I’M IN 1B.

It’s pretty wild because I used to be thrown into C all throughout elementary, the second worst class in each year. The stupid but not helplessly so class.

Joey left me alone to check if behind the science building is a good enough spot to snog Blondie against its wall.

Shannon left me alone for god only knows what. She just saw Johnny and gravitated toward the guy without sparing time for her newbie baby brother find his locker or maybe his first class.

Both my Tommen-attending siblings left me alone on my first day at this posh, rugby preparatory school that’s the size of the side of Ballylaggin I came from.

Fuck this shit.

I turn around with the intention of fuming away in a fury when she runs into me—all long legs, pre-puberty hormones radiating off her, and my hands shoot out to steady her.

“Tadhg!” she raises her brows at me. “I’ve been looking for you.”

What?

How…?

Before I even register that she knows my name, her bag is on me shoulder. Pink and girly and a very Molloy move.

Wait. Fuck me, that’s—

“You’re Aoife’s sister, right? What’s your name again?”

“Why does it matter when you’ll be calling me ‘baby’ by the afternoon classes?” she shoots me a thousand-watt grin and, ladies and gentlemen, I’m done for.

She starts walking, and I, Tadhg Anthony Lynch, let her walk me like a bleeding dog as much as she wants with her baby pink backpack strapped over my shoulder.