The classroom door opened slowly.

Desiree lifted her gaze from her nearly fixed notebook, expecting another late student sneaking in with apologies. Instead, a tall boy stepped into the room with the boyish kind of ease that made everyone pause.

The stranger looked around as if he belonged here already even though he hadn't even been introduced yet. His dark hair caught the light from the window, and his smile, confident yet casual, spread slowly, enough to stir some whispers through the ...