This should be interesting. Or an absolute disaster.

I was trying to keep an open mind.

I zoomed into the school's parking lot, gaining major attention. Not many kids rode a motorcycle to school. Some seniors still took the school bus, which was cool too. But I was glad I didn't have to worry about that anymore. At least until it started to snow or rain.

Hopefully, by then, I'll have my car to drive. I found this Chevy impala that reminded me of Dean's car from Supernatural. It needed a lot of parts, some paint, an engine, and the list goes on.

After fixing up this motorcycle and getting it to ride smoothly, I figured my next project would be a car. My uncle Alex taught me everything I need to know about building/fixing cars and motorcycles. If my current future goals don't work out, I will make a decent mechanic. I liked working with my hands. It helped ease my stress and take my mind off of a few things.

When I finally found a parking spot, it was next to Abigail Tate's pink Honda accord. She and a few of her cheerleading minions had nearly broken their necks when they saw me pull up. They filed out of the car, staring at me with wide eyes.

I was unrecognizable with my helmet on. I knew once they caught a glimpse of me, they'd either lose all interest and or be further intrigued. The first one was preferable. The last thing I needed was my ex-friend's ex-girlfriend trying to make another pass at me. He already believes I was a backstabber. If it looked like I was stealing his ex-girl, it'd make this unnecessarily worse. Never mind the fact that they're broken up. Everyone knows that won't last, and they'll be back together by the end of the week or whenever. I didn't really care.

My plan was to cruise through the year and keep my head down.

I shut off my bike and slowly removed my helmet, giving my hair a little shake. I didn't have enough time to let it dry this morning, so strands of my wet locks stuck to my forehead. I had to comb it back with my fingers.

"OMG! CAMERON!" I heard one of the girls squeal.

I swung one leg over my bike then gave the group a wave with a tight-lipped smile.

"Nice bike!" Abigail said, checking out my ride. "Your back seat looked empty. You should offer me a ride sometime." She twirled her red hair around her finger. I never understood how that move worked for her. I've seen guys fawn all over when she gave them this kind of attention.

The girls giggled behind like she had just delivered a prime pick-up line guaranteed to get her exactly what she wanted. You'd think with our history, she would have learned that not only did hell have to freeze over, pigs had to fly, and a zombie apocalypse, all had to take place at once. I'd also have to be out of my dang mind to consider cozying up with toxic, self-absorbed, and manipulative chick like her. So I'd like to wish the next guy some luck in advance.

I was quick with my reply. If I stayed quiet too long, she would think she had me in her web. "Nope. You have a car for a reason, and that seat is reserved." That wasn't entirely true, but she didn't need to know that.

Her lips parted as she huffed out a breath, and I strolled by the group without another word.

Pulling my schedule out of my back pocket, I searched for my locker info at the bottom of the sheet. For the first time in history, my locker appears to be in a decent location. Thank you, senior privileges.

Skipping up to the second floor, I spotted my locker a few feet from the staircase. Not bad at all. I put the combo in, unlocking it, and hung my jacket before slipping in my helmet.

I didn't notice it earlier, but I was definitely the talk of the school right now. People are walking by and whispering behind my back. You'd think my actions from months ago would be old news, but no, teenagers have to revive the same old gossip.

The hockey star, straight A-student, the golden boy, had a massive falling out with his friends over one dumb night filled with terrible decisions. And ended with me riding in the back seat of a cop car. Not my best moment.

The news spread faster than I would have liked. Suddenly, teachers that I would bump into at the grocery store were giving me the side-eye. My friends were all unfollowing me on social media, and I may or may not have been in the newspapers after the whole incident broke out. Hence, the new reputation.

I didn't have a reason for what I did, none that I could publicize without proof, so my only option was to play it off as a stupid prank. And out of all the ways it could have ended for me, I just got stuck with 75 hours of community service, and my mom had to pay for some repairs using our emergency savings. Well, there was one story to tell the grandkids.

I shook my head at the memory. I promised mom I'd pay her back for every cent. She didn't have to help me out that way, but she chose to save my butt when I could have gotten a job and worked out some form of payment plan.

"Cameron St. James," Jason Cambridge yelled, drawing attention to me. "You're bold, coming back here like everything could go back to normal after what you did."

I turned to face my old friend and what used to my crew from the hockey team.

The guys' expressions were a mixture of straight face, confusion, betrayal, and anger. Especially Vance's face in the back. Out of everyone in this crew, he's known me the longest.

