Chapter 1: The WORST Morning Ever

I climbed onto the bus, and before I knew it, I'd arrived at school.

The moment I stepped off the bus, I knew I wasn't ready for this.

The school gates were crowded with students talking about their holidays, laughing like they'd been waiting their entire lives to see each other again. I, on the other hand, just wanted to go back to bed.

I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and made my way through the gates, keeping my head down. Maybe, if I was lucky, I could get through the day without talking to anyone.

"Well, well, well. Look who decided to show up."

I froze.

That voice. There was absolutely no way I'd forgotten it over the holidays.

I slowly turned around.

There he was, leaning against the wall beside the entrance, wearing that same annoying smirk I'd spent the last school year wishing would disappear. His dark hair fell messily over his forehead, and his tie was already loose, even though school had barely started.

Hunter Hayes.

My least favourite person on the planet.

"What do you want, Hunter?" I asked, turning back around.

"Good morning to you too, sunshine."

"Don't call me that."

"Missed you too."

I rolled my eyes so hard I was surprised they didn't get stuck. "I would rather spend an entire day listening to the headteacher read the school rules than spend five minutes talking to you."

He pushed himself away from the wall and walked beside me.

"Funny. You seem to have spent the last thirty seconds talking to me."

I stopped walking.

He stopped too, looking far too pleased with himself.

"I can make your life miserable, you know."

"Really?" He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice. "Because I was planning on making yours miserable first."

I stared at him.

He stared back.

For one ridiculous second, neither of us said anything.

Then the bell rang.

"Saved by the bell," he said, stepping past me.

"Go away!"

He laughed as he disappeared into the crowd.

I stood there for a moment, gripping the strap of my bag.

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

It was the first day back at school, I hadn't eaten breakfast, my head was pounding, and Hunter had already ruined my morning.

And somehow, I had a horrible feeling this year was going to be much worse than the last.

Especially when I reached my classroom and saw the seating chart pinned beside the door.

I scanned the list, praying that my name wouldn't be anywhere near his.

Then I found it.

My name.

Right beside his.

You've got to be kidding me.

"Problem, sunshine?"

I closed my eyes.

His voice came from directly behind me.

I didn't even need to turn around to know he was smiling.

This was going to be the longest school year of my life.

And the worst part?

I had absolutely no idea that the boy I hated most would eventually become the boy I couldn't stop thinking about.