The classroom door creaked open just as Ms. Fega was reciting the second verse of Shakespeare. Everyone turned, probably hoping for something less boring.

Ms. Nelly walked in followed by a tall boy, a bag slung lazily over his broad shoulder.

He looked oddly family with his high bridge nose and cat eyes. He wore a white hoodie over denim shorts.

Lucas?

I blinked. The nerdy boy with oversized glasses and a constant runny nose from kindergarten? That Lucas?

Ms. Fega asked clearly perturbed by the interruption to her Shakespearean monologue . “Yes?”

Ms. Nelly smiled cheerful and unbothered. “Sorry to interrupt, ma'am. We’ve got a new student joining us. Well, not so new. Some of you might remember him.”

She looked around, eyes landing on me.

“Lucas Hayes. He just moved back to town. Used to be here in elementary before he left for Texas. I’m sure someone here remembers him.”

My eyes went wide. So did Kai’s.

Lucas smiled, no, smirked. (Didn't know he could do that) Confident. Calm. His eyes locked with mine, and he gave a slow wave like we were the only two people in the room.

“Oh my god,” I muttered under my breath.

“Sinclair,” Ms. Fega said without looking, “please save your epiphany for after class.” some students snickered.

Lucas’s smile only widened.

The teacher patted his back. “Lucas, why don’t you take a seat? Plenty of space by the windows.”

Lucas didn’t move.

He walked right down the aisle like he owned the place, never breaking eye contact with me. Then, ignoring the empty desks around, he stopped directly beside me.

“You still hog the middle seat, huh?” he said softly, lips twitching. “Guess I’ll just take the right again.”.

I couldn't pick my jaw from the floor. “Lucas Hayes, you’re taller.”

“And you’re still Wren Sinclair,” he teased, sliding into the seat beside me like it was always meant for him.

Kai, on my left, didn’t speak.

He just, he just stared.

Lucas glanced past me, casually. “Kai.”

“Lucas,” Kai said tightly. His voice was flat, his stare unreadable.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Lucas added, folding his arms behind his head. the irony was,  He was the one whom we didn't expect to see.

“You still play soccer, or did you finally accept you peaked at ten?” He smirked.

I blinked.

Oof.

Kai’s lips quirked. “Still picking your nose, or did you finally outgrow that phase?”

Lucas chuckled, clearly unfazed. “Good to know some things never change.”

Ms. Fega coughed. “Gentlemen. Take the flirting outside. Some of us are trying to understand Shakespeare's mind.”

Lucas winked at me. I almost choked on my breath. Where did my scared little Lucas go? And who's this charming hot guy?

Kai sat back, arms crossed, staring straight ahead, but his jaw was working.

Ms. Fega went back into character, reciting Shakespeare like she was auditioning for Broadway but everyone's attention was on Lucas. Those who remembered him sent little waves and nods of acknowledgement. And those who didn't were simply fascinated with the new hot guy.

_____________________________________________

The lunchroom was its usual mess of voices and tray clatter. I did the robotic lunch routine; grabbing a tray, taking plates, and going through the row of stressed out lunch ladies.

I found an empty table near the door and slid my tray down, pulling out my phone and pretending to scroll. But my mind was still tangled in last night’s dream.

That was a dream, right? The bookshelf, Kai’s lips, his hands? Jesus.

I was about to start unraveling that mess in my head again when someone plopped a tray down in front of me with all the confidence of someone who’d never left.

“Hey, Red.”

I blinked.

Then blinked again.

"This will take a lot of getting used to".

He grinned, and there it was. That crooked little smile, the same one from the sandbox in first grade when he stole my juice box and gave it back with a flower in return. He looked... different now. Taller, broader, still nerdy but in a hot way. his dark curls were a little longer, and his glasses had been replaced with contacts, giving a clear view of his soft brown eyes.

"So what's the tea?" I asked, looking him up and down.

He chuckled, sliding into the seat across from me. “Moved back last week. My dad’s new job brought us back to town. I figured I’d just drop into your life again and cause chaos.”

“You really know how to make an entrance.” I smiled, warmth blooming in my chest. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”

He fake-gasped. “Wren Sinclair. You wound me. How could you forget your first science partner? You literally dissected a frog while I passed out beside you.”

I laughed, the sound bubbling out of me without force. “You really passed out. I thought I killed you.”

“Let’s not pretend I wasn’t the comic relief in our trio.”

Trio.

My smile faltered, but only for a second.

“Speaking of... you seen Kai yet?” Lucas asked, his tone light but edged with something else.

I nodded, eyes drifting briefly toward the far end of the lunchroom. “He’s around. He, uh... changed a bit too.”

Lucas leaned forward. “Still a jerk?”

I snorted. “Worse, actually. But in a hot, frustrating, sarcastic way.”

“So basically the same.”

I laughed again, cheeks warming. Lucas always had this way of bringing out the softest parts of me. He was easy in a way Kai wasn’t. Like slipping into an old hoodie you didn’t know you missed.

“So... you still into sketching?” he asked.

My heart jumped. “You remember that?”

“Red, you used to draw on everything. My arms, my jeans, my school folders. I probably still have your doodles buried in a box somewhere.”

That warmth in my chest expanded. this feeling. Like I could breathe. Like I found a normal.

Before I could respond, a familiar voice cut through the noise.

“Well, well, well.”

Lucas and I both turned. Kai stood there, tray in one hand, a brow raised, jaw set, but his smile forced. “Didn’t expect to see you here, Lucas.”

Lucas’s grin didn’t falter. “Long time, Anderson.”

Kai slid onto the bench beside me without asking. His leg pressed into mine like a silent claim. Possessive. Intentional.

Lucas didn’t miss it. His eyes flicked to the contact, then back to Kai.

“Still playing soccer?” Kai asked casually, shoveling a fry into his mouth.

“Nah,” Lucas said. “More into robotics now. Less concussions, more trophies.”

Kai smirked. “Still scared of balls, I see.”

“Kai,” I warned, rolling my eyes. I wasn't in the mood for his bitchiness

He blinked innocently. “What? Just catching up.”

Lucas chuckled. “Some things never change.”

I could practically feel the testosterone bouncing between them. One memory-filled smile from Lucas and Kai’s ego was already going up in flames.

“So, Wren,” Lucas said, eyes twinkling. “Wanna catch up properly after school? Maybe grab something sweet like the old days?”

I opened my mouth to answer but of course Kai interrupted.

“She’s busy,” Kai cut in smoothly, tossing another fry into his mouth. “We’ve got plans.”

I turned to him, eyebrows raised. “Do we?”

He gave me a lazy grin. “Don’t we always?”

Lucas just chuckled again, leaning back unbothered.

The bell rang, and I stood, grabbing my tray.

“I’ll see you both around,” I said, trying to walk the tightrope between the past and the present.

Lucas gave me a genuine smile. “Can’t wait, Red.”

Kai muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, “We’ll see about that.”

Oh, this was going to be a very interesting week.