Kai Ashford's POV
She sat next to me again. Of course she did.
There were twelve empty seats in the row. Twelve. And yet, she plopped herself right beside me with the force of a human hurricane and the grin of a cartoon character high on sugar.
"Hi again!" she beamed, already digging into her oversized tote bag like she'd lost something important. "Oh no—no no no—I forgot my highlighters! Wait, you have black pens, right? You look like a black pen guy."
I blinked. "What?"
Too late. She was already halfway into my pencil case.
And then she gasped. Actually gasped. "You have this exact brand I love! Oh my God, are we soulmates?"
She said it like it was a fact. Like the sun would rise, birds would sing, and we would fall in love because I owned the same brand of stationary.
My jaw clenched. I didn't respond.
Didn't stop her from continuing.
"You always sit alone, huh? Is it like a 'brooding mysterious mafia son' thing? Because it's kind of hot, not gonna lie. Oh! Wait, wait, are you the kind who hates attention? I'm sorry. I talk too much when I'm nervous."
She paused.
Then leaned closer and whispered, "Okay, I'm not nervous. I just talk too much. Period."
I stared at the board, willing her to stop. To be quiet. To sit still for two seconds. But instead, her elbow bumped mine. Twice.
"Oopsies! You're like, really wide-shouldered, huh? Gym boy?"
She gave me a wink.
I almost choked on air.
What was wrong with her?
She was too cheerful. Too sunny. Too everywhere. And clingy like a freaking vine—once she attached herself, there was no getting her off. She asked me things. Touched my sleeve. Took my pen again. And then—when I didn't respond—she pouted.
Pouted.
"I think you hate me," she said dramatically, chin in her hand, staring straight into my soul.
"I don't," I muttered.
"You so do."
"I don't."
"You so do."
I turned my head. Our eyes locked.
And she smiled like I'd handed her the stars.
"See?" she whispered. "You like me just a little bit."
I said nothing. Which was a mistake. Because she took my silence as a yes.
And leaned her entire body against my arm with a happy sigh.
Class hadn't even started.
And I was already losing.
To Sky Ren.
The clingiest girl on Earth.
And somehow?
I didn't mind.
Not entirely.