RILEY’S POV

I should be used to the stares by now.

But as I walk through the halls of Ridgewood High the next morning, it feels like every pair of eyes is on me.

People aren’t even trying to be subtle anymore.

The whispers, the wide-eyed looks, the not-so-discreet glances in my direction, it's as if I grew a second head overnight.

Or, more accurately, as if people can’t believe that I, Riley Monroe, am now hanging out with Noah Carter and his entire team.

Yesterday’s scene in the hallway was a turning point.

Chelsea’s reign of terror took a massive hit when Noah put her in her place, and the social hierarchy is shifting.

People don’t mess with Noah. Or Jaxon, or Liam, or Ezra. Which means they don’t mess with me, either.

And that? That’s new.

I’m still getting used to it as I reach my locker. The second I pull it open, a familiar voice chirps in my ear.

“Well, if it isn’t the school’s newest celebrity.”

I turn to see my best friend, Lily, grinning at me.

She leans against the lockers, arms crossed. “I leave you alone for one second, and suddenly, you’re hanging out with the four biggest heartthrobs of Ridgewood High?”

I groan. “Please don’t say ‘heartthrobs.’”

Lily laughs, looping her arm through mine. “Come on, tell me everything. Are you and Noah, like… a thing?”

I freeze for half a second before shaking my head. “It’s just a deal.”

Lily raises an eyebrow. “You sure? Because he defended you in front of the entire school.”

I hesitate. I know what it looked like but that doesn’t mean anything.

“Noah needs me to get Chelsea off his back. I need him to make Blake regret ever screwing me over.”

That’s all this is.

Right?

Before she can say anything, the cafeteria doors swing open and the boys walk in.

To know how much effect they had, you could see students parting for them, and squealing in joy.

Noah spots me and grins, while walking straight over. “There’s my pretty girlfriend.”

I roll my eyes. “That’s the worst greeting ever.”

Liam slides in beside me, slinging an arm around my shoulders. “Morning, sunshine.”

Jaxon gives me a nod. Ezra gives a thin smile.

Lily, to her credit, is trying not to gawk. “Okay,” she mutters under her breath. “This is surreal.”

Noah, still grinning, pulls out a chair and gestures for me to sit. “Come on, Monroe. Sit with us.”

I hesitate because this is a bad idea. Sitting at their table makes a statement. It means I’m one of them now.

It means there’s no going back but my eyes subconsciously glance across the cafeteria and I lock eyes with Blake, who is watching me with a clenched jaw.

Even though his arm is wrapped around his girlfriend, his eyes are still on me.

I get angry and drop into the seat beside Noah, ignoring Blake.

Hanging out with Noah and the guys is way too easy because it feels like I’ve known them forever.

Liam keeps making jokes that have me crying from laughter. Jaxon is the brooding one, but I catch him smirking at my sarcasm more than once. Ezra still pretends not to like me, but when I mention my favorite books, he actually joins the conversation.

And Noah?

Noah is Noah. He’s effortless, always teasing, always watching, like right now.

“Monroe,” he drawls, leaning back in his seat. “You realize this whole thing only works if you pretend to like me, right?”

I narrow my eyes. “I do like you.”

Noah smirks. “Uh-huh. Sure. That’s why you look at me like you want to strangle me half the time.”

“That’s just my face.”

Liam laughs. “She’s got you there, man.”

Noah places a hand over his heart, pretending to be offended. “Ouch.”

Jaxon rolls his eyes. “Are you two done flirting, or…?”

I choke on my drink. “We are not flirting.”

Liam and Jaxon exchange knowing looks.

Ezra sighs. “You guys are exhausting.”

We soon disperse and after school, I’m at my locker when I hear my name. I turn and freeze, because standing there, looking angry as hell, is Blake. Oh, not again.

I clench my jaw. “What do you want from me, this time?”

He steps closer. “Are you seriously doing this?”

I raise an eyebrow. “Doing what?”

Blake scoffs. “Hanging around with Noah and his guys like you belong with them.”

I stiffen. “Excuse me?”

Blake shakes his head. “Come on, Riley. This isn’t you.”

I laugh. “Wow. That’s rich, coming from you.”

His jaw tightens. “I’m just saying, you don’t have to prove anything and if you want us back, you can just go ahead and say the word and I’ll dump Chelsea.”

