The buzz of Ridgewood High hit Lila the second she stepped out of her car. She tugged her backpack higher on her shoulder, her braid swinging behind her as Harper fell into step beside her.
The parking lot was packed with students, but even through the chatter and slamming lockers echoing across the courtyard, Lila heard it.
"Did you hear about practice yesterday?""Cole and Hart almost killed each other.""Over her."
Harper shot her a knowing look. "Guess you're officially famous."
Lila rolled her eyes. "Famous for being stuck between two meatheads? Hard pass."
But whispers followed them through the double doors. Heads turned. Some curious, some envious, others smug. Gossip spread faster than wildfire at Ridgewood High, and apparently she was the new headline.
By the time they reached her locker, Lila was already grinding her teeth.
That's when his voice cut through the noise.
"Morning, sunshine."
Ethan Cole leaned against the locker beside hers like he'd been waiting all morning. His jersey hung loose over his broad shoulders, and his smirk looked carved to annoy her.
Lila froze for a second, then snapped her lock open without giving him a glance. "Don't call me that."
"But it suits you," he said, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "You light up every room you walk into."
Her heart stuttered, but she shoved it down. "Stop acting like you know me."
"Who says I don't?" He leaned closer, one hand braced against the locker above hers, boxing her in without touching. "I know you're stubborn. I know you're tougher than half the guys on the field. And I know…" His eyes darkened. "That you're mine."
The hallway went silent for a beat. She realized too late that people were staring—listening. Ethan had said it loud enough for half the corridor to hear.
Whispers flared instantly.
"Did he just say she's his?""No way—Lila Hart and Ethan Cole?""Tyler's gonna explode."
Lila slammed her locker shut so hard it rattled. She turned, meeting Ethan's eyes with pure ice.
"I am not yours."
Gasps rippled through the hallway. Ethan didn't even flinch. His smirk only deepened, like he loved her resistance.
Before she could stalk off, a familiar arm slung around her shoulders.
"Hey, sis."
Tyler. Of course. His glare locked on Ethan like a predator.
"Don't you have better things to do than harass my sister?" Tyler snapped.
Ethan's jaw flexed, but his voice stayed cool. "Not really."
Harper slipped between them fast, hissing under her breath. "Okay, testosterone brigade, maybe don't brawl in front of the entire school?"
But the damage was already done. Half the junior and senior classes had gathered, whispering, waiting.
Then Lukas and Zane strolled up behind Ethan, grinning like idiots.
"Man, you sure know how to make an entrance," Lukas chuckled."Yeah, Cole, half the school's convinced she's your girlfriend now," Zane added.
Tyler's eyes blazed. "She's not."
Ethan's eyes never left Lila. "Not yet."
And with that, the bell rang, breaking the spell. Students scattered, whispering furiously as they went.
Lila yanked herself free of Tyler's arm and shoved past Ethan. "Both of you are exhausting."
But as she walked away, she couldn't shake the heat in her chest—or the way Ethan's words clung to her skin like fire.
Later, in class
She slid into her seat, praying for a quiet hour. No such luck. Ethan dropped into the desk beside hers, smirk still intact.
The teacher hadn't even started roll call when Lukas whispered from the back, "Damn, Cole's really staking his claim."
"More like begging for detention," Harper muttered from her other side.
Lila gritted her teeth, turning to Ethan. "Why are you like this?"
"Like what?" he asked innocently.
"Obsessive. Possessive. Annoying."
His grin tilted, cocky as ever. "Because you make it impossible not to be."
And for the first time all morning, she had no comeback.