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Chapter One

Chloe

Freshman year…

Sing the lump in my throat, I blink back tears and slowly turn away froes of the tray so hard ers, excitedly talking—and bragging—about their su about being back at Silver Ridge High

Taking a slow step forward, I concentrate both on not slipping and falling in these heels while at the sa around the crowded lunchroo prettyand the curse of this sle of one them in this room

Okay, not every single one Just Derek Rogers and everyone within a ten-foot radius of hi to walk past his table Busy talking and laughing with his football buddies, he pays me no attention, but Lauren Wallace does She ive ht as I walk by

The lu to lose ht ahead and keep walking, praying it’s not obvious that I’ around for a place to sit We have what’s called a “rade levels eat together The entire school is put into one big group and then randomly divided My best friend, Farisha, is in the lunch hour after this one, along with our friends Courtney and Arron

Which reminds me of the second curse of a small town: there are fewer people to try and fit in with Farisha is the peanut butter to ht

Especially since Lauren is now sticking her tongue down Derek’s throat I speed forward, al heels, and sit at the table in the back with a group of kids everyone calls “the stoners” Whether they actually