I cross my arms. “Oh, I’m sorry. First, you cheat on me, then you have the nerves to say this to me. Go and be with your girl, you chose her over me.”

Blake winces. “You know I didn’t. I cheated just once and you made a big deal out of it, then went ahead to end our relationship.”

I scoff. “So, I was supposed to commend you and endure your silly ass? Watching the guy I loved betray me like I meant nothing.”

Blake falters but before he can say anything, another voice cuts in.

“Everything okay here?”

I turn and, of course, Noah is right there, he is giving Blake this sharp gaze.

Blake glares. “This isn’t your business, Carter.”

Noah tilts his head. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. Riley is with me now.”

Blake’s hands curl into fists. “Since when?”

Noah smirks. “Since you screwed up.”

For a moment, the hallway is dead silent.

Blake and Noah are locked in a standoff, and then "Blake?"

Chelsea’s sickly sweet voice cuts through.

I turn to see her standing a few feet away, with her arms crossed and lips pursed.

Her gaze turns between him, Noah, and me.

"What’s going on?" she asks, tilting her head.

Blake straightens instantly, stepping away from me like he just got caught doing something he shouldn’t be doing.

"Nothing," he mutters. "Just…talking."

Noah scoffs beside me. "Oh, come on, man. At least have the decency to tell her the truth."

Chelsea’s sharp eyes narrow. "What truth?"

Noah smirks, but there’s nothing friendly about it. He nods toward Blake. "Tell her what you were really doing, Harper."

Blake’s jaw tightens. "Noah—"

"Tell her you were just trying to get Riley back," Noah cuts in smoothly.

Chelsea's face hardens.

I swear, if looks could kill, I’d be six feet under.

"You’re joking," she says, her voice deceptively calm.

Blake stays silent.

And that’s enough of an answer.

Chelsea lets out a bitter laugh. "Wow. Really, Blake? Her?"

"Chels, it’s not—"

"Save it," she snaps, turning on her heel. She glares at me on the way out. "I hope you’re proud of yourself, Riley."

And just like that, she’s gone.

Blake groans, dragging a hand down his face. "You just had to do that, huh?"

Noah shrugs. "I hate liars."

Blake’s eyes darken. "You really want to do this here, Carter?"

Noah doesn’t blink. "Anytime, anywhere."

I grab Noah’s wrist and tug him back. "Come on. We’re done here."

For a second, I think he won’t listen.

But then he lets out a breath and nods.

"Yeah," he mutters. "We are."

And just like that, we walk away, leaving Blake standing alone.

Word spreads fast. By the next morning, everyone knows what happened in the hallway.

Blake and Chelsea? On the rocks.

Riley Monroe? The girl who left her cheating ex in the dust and got four of the most wanted guys in school to back her up.

And Noah Carter? The boy who made it all happen.

"You're all over the gossip pages," Lily informs me at my locker. "Seriously. Someone even made a meme of Chelsea's reaction. It’s going viral."

I groan. "Fantastic."

Lily grins. "I’m personally loving this new era of Riley Monroe. The era of **zero f*s given.**"

Before I can respond, I feel it. The presence of all four of them, Noah, Liam, Jaxon, Ezra, walking down the hall like they own it.

"Morning, sweetheart," Noah says smoothly and Lily chokes on air.

I glare at him. "Stop calling me that."

“But I love to."

Jaxon chuckles and Liam gives me a knowing grin while Ezra is unimpressed.

And me? I just shake my head in irritation.

-

It doesn’t take long before Blake comes storming back, looking all pissed.

"Riley." His voice was sharp. "We need to talk."

The boys’ attention piqued immediately.

I let out a sigh. "Blake, we have nothing to talk about."

Blake glares at Noah. "This? This isn’t real."

Noah raises an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that?"

Blake’s fists clench. "I know Riley."

"Do you? I doubt that, if not, you would never have cheated on her in the first place."

I square my shoulders and decide to do something bold. I turn to Noah and grab his face.

And before I can talk myself out of it, I kiss him.

Right there, in front of everyone.

The cafeteria is filled with murmurs and Blake looks like I just punched him.

And Noah? Noah smiles against my lips.

And just like that, I know I’m in big trouble.