Chapter 1
Erin's POV
I sigh as the the teacher rambles on about the new project the class is starting, I find it amusing when he looks at me while explaining the activity. Like he's expecting me to be taking notes and listen to every detail. He knows I'm not going to do it. I'm just about to fall asleep at my desk when the door to the classroom opens.
A boy I've never seen before makes his way through the door, he looks kind of old but I assume he's in my class, cosidering the backpack that's slung over his shoulder.
"Mr . Halstead, nice of you to join us." The teacher booms from his desk.
The boy doesn't answer. I watch as he scans the room for an empty desk, I watch him walk straight towards me, I'm confused until he passes me and settles into the seat behind me.
The scent that lingers as he passed was a mix of smoke and clean laundry.
The teacher places textbooks on the desks and tells us to take one and pass them along. I turn to pass one to the boy behind me. He has his head down, scribbling something in a notebook, the muscles in his arm flex as his hand moves across the paper.
"Here." I say, nudging his arm with the book, he flinches slightly when the book makes conatct with him. Then his head raises and his eyes meet mine.
His eyes are mesmerizing, they're a deep shade of blue around his pupil, but the colour fades to a dull blue-grey towards the rim of his eye.
He reaches to take the book from my hand and our fingers brush, the moment they do he casts his eyes away and quickly drops the book onto his desk.
I turn back around but my mind is still on him. His eyes seemed sad and dark, a look I know all too well.
My thoughts are interrupted when I hear my name.
"Did you get that, Erin?" The teacher asks.
I shake my head.
"You'll be working with Jay." I know that's the boy sitting behind me, because I don't recognize the name, and I know everyone in my class.
I turn to face him again and smile at him. He tries to return it, puting on what he probably considers a to be a pretty convincing fake smile.
But I see right through it.
I know masked sadness better than anyone, I know what a facade looks like, I know what it feels like.
"I guess we're partners." I say, leaning my elbows on his desk.
"Guess so." He says, and I already know his husky voice is going to be stuck in my head all day.