Adam's POV

I was so glad to be back. I missed Hadley so much. But I felt that something had happened between us. Something...severed. 

While I drove her to school the next day, she almost looked as though she was annoyed. Her voice had an edge, her hair was streaked with turquoise, and she always was so down. When I told her good night and offered a hug, she just said, "Bye," and shut the door in my face. It was as though she didn't miss me at all.

I missed her so much.

"So how's school?" I asked. It made me smile to think that I would take her to such a familiar place. Though, by the expression on Hadley's face, I could tell she would rather be anywhere else. 

"It could be better." 

I looked up at the overcast sky. The wind was brutally cold that morning, and the forecast called for snow. Bridget was sad about it that morning. 

I remember how she looked. She was in a sweatshirt and leggings, but she looked good like that. Her red hair was playfully messy, and her bright green eyes were tired, but happy. 

Not that I noticed.

I pulled into the drop-off area, and before Hadley could get out, I said, "Promise me something?"

"What?"

"That you'll smile at least once today."

She sighed. "Okay."

"Have a good day."

"Bye, Adam."

And with that final door slam, she was gone. 

Hadley's POV

I stuck with Rose for most of the day. She was in all of my classes except one. Science.

I had zoned out for about half of the class until the teacher called my name. And by the annoyed look on his face, he had already done it once or twice.

"Ms. Carter?"

"I'm sorry. Yes?"

"You will be partnered up with Mr. Alexander this semester." He announced, motioning to a boy on the opposite side of the room. Mr. Alexander half-smiled and half-smirked when he saw me. His friends gave him a look that read, Tough luck, bro.

I rolled my eyes. This day probably couldn't get much worse.

Luckily, the assignment the teacher had us do was one that you could copy from the textbook, so that didn't require talking. 

Mr. Alexander had other plans. 

"You're new, right?"

What good sentence ever started with, 'You're new, right?'

I continued writing down the answers without looking up at him.

"I'm Mack. Mack Alexander."

Mack Alexander? That sounded like a fashion label's name. 

"What's your name?" He pressed on. I looked up at him and saw a not-so-horrible looking boy. Mack Alexander had black hair that was swept up just the right way, and kind blue eyes. I could tell that he was a boy that girls swooned over during whispered discussions with friends. I looked back down at my paper, rolling my eyes.

"It's Hadley Carter." I said. 

"Like Ernest Hemingway's wife?"

I looked back up at him, surprised. "Yes...how did you know?"

Mack shrugged, and wrote down a few answers. 

After that class, Rose pulled me into the girl's bathroom and attacked me with questions.

"Was that Mack Alexander?"

"Why were you talking to him?

"Do you know who he is?"

"Yes, because I had to, and no, not really." I answered. 

Rose felt as though he needed to enlighten me. "He's the biggest player in the school. Stay away from him, if you know what's good for you."

"If I didn't know any better, I would say you think he's cute."

"Cute? More like hot! But that's his game. And you've got to stay away from him. He will toy with you like he's done with everyone." Rose explained. She lowered her voice when she said, "He moved here just two years ago. In his old town, he dated this one girl, and he dumped her one day. She killed herself. He left because he couldn't bear with the grief."

If Adam said he hated me, would I kill myself? Did I love him that much?

"Oh, I see." I said, looking down at the ground.

"Hurry, let's get to class." Rose tugged on my arm. We left the bathroom, and headed towards our English class.

Mack Mack Mack Alexander.

Hadley might have a crush...

Sorry for the short and late update. I'll try to update sooner.

Love, 

Luna.