The aftermath of Tommy Westwood’s party lingered like a storm cloud over Leo’s mind as he walked through the halls of Westwood High on Monday morning. The weekend had been a blur of overthinking: Adrian’s unexpected intervention, Ethan’s cold glares, and the subtle but palpable tension between everyone involved.
As Leo headed toward his locker, Marcus and Alicia caught up with him, their voices chattering away about the party.
“I still can’t believe Adrian spoke to you,” Alicia said for the fifth time since Friday night. Her tone was laced with disbelief and something that sounded suspiciously like envy.
“Neither can I,” Marcus added, shooting Leo a curious look. “What’s the deal between you two anyway?”
“There’s no deal,” Leo muttered, fumbling with his locker. “He just… likes calling me ‘Puppy,’ apparently.”
Alicia rolled her eyes. “He’s never even glanced in my direction, but he talks to you like you’re old friends. Seriously, what’s the secret?”
“Trust me, I have no idea,” Leo said, sighing. He wasn’t about to admit that Adrian’s attention was just as confusing to him as it was to them.
Leo’s day took another awkward turn during lunch. He was sitting with Marcus and Alicia in their usual spot near the corner of the cafeteria when Abby approached, balancing a tray of food.
“Mind if I join you guys?” she asked, her voice cheerful.
Marcus and Alicia exchanged a surprised glance, but Leo nodded. “Uh, sure. Go ahead.”
Abby sat down, her blonde hair shimmering in the cafeteria lighting. “Leo, I just wanted to say thanks again for helping me out at the party. You were a lifesaver.”
“Oh, it was nothing,” Leo said quickly, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks.
Stolen novel; please report.
Marcus leaned forward, a smirk playing on his lips. “So, Abby, what brings you to our table? Shouldn’t you be with the rest of the golden squad?”
Abby shrugged. “Sometimes it’s nice to switch things up. Besides, Leo’s pretty cool.”
Alicia gave Leo a pointed look, her eyes wide. He could practically hear her unspoken words: What is happening right now?!
Across the cafeteria, Ethan sat with the basketball team, his gaze fixed on Abby and Leo. His jaw clenched as he watched them laugh over something Marcus said.
Kai noticed the shift in Ethan’s demeanor immediately. “What’s with you?”
“What?” Ethan asked, snapping out of his daze.
“You’re staring at Leo like he stole your wallet,” Kai said, raising an eyebrow.
“I’m not staring,” Ethan muttered, looking away.
Kai leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “If you’re so worried about Abby talking to him, why don’t you say something to her?”
Ethan shot him a glare. “I’m not worried. She can talk to whoever she wants.”
Kai smirked. “Sure. Whatever you say.”
Later that afternoon, Leo headed to the library, hoping to find some peace away from the growing drama of his day. But fate, as usual, had other plans.
He was searching for a book on European history when he heard a familiar voice behind him.
“Didn’t think you were the library type, Puppy.”
Leo turned to see Adrian leaning casually against one of the bookshelves, that ever-present smirk on his face.
“Stop calling me that,” Leo said, though his voice lacked the bite he intended.
“Can’t help it,” Adrian said with a shrug. “It suits you.”
Leo rolled his eyes and turned back to the shelf. “What do you want, Adrian?”
“Nothing. Just saw you and thought I’d say hi. You looked lonely over here.”
“I’m fine,” Leo said curtly, though he couldn’t deny the small flutter of amusement Adrian’s teasing brought.
Adrian stepped closer, his tone softening. “You know, you’re interesting, Puppy. Most people around here are predictable, but not you.”
Leo froze, unsure how to respond. Before he could say anything, Adrian flashed him one of his signature dazzling smiles and walked away, leaving Leo more confused than ever.
That evening, as Leo walked out of school, he spotted Ethan and Abby standing near the parking lot. Abby was laughing at something Ethan said, but Ethan’s gaze drifted toward Leo the moment he stepped outside.
Leo felt his heart leap, though he quickly looked away and kept walking.
“Leo!” Abby called out, waving.
He hesitated before walking over to them. “Hey.”
“Heading home?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
Abby grinned. “Maybe we should all hang out sometime. It’d be fun.”
Ethan cleared his throat, his expression unreadable. “Abby, we should get going. Practice starts soon.”
“Right, of course,” Abby said. “See you around, Leo!”
Leo nodded, feeling the weight of Ethan’s lingering stare as he walked away.
That night, Leo lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The day had been a whirlwind of emotions—Abby’s unexpected friendliness, Ethan’s confusing reactions, Adrian’s relentless charm.
For someone who had tried to keep a low profile, Leo was finding himself at the center of more attention than he’d ever wanted. And the worst part? He wasn’t sure what to make of any of it.
As he closed his eyes, one thought stood out among the chaos: What have I gotten myself into?