Prologue

Jay Harrison has always been good at one thing — staying invisible (and being sassy when needed). With messy brown hair, hazel eyes that never linger too long, and a clumsy streak that keeps him out of the spotlight, he’s content with focusing on grades, exams, and a future he thinks he already has figured out.

Then comes Lamia Robert. Dark-eyed, effortlessly cool, and impossible to ignore, the new guy walks into their final year of high school with the kind of presence that turns heads — including Jay’s. What starts as a chance encounter soon becomes a pull neither of them can resist.

But when two opposites collide, it’s never simple. Between growing feelings, and a world that doesn’t always understand, Jay and Lamia will learn that sometimes love doesn’t just change your plans… it changes everything.

...----------------...

Chapter One

Jay’s POV

“Morning, Mom! I’m skipping breakfast, I’m late!” I yell, half-hopping into my sneakers by the door. I nearly trip over my own feet, but hey, shoes are on — victory.

From the kitchen comes her classic response: nag mode activated. Something about me starving myself. If she catches me, I’ll never escape, so I bolt.

It’s just me and Mom at home these days. Dad’s always on business trips, my brother’s off in his dorm, and Mom works late. Which means most of the time, it’s just me, my homework, and the fridge.

I snatch my phone from the table and rush out to Amy’s car. She’s waiting, as always.

“Hi, Amy.”

She whips her head around so fast I’m surprised it doesn’t fly off.

“Hey, Jay.” Her grin is way too cheeky. Creepy, even.

I roll my eyes. She giggles. Of course. That’s Amy — my best friend since first grade, the only person insane enough to put up with my clumsiness and my sarcasm. A terrifying mix, apparently. But being me is chaotic fun, so I don’t mind.

The drive is the usual: Amy babbling about her break, me pretending to listen while mentally preparing to conquer senior year. Top grades. No distractions. Just me and my plan.

Yeah, right.

We pull into the school lot, head to class, and get our stuff ready. Our substitute teacher, Ms. Marie, walks in… with him.

The most handsome guy I’ve ever seen.

He does a quick sweep of the room and his expression screams not impressed. Not that I care. Okay, maybe I care a little. Fine, I care a lot because—holy hell.

Amy nudges me. “Stop staring.”

I jerk back to reality, glaring at her. “Remind me why we’re friends?”

“Because we’re soulmates,” she says with a smug smile.

I scoff. “Soulmates, my ass.”

The truth is, Amy did save me back in first grade — scared the bullies so badly they never touched me again. She’s been glued to me ever since. Annoying, terrifying, but yeah… I wouldn’t trade her.

Still, I go right back to staring. Because how can I not?

Dream guy checklist:

Over six feet: ✔️

Dreamy eyes: ✔️

Chiseled jawline: ✔️

Abs? Oh, definitely ✔️

Lips? Kill me now, ✔️

And then I see it — a tiny mole by his right ear. Barely noticeable unless you’re paying attention. And of course, I am. It’s ridiculously cute.

Can he get any more perfect?

Apparently yes, because he’s suddenly looking right at me.

Our eyes meet. I flinch, panic, and send my books crashing to the floor. In my scramble, I bang my head on the desk. Smooth, Jay. Real smooth.

Amy? Laughing so hard she’s practically choking. Best friend, my ass.

Lamia’s POV

Life sucks. Parents divorced. Mom’s remarried. New stepdad. New school. New everything.

And I hate it.

I scan the classroom, already plotting my escape when I notice him. Hazel eyes, freckles, messy brown hair, glasses slipping down his nose. He’s staring at me like I’m some kind of myth.

Then he flinches, drops everything, and smacks his head on the desk.

I almost laugh. Almost.

His blonde friend is howling with laughter beside him while he mutters curses under his breath, red as a tomato. I roll my eyes, but I can’t stop staring either.

Ms. Marie drones on about whatever, then tells me to sit by the window. Perfect. Except the seat’s right behind him.

As I walk past, he sneaks another glance at me. Our eyes meet again.

He whips his head away so fast I’m honestly concerned for his neck.

Weird kid. Weird… but kind of hard to ignore.

Clumsy,red-faced, awkward as hell.i should be annoyed...so why do I kind of want to keep watching him?.

Jay’s POV

There are only three words I hate more than pop quiz.

Group project time.

Ms. Marie claps her hands like this is exciting news. “Pair up! You’ll be working on this assignment for the next two weeks.”

Cue the classroom exploding into chaos. Everyone’s rushing to claim their bestie or brainiac partner. Naturally, Amy turns to me.

Except before I can even say yes, Ms. Marie calls out: “Amy, you’ll be with Lisa. Jay, you’ll be with…”

I don’t like where this is going.

“…Lamia Robert.”

My pen slips out of my hand and clatters to the floor. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Amy is grinning like it’s Christmas morning. Traitor.

“Looks like fate wants you to have a boyfriend,” she whispers as she drags her bag over to Lisa.

I glare at her. She just blows me a kiss.

Great. Just great.

I glance back at Lamia, who’s already standing, hands in his pockets, strolling over like this is no big deal. Meanwhile, my stomach is staging a nervous breakdown.

