Best of Luck

"I'm Sera Phillips, and it's great to meet you Colton." I do my best to appear sincere but inside I feel wretched. I know everyone is watching while my heart goes a thousand miles a minute.

All I can do is focus on him. The annoyance in his person is wiped away in an instant; Colton's demeanor changes. I'm an unknown and invading his territory.

Colton's eyes are cold and flinty as he regards me. I cannot tell what he is thinking.

"Sera Phillips," he utters slowly as he continues his assessment. I suppress a shiver at my name; I'm not sure if it's out of fear or nervousness. "So you're the culprit who took my parking spot."

Dammit. Trust my stupid luck. Out of every spot I could have taken I took his. This is not how I want to start my first day back at Braxton High. This is definitely not how I want to get myself noticed by Colton Hayes either. I planned a slow entry not a sudden drop in the ocean.

"That's me," I let my smile drop and act flustered. "Sorry, I didn't know it was yours."

"Liar!" Someone cries out, "I warned you to move somewhere else."

Somehow I forgot about the scrawny kid and now he's standing only a few feet away with his arm crossed and looking belligerent.

"I told her Colton, she didn't listen." He says again. Right now I wanted nothing more than to strangle the toothpick.

"I heard, Trevor. You may leave," Colton waved him off without taking his eyes off of me. Trevor gives me a scowl before he disappears.

A tense silence ensues. I attempt to reign in my own emotions and try to figure out the next best course of action. I have to remember that I didn't come back to start trouble. But it's moments like these when in hindsight feels so damn stupid.

Honestly, who makes such a big fuss about a damn car park? I want to roll my eyes at the whole situation but I can't think I'm above this. I know my peers would crush me. That's the sad beautiful tragedy of high school life. All the little things count.

"She's new," Denver suddenly jumps into my defense. "She doesn't know better. In fact, I was planning on showing her the way to AP History."

Saved! I think in my head. I turn to give him a smile.

"I'll take her," Colton cuts in. My eyes widen in surprise. "Seeing how we're in the same class." There's a quirk to his mouth that makes my stomach sink.

He eyes Denver as though daring him to say something. Denver looks away.

"Follow, the bell is about to ring." And just as Colton says the bell sounds and the student body begins to move.

He doesn't turn around to make sure I follow. He knows I would and he's right. I shadow his footsteps as we make our way to History. The crowd parts as we move even though the hallways are jammed pack.

There's something about Colton that's terrifying. When I was in Miami some distance away, I could rationalise it. He wasn't so bad; it was just the situation I was in and my fear that exaggerated the whole thing. But now, being back here so close to him—I feel it.

The uncertainty. The inadequacy. Standing in front of Colton you could be a king who suddenly thinks you're a peasant. Colton has a very good way of making you feel small.

Even right now I can't help but try and figure it out. Is it his godly good looks? Or his privileged upbringing and his family's powerful legacy? Or is it just who he is? Strip all that away and I believe Colton would still be a force to reckon with.

This is it—my mission, why I'm back. I want to understand why. At the heart of it I know what happened to me centered around him and I think it's only fair after the hell I went through I deserve to know the reason.

The sudden sensation of his hand wrapped around my wrist jolts me.

"We're here," Colton says and pulls me to a stop.

"Oh," I respond. Room 105 the metal plaque states. I know where I am; I've walked past this way many times as a Freshman. The heavy oak door is familiar, and so are the arched windows behind me. It takes me another second to realise that he hasn't let go of my wrist.

Colton pulls me forward and says quietly next to my ear, "You need to be careful," his hot breath tickles my cheek, "next time I won't be so lenient."

He watches my expression once he says it, he must be satisfied with what he sees because he releases my wrist and turns away.

I'm stunned. And then in the next instant I'm furious.

"Wait," I say and my arm shoots out to grab his shoulder to stop him and whip him around, "I don't know who the hell you think you are, but I do not take well to being threatened. You'll be the one who has to watch your back if you do it again."

I don't wait for his reaction. I storm past him and deliberately bump into his side as I continue my way.

My heart is still pounding ten minutes into class. I can't think I got away with it. I have the rest of the high school year to face the inevitable torture. I close my eyes tight and shut everything out.

I can't believe I just did that. Once again things did not go to plan. At this point, I think I can cast all my previous ideas out the window.

What the hell did I think I was doing? I was supposed to lay low and gain everyone's trust. Get inside their head and hearts and know their deepest, darkest secrets. To find answers if these people were born evil or if there was something that made them that way.

I know there is no answer in revenge. All I want is understanding.

I sure as hell won't get it now. I might as well consider calling it quits and head back to Miami. God, I'm such an idiot.

When I open my eyes next I feel strangely calmer. I hope no one noticed my episode. Thankfully, I'm sitting in the very front row and Mr. Simmons still has his back turned to us.

I made a beeline to sit at the first desk I saw when I walked into class. I didn't look up when Colton entered the room. But to my horror I could sense him taking the seat behind me.

I heard the chair scrapping against the floor as it moved back and whoever the previous occupant was moved. Definitely not a good sign at all.

To say the least, the remainder of first period continued as a blur. When second period rang I shot out of my seat.

"Hey! New girl! Wait up," someone called out and I slow down. It would be an obvious snub if I kept walking.

"Hey," the person says again as they reach me, "I'm Marcus, nice to meet you."

"Hi," I say and shift my books from one arm to the other.

"Let me help you with that," Marcus says and before I could stop him he grabs my books and stacks it on top of his own. "C'mon, I'll walk you to class. We have French next together."

"How'd you know—"

Marcus's smile is bright and sincere. I feel myself warming up to him. "The school network, it's quiet easy to get in you know."

"You mean hack in," I counter.

"It's really not hacking when they make it so easy."

I laugh. I definitely like this boy more.

"So why the interest in me?" I muse.

"You kidding? Everyone's talking about you. The hot girl who took Colton's spot, definitely an interesting way to get his attention."

"Trust me, I wasn't trying," I say dryly.

Marcus grinned, "Well you did it, and now everyone is interested. Especially when Denver spoke up for you. That boy is usually an obedient puppy dog when it comes to Colton."

"Everyone is around here."

Marcus shrugs, "That's how things are you if you want to survive. In a way, Braxton High is just like any of your typical cliché high schools. There's a food chain and the people at the top rule. But instead of your typical jocks and cheerleaders, we have Colton Hayes."

"I've figured that out. Anything else I should know?"

"You should be careful," Marcus hands me back my stuff as we reach the class. "I saw what happened outside History."

"What? You saw that?"

"Don't worry, I don't think anyone else did."

I could almost breathe a sigh of relief. I did not want everyone to get the idea I was Public Enemy #1 already.

"I have to say though, I've never seen Colton take such an interest in someone. The way he stared at you in History…"

"He was staring?" A pit is definitely forming in my stomach…

"Trust me, he usually sleeps through his classes. When I say usually, I mean always."

I swear loudly and rudely in my head at the revelation.

"Whatever happened, you should fix it. Otherwise…"

"Otherwise…"

"I suggest you run. Get away from Braxton High as far you can. I mean it, things can turn really ugly at this school," Marcus reaches out and pats my arm, trying to soothe the impact of his words. "Best of luck Sera Phillips, you might need it."