RILEY’S POV

There’s a rulebook for surviving high school.

Rule #1: Avoid drama at all costs.

Rule #2: Don’t date hockey players.

Rule #3: Stick to the background.

In less than twenty-four hours, I’ve broken all three.

And I can feel my name on everyone’s lips, I’m exaggerating.

The second Noah pulled me into him yesterday, and his fingers grazed my jaw like he was about to kiss me, the school exploded. People whispered in the hallways. Girls in my classes stared at me.

And as for Blake, he looked like he was about to explode.

But instead of confronting me, he did what he does best, pretended not to be affected. I saw the way his jaw ticked, the way his grip tightened around his girlfriend’s waist, but he didn’t say a word.

Which means I have to push harder.

So when I walk into the cafeteria at lunch, I force myself to keep my head high. To own this, the way Noah told me to.

I spot him instantly.

Noah is already sitting at his usual table, laughing with his teammates while Jaxon is picking at his food. Liam is talking like some sort of animated character, throwing fries at Ezra, who looks like he is about to commit homicide.

Noah glances up, spots me, and grins.

And then, just like that, he calls me over.

I start to walk over to him when I hear whispers from a certain table.

“She’s not seriously sitting with them, right?”

“What does Noah even see in her?”

“She must be blackmailing him.”

I swallow hard, ignoring the twisting in my stomach, and force my feet forward.

The second I sit down with them at the lunch table, Liam holds my hand. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t our new queen.”

I snort. “Queen of what?”

Noah clicks his tongue. “My heart, obviously.”

Jaxon chokes on his drink. Ezra mutters something under his breath that sounds like please kill me now.

I glare at Noah. “You’re insufferable.”

“And yet, here you are.”

I roll my eyes, but Liam looks fascinated. “So, Riley,” he starts, leaning in like we’re best friends. “We know why Noah gets out of this fake relationship, you’re his shield against Chelsea the Stalker. But what do you get out of it?”

The question catches me off guard.

It’s not a secret, I made a deal with Noah to get back at Blake. But saying it out loud feels weird.

Noah must sense my hesitation, because he leans back in his seat, completely at ease. “She gets to make her ex jealous. Win-win.”

Liam hums. “And do you think it’s working?”

I pause and I want to say yes. That Blake is suffering, that he regrets every stupid decision he made.

But the truth is that I don’t know.

Blake hasn’t talked to me. He hasn’t acknowledged me at all.

And do not get me wrong, I am not hurt.

I force a smirk. “Of course it’s working. Blake has the emotional maturity of a toddler. He hates losing, and right now, he’s losing.”

Noah leans in, voice smooth. “And you like winning, don’t you, Monroe?”

I narrow my eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you’re enjoying this more than you thought you would.”

I don’t answer.

Because, for the first time he’s right.

As soon as lunch is over, I head to my locker, only to stop dead in my tracks.

Because standing there, arms crossed, waiting for me is Blake.

My stomach clenches.

He looks good, and I hate that I even notice. Messy brown hair, sharp jaw, Ridgewood’s rival hockey jacket is hanging over his shoulders. His girlfriend is nowhere in sight.

I should walk away.

I should ignore him.

But instead, I stop. “What do you want?”

Blake watches me for a moment, something unreadable in his eyes. And then he scoffs, shaking his head. “Of all the guys, why Noah Carter? Are you being serious right now?”

My blood starts to boil. “What’s it to you? Who I chose to be with is none of your goddamn business.”

He huffs out a laugh, running a hand through his hair. “You don’t actually think he’s interested in you, do you?”

Ouch.

I school my face into something neutral. “Maybe I don’t care.”

Blake’s jaw tightens. “He’s just using you.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Kind of like how you used me?”

That shuts him up. For a second, we just stand there, he looks angry. Like he actually has the right to be jealous.

This is really working, I let out a sweet smile. “See you around, Blake. My boyfriend is waiting.”

Then I turn on my heel and walk away, straight into Noah, Jaxon, Liam, and Ezra.

“Did I just witness a ‘let’s make my ex jealous’ power move?” Liam asks, looking entirely too entertained.

Noah ignores him, his focus on me. His smirk is gone. “What did he say to you?”

“Nothing important,” I say lightly. “He’s just mad that I’m winning.”

Noah studies me for a long moment, like he’s trying to read me. It makes me feel… exposed.

Then, finally, he smirks. “Atta girl.”

Ezra sighs. “You two are going to be dangerous together.”

Jaxon shakes his head. “This is going to end in disaster.”

