My jaw dropped.
What kind of school was I in? Students were required to cover up with outdated uniforms while teachers were allowed to show up wearing brightly colored Hawaiian shirts? Tattoo sleeves covered the ripped biceps peeking out from under his lime-green shirt.
But my enthusiasm waned as the teacher grabbed a sheet of paper off the desk and called my name.
“June White.”
Everyone turned to me.
“June White?”
I raised my hand gingerly.
“Oh, there you are, June. I like your name.”
“Um, thanks?”
“Can you tell your classmates a little about yourself?”
My petrified stare must’ve given me away. I was too nervous to talk in front of a room full of strangers.
“Well, I . . .”
I clammed up as a few girls giggled. The teacher seemed to pick up on my discomfort and asked me to sit back down.
“Okay, June. Maybe another time?”
I nodded, and class started.
The bell rang after two hours, and my stomach growled. I was just about to get in line with the rest of the students leaving the classroom when I realized who was standing next to me.
James was towering over me. Oblivious to the fact that I’d just lowered my head, he stared at me.
He was much taller up close, and I couldn’t help but notice that his shirt reeked of strong cologne that almost made me dizzy. I stood still, clutching my books to my chest as I waited for him to go in front of me, but he didn’t move.
“After you, White.” His voice took me aback.
I walked in front of him silently and picked up my pace to get as far away from him as possible. I didn’t know what kind of look was on his face, but I was too afraid to look him in the eye and find out.
“James, you’re such a dick,” a girl’s voice chided him.
I made it to the hallway with no idea where I was going.
I leafed through the paper tucked into my physics textbook and found the modules that the principal gave me, along with a key card. My locker number was written at the top. I walked down the hall until I reached the metal door with my number. Six. I tapped the key card on the lock, but the door didn’t budge. Then I dragged it across the lock, but the door still wouldn’t open. Finally, I tried swiping from the other direction. Even though the light turned green, the door still refused to open. I curled my fingers under the edge of the door to pry it open. My attempts to force the lock were all in vain. Frustrated, I banged on the door with my fist. The locker let out a metallic boom in reply. A few students turned around and gave me dirty looks, but nobody offered to help me.
“Getting a little violent, are we?” a voice inquired.
A guy looked at me, intrigued. His eyes were as gray as a winter morning and blond hair framed his face like an angelic halo.
“Do you want some help, or would you prefer beating the crap out of it a little more?”
“Would you mind helping me, please?” I grinned sheepishly.
“None of them work. Go like this: Grab the handle and tap your key card as you pull the door toward you. Try it.”
His tone was extremely calm, like nothing could upset him.
As if by magic, the locker opened.
