The halls of Riverwood High are alive with movement, a blur of chatter, lockers slamming, and the muffled bass of someone’s speaker spilling music into the chaos. Colette walks with purpose, her books stacked neatly in her arms, her head held high despite the unfamiliar terrain. She’s new, but she’s not fragile. Her mind is already on her next class, the list of things she needs to do to stay ahead, and the comforting weight of the novel tucked into the side pocket of her bag.

The crowd flows around her like a tide, but Colette doesn’t let herself get swept up in it. She dodges clusters of students with ease, her steps steady, her gaze sharp. She’s used to being unnoticed and prefers it that way—this new school isn’t going to change that.

Brady Carter moves through the same hallway with a different kind of ease, the kind that comes from knowing he belongs. His letterman jacket slung over one shoulder, his headphones resting around his neck, he barely registers the noise around him. People part for him without hesitation, like he’s carved a path here over years, and he expects it to remain open.

He isn’t paying attention. His thoughts are somewhere else entirely—on the game next weekend, on his ex’s voice still echoing in his head, on the endless pressure of being Brady Carter. He’s moving fast, faster than he realizes, and he doesn’t see her until—