He drops into the seat beside me, casual as anything. “Guess you’re stuck with me.”

I swallow hard. “Don’t sound too excited.”

He smirks, leaning back in his chair. “Who says I’m not?”

My brain short-circuits. Again. Someone please unplug me.

Lamia’s POV

So I got paired with Hazel Eyes. Jay.

Figures.

I slide into the seat next to him, amused at how stiff he gets. He’s gripping his pen like it’s a weapon, refusing to look at me. Cute.

“Relax,” I murmur, half-smile tugging at my lips. “I don’t bite.”

His head snaps toward me, cheeks blazing. “Who said I was worried?”

Oh, he’s fun.

Ms. Marie drones on about deadlines, but I’m not listening. I’m too busy watching Jay scribble notes like his life depends on it. He’s serious. Focused. Clumsy as hell, sure, but… serious.

I tilt my head, studying him. He notices, of course. He always notices.

“What?” he snaps, shoving his glasses back up.

“Nothing.” I smirk, because watching him squirm is my new favorite hobby. “Just wondering how you haven’t tripped over your own shoelaces yet.”

He glares. I laugh.

Yeah. This is going to be interesting.

Two weeks with him? This project might actually be the best thing about this stupid.

Jay’s POV

If there’s one thing worse than being paired with the most ridiculously good-looking guy alive… it’s having to bring him home.

Amy thinks it’s hilarious. “Ooooh, study date,” she teased all the way to the parking lot. I may or may not have threatened to bury her under the football field.

Now here we are — Lamia Robert, standing in my living room, looking like he belongs in a magazine instead of my nerd cave.

“Nice place,” he says casually, dropping his bag on the couch like he’s been here before.

I glare. “Don’t sound too surprised.”

Before he can answer, my mom appears from the kitchen, smiling like she just won the lottery. “Oh! You must be Lamia.”

Kill me now.

Lamia flashes her one of those effortless smiles. “Yes, ma’am.”

Ma’am. Did he just ma’am my mother? She’s glowing. Actually glowing.

“Jay never brings friends home,” she gushes, eyes darting between us like she’s mentally planning our wedding. “It’s so nice to finally meet one who is not Amy.”

“Moooom,” I groan, face heating up.

Lamia’s smirk is instant, and I know I’ll never live this down.

“Don’t embarrass him too much,” Lamia says smoothly, “he already tripped over his shoes outside.”

I choke on air. “That was ONE TIME.”

Mom laughs, actually laughs, before finally leaving us to “study.”

Great. Now I’m sitting at the table with Lamia, my ears still on fire.

He opens his notebook, glancing at me with that infuriating smirk. “Your mom’s nice.”

I mutter, “She likes you more than me already.”

He leans back, stretching his long arms, looking annoyingly perfect. “Can you blame her?”

I drop my pen. I hate him. I hate him so much.

…And maybe a little bit, I don’t.

Lamia’s POV

Meeting his mom? Unexpected. Watching her light up when she saw me? Entertaining. Watching him squirm the entire time? Priceless.

He’s flustered. Again. But behind all the eye rolls and muttering, I catch the way his lips twitch like he’s fighting a smile.

He’s funny. Unintentionally, sure. But funny.

We work in silence for a while — or at least he does. He’s scribbling notes at lightning speed while I just… watch him. Hazel eyes focused, glasses sliding down his nose, the tiniest crease in his brow when he’s concentrating.

It’s weird. I came here for homework, but I can’t stop noticing everything about him.

When he finally catches me staring, he groans. “Do you mind?”

“Not really.”

His face goes bright red. I grin.

Yeah. This was definitely worth the move.

For the first time since I got here… I don’t completely hate this place.

Jay’s POV

  There are exactly three things in life I know I’m good at:

  1. Eating instant ramen without burning my tongue.

  2. Memorizing textbook chapters like my life depends on it.

  3. Being a nerd.

  So imagine my shock when Mr. Cool himself — Lamia Robert — is staring at his notes like they’re written in ancient Greek.

  I blink. “Wait. Don’t tell me—”

  He groans, dragging his hand down his perfect face. “I suck at math, okay?”

  …Oh. Oh my God.

  I slap a hand over my mouth, but the laugh escapes anyway. “You? Mr. Tall, Dark, and Effortlessly Cool can’t do… algebra?”

  “Shut up,” he mutters, ears turning slightly pink.

  Oh, this is gold. Years of being the clumsy idiot in every room and finally — finally — the universe hands me a win.

  “Say it,” I push, leaning across the table, grinning like an idiot.

  His jaw tightens. “Say what?”

  “That you need my help.”

  His dark eyes lock on mine, a challenge sparking there. For a second, I swear the air between us shifts. Then, in the quietest voice, he says—

  “…Fine. Help me.”

  Victory tastes sweet.

  “Thought you’d never ask,” I say, smirking.

  ---

  Lamia’s POV

  He’s enjoying this way too much. Hazel eyes shining, smug little smile tugging at his lips, acting like he’s just won the lottery because I admitted one weakness.