Like Summer, Vance spent weeks trying to reach out and check-in. He wanted an explanation that didn't sound like I had my lawyer write it up for me, but I couldn't give him that. Eventually, he stopped trying, but I knew if I ever needed to talk, he'd be there. If there was anyone I could have called, it would have been him. So I couldn't imagine bringing him down the dirt with me. It'll be better if he held a grudge and threatened to beat me with his hockey stick. He said that once and judging by the look in his eyes, he still very much meant it.

"I'm not here to stir up trouble. I want to finish off my senior year, so please continue to ignore me like you all planned." I told him in kind mind your business type of way.

Jason scoffed. "We're going to do more than that. I'm here to let you know we're going to give you hell."

I donned a bored look. Jason's insults on and off the ice sucked.

"Wow. I'm scared." I imitated a shiver. There were only two things I feared, and none of them had anything to do with him.

Jason slammed his hand onto the lockers causing Jamie, the youngest of the bunch, to flinch. "Psycho," he spat. "I always knew you were jealous of me. Always trying to take what I had."

Months before summer break began, Jason and I were having these off and on again tiffs. My situation made it worse.

I rolled my eyes, knowing that he was referring to Abigail and possibly the team captain spot. But that was his now since I don't think the coach would want a player like me representing the school. I have few months before hockey season began for me to tell the coach that I quit. That was a sufficient amount of time for me to get my butt into that office deliver news that would kill my dreams.

Hockey team aside, though. Let's talk about freakin' Abigail. "She came on to me for the millionth time," I muttered under my breath. I don't know why I bothered. He didn't believe me before, and now, I've made it even harder.

"Bull crap. Why would she want a guy like you? I have everything she's looking for in a man. My life doesn't depend on whether or not I can get a scholarship for a good college or if I can make it as a pro hockey player. I'll have a good life regardless, thanks to my rich parents. Can the son of a single mother say the same?"

I snarled, stepping up in his face. Jason was a few inches shorter me. I was the tallest of the group and, if I was honest, the most powerful. None of them would attempt to bench what I could. So imagine what a fist to the face would do to him.

Vance cleared his throat, stepping forward. "Woosah," he repeated just like he used to when I got mad on the ice from the opposing players talking trash.

"Low blow asswipe," Vance said to Jason.

Out of respect for our years of friendship, I tried not to knock Jason's teeth out. Even though no one should talk about my mom like that.

"ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT! Break it up!" One of the teachers came pushing us apart. "It's the first day of school. Knock it off and head to class."

Jason glared at me then stalked off with the guys trailing behind him.

Vance gave me a look with a single brow lifted. "You good?" I could hear him telepathically communicate to me.

"Yup," I answered out loud.

And then he was off in the opposite direction.

"You okay?" The teacher asked. He must be new if he was being nice to me. Either that or you know, he was just doing his job.

I nodded. "Yup."

"Okay." He patted my shoulder before proceeding to walk down the hall.

I briefly closed my eyes, trying to maintain my cool. When I opened them, she came into my line of vision. Summer Bennet.

She was wearing dark jeans and a sleeveless black top with three buttons going down the middle, paired with ballet flats. Her leather backpack was thrown over one shoulder. She practically matched me.

I was wearing a black short-sleeve henley with blue jeans and black combat boots.

Summer's gaze darted up and down the hallway until her eyes landed on mine. I saw her shoulders rise and fall then she marched over to me, stopping a few lockers down.

"Told you I didn't want to talk," I barked at her.

Tossing her curls over her shoulder, she spared me a long side glance before grabbing the lock and entering the combination. Her locker by mine? Man, did I feel dumb.

Summer remained silent, almost making me believe she had nothing to say. But I knew better. She was deciding if it would be worth her time and effort to speak up.

"I have nothing to say to you." Her eyes didn't travel in my direction again. She only focused on dropping a few things in her locker and putting up her little magnetic mirror thing.

"Good. It's about time you got the memo."

She shook her head, slamming her locker shut. I knew she wanted to say more, her eyes blazed with fury, and it looked like it was taking everything in her to hold back.

She opened her mouth, and the words either came out so quietly that I couldn't hear them, or she was speechless.

It must have been neither because Summer abruptly shut her mouth and power walked right by me and down in the hall.

I banged my forehead against the lockers.

The universe was really testing me today.