Chapter 1: Introduction
he high school cafeteria was a smorgasbord of unwanted comments, weird noises, and aroma incompatible with the institutional paint of the walls. I couldn't wait to get out of here next year.
A toss of messy brown hair shifted my view from the graffiti-encrusted wall to the delectable piece of eye candy that was Claudio Martinez. I couldn't believe he strolled toward my table. Not that it was weird -- he did hang out with my group, after all.
But the attention was so direct it made my skin tingle. It didn't hurt that the rumors about Claudio were true; this boy could back his reputation with actions.
"Hey, Lisa," he greeted, cocky smile out in full force. "Mind if I join?"
Play it cool. "Go ahead."
His tray clanged onto the table. Chatter ceased around us, hungry eyes wagging on the interruption to their gossip train.
Their whispers filled the air with sizzling tension. I couldn't decipher the cacophony of voices fueling the fire—Claudio's muscular appearance, the recent pick-up game in which he'd exclusively teamed up with me, or something else.
With each throbbing beat of the minutes passing, I felt my entire being yearn for him. He glanced at me, deep green eyes piercing my tender flesh like a hunter, pinning me in place. My breath hitched, cheeks flaming up like a red beacon. Down, girl.