Liam throws an arm around me again. “Or it’s going to be the most entertaining thing to ever happen to this school.”

I can’t help it. I grin.

For the first time since my breakup, I feel like I’m winning.

Unfortunately, Chelsea had it out for me ever since Noah started giving me attention.

And today? She’s ready to make that crystal clear.

I don’t see her coming.

One second, I’m walking down the hallway, minding my own business. The next thing, I’m colliding into someone, hard.

And in that instant, water splashes across my chest, soaking straight through my sweater. I gasp, stumbling back. My books tumble to the floor and a bunch of girls start laughing out loud.

“Oh my goodness, Riley, I am so sorry,” Chelsea coos, the fakeness of her apology can be fully heard in her tone and seen in her smug expression.

I freeze.

Of course it’s her.

She stands in front of me, wide-eyed and innocent, a now-empty water bottle dangling from her hand.

But her eyes?

Her eyes are full of hatred.

Her two best friends, Madison and Brooke, stand behind her, biting back matching smirks. The hallway becomes very silent. But soon Students gather and start to whisper, while covering their mouths.

“Wow,” Brooke giggles. “She looks like a wet dog.”

My face burns when people laugh at her insults.

Chelsea pouts at me. “You should really be more careful, Riley. Wouldn’t want you to embarrass yourself in front of Noah.”

Ah. There it is. This isn’t about me. It’s about him.

She probably hates that Noah is suddenly all over me but it is all an act, well she has no idea about that.

I take a slow breath, forcing my shoulders to stay straight. I won’t give her the satisfaction of seeing me break.

Instead, I bend down, reaching for my books, only for Madison to kick them further down the hall.

I stay still, while my hands clench into fists.

Chelsea tilts her head. “Oh, don’t be mad, Riley. We’re just looking out for you.”

I glare up at her. “By pouring water on me?”

She gasps, pressing a hand to her chest. “It was an accident! You really shouldn’t take things so personally.”

I grit my teeth. I could walk away. I could ignore her and move on but then she says, “Besides, you should be thanking me. This might be the first time Noah actually looks at you.”

And just as I open my mouth to fire back, a voice cuts me short.

“Are we picking on people now, Chelsea?”

The crowd becomes all silent and they make way for them. Noah. Liam. Jaxon. Ezra.

The boys do not look amused. As for Chelsea, her smirk falters just slightly before she regains her composure.

“Noah,” she purrs, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “We were just having a little fun.”

Noah doesn’t even glance at her. His eyes are locked on me. And they’re furious. His jaw tightens as he takes in my soaked sweater, my scattered books. Then, in a slow, deliberate movement, he pulls off his hoodie and hands it to me, causing the crowd to gasp while Chelsea’s expression gets darker.

I hesitate, but Noah doesn’t give me a choice, he drops the hoodie over my head himself, his fingers brushing against my damp skin.

His voice is low, dangerous. “You okay?”

I swallow. “Yeah.”

He turns to Chelsea. “Funny. I didn’t take you for a coward.”

Chelsea blinks. “Excuse me?”

Noah tilts his head, while remaining calm and collected but his eyes were Ice cold.

“See, a real queen doesn’t have to tear people down to keep her crown. You? You’re just pathetic.”

Chelsea’s face flames red. “Noah—”

Ezra steps forward, his gaze sharp. “Are we done here? Or do we need to make this an even bigger spectacle?”

Madison and Brooke shrink back.

Chelsea clenches her fists. For a second, she looks like she might argue but then she sees the way people are watching.

She’s losing. So, with one last glare at me, she spins on her heel and storms off, her minions scrambling after her.

And just like that the show is over and the crowd is gone. But Noah and the guys? They don’t move.

I tug his hoodie tighter around me. Noah runs a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “She’s a nightmare.”

I force a smile. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

Liam nudges my shoulder. “You should’ve thrown a drink back at her.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Oh, I’m sorry, should I have carried a spare water bottle just in case?”

Jaxon smirks. “Would’ve been a power move.”

Ezra, as usual, is unimpressed. “Honestly, I don’t know why people give her so much attention. She’s just a bored, insecure rich girl.”

Noah nods. “She won’t bother you again.”

I blink at him. “And how do you know that?”

Noah grins. “Because if she tries, I’ll make her life a living hell.”

I snort. “A little dramatic, don’t you think?”

Liam winks. “We’re hockey players. We don’t do things halfway.”

Jaxon leans back against the lockers. “Besides, you’re with us now.”

The words make my chest tighten in a way I don’t fully understand.

Because for the first time in forever, I don’t feel alone.