  But the worst part? He’s actually good at explaining. He doesn’t talk down to me, doesn’t make me feel dumb. Just sits there, patiently walking me through every step, tapping his pen against the page like a little drumbeat.

  And the more he talks, the more I find myself… listening. Not just to the words, but to him. His voice. His expressions. The way he gets this spark when he’s in his element.

  It’s infuriating. And distracting.

  “Are you even paying attention?” he snaps when he catches me staring again.

  “Nope,” I say honestly.

  His mouth falls open. “You— You’re impossible.”

  “And you’re bossy,” I shoot back, leaning back in my chair.

  For a second, it’s just us, glaring at each other like cats ready to pounce. Then, unexpectedly… he laughs.

  A real laugh. Bright, unguarded, and stupidly cute.

  And just like that, I know I’m screwed.

  Turns out math isn’t the hardest problem I’ll have to solve this year.

 ———

  Jay’s POV

  It’s official: I am a saint.

  Because if anyone else had been in my shoes, they’d have shoved Lamia Robert out the door after the fifth time he pretended not to understand a problem just so I’d explain it again.

  “Seriously,” I sigh, scribbling numbers in my notebook, “it’s not rocket science. If x equals 3, then—”

  “Then why can’t I just write 3x?” he interrupts, leaning on his elbow, his dark eyes boring into me like this is my fault.

  I fling my pencil down. “Because that’s not how algebra works, you moron.”

  His lips twitch, like he’s holding back a laugh, and I know — I know — he’s doing this just to watch me get riled up.

  “You’re enjoying this,” I accuse.

  “Maybe,” he says, smirking.

  I groan, dragging my hands down my face. Why me? Why did the universe send me the world’s most distracting lab partner?

  Before I can lecture him again, a loud knock knock knock rattles the door.

  “Jaybird!”

  Oh no.

  “Oh YES,” Amy’s voice sings like she heard my thoughts. “I know you’re in there with Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Handsome, open up before I kick the door in.”

  My soul leaves my body. “No, no, no—”

  But of course, my mom swings the door open before I can stop her.

  And in marches Amy.

  She takes one look at me and Lamia sitting at the table surrounded by books, and her grin is wicked. “Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

  Lamia leans back in his chair, calm as ever. “A hostage situation,” he deadpans.

  Amy cackles like the unholy gremlin she is. “Oh, I like you.”

  I slam my notebook shut. “Amy, don’t you have somewhere else to be? Like, literally anywhere else?”

  “Nope,” she chirps, plopping herself into the chair right next to Lamia. “My schedule’s wide open.”

  Kill me now.

  ---

  Amy proceeds to spend the next thirty minutes tormenting me. Every time Lamia so much as breathes in my direction, she nudges me under the table. Every time I explain something, she gasps dramatically and whispers, “You’re such a good teacher, Jaybird. So smart. So nerdy. I bet Lamia’s just swooning inside.”

  I want to melt into the floor.

  “Do you always let her talk this much?” Lamia asks me at one point, smirk tugging at his lips.

  “Let her?” I snap. “You think I let her?”

  Amy claps her hands. “See, he pretends to be annoyed, but deep down he loves me.”

  “Deep, deep, deep down,” I mutter.

  “Aw, Jay,” she coos, leaning her head on my shoulder. “You’re my soulmate.”

  I shove her off. “Stop saying that in front of people.”

  Lamia’s eyebrow arches, and for a terrifying second, I think he looks… amused. Like he’s enjoying this mess.

  “Don’t worry,” Amy tells him with mock seriousness, “Jay only belongs to me platonically. The rest of him is up for grabs.”

  My jaw drops. “AMY!”

  She just grins innocently.

  ---

  Lamia’s POV

  I didn’t think I’d enjoy this, but watching Jay panic is easily the highlight of my week.

  His friend Amy is… loud. Chaotic. Borderline insane. But she knows exactly how to push his buttons, and the way he reacts? Absolutely priceless.

  Red face. Wide eyes. Huffing like an old man.

  And the more he tries to shut her up, the more obvious it becomes: she knows him better than anyone.

  When she leans in and whispers something that makes him bury his face in his hands, I can’t hold back the laugh. A real one. Not the cool, detached chuckle I usually give people. An actual laugh.

  Jay peeks through his fingers, glaring at me. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”

  “I’m just here for the show,” I admit, smirking.

  Amy gasps. “Oh my God, he smiles! He laughs! Jay, look — you broke the ice prince!”

  Jay groans again, but his ears are pink.

  ---

  By the time Amy finally gets bored and announces she’s leaving, Jay looks like he’s aged ten years.

  “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” she calls as she skips out the door.

  Jay yells after her, “That’s literally EVERYTHING!”

  The door shuts, and silence falls.

  He exhales sharply, running a hand through his messy brown hair. “Sorry about her. She’s… a lot.”

  I shrug, leaning back. “She’s funny.”

  “You’re not supposed to encourage her,” he grumbles.

  But when I catch his reflection in the window, I swear I see the tiniest smile.

  And for some reason… it makes me smile too.

  Maybe this new city isn’t so bad after all — not with Jay around, and definitely not with Amy stirring the pot.