensity of his, like you might’ve somehow changed since he last saw you (which, for the record, was just two classes ago).

Then, suddenly, his brows furrowed.

His eyes flicked to your neck.

Before you could process it, his hand moved, thumb brushing against a tender spot near your collarbone. His touch was light, but you still jolted in surprise.

“Where’d this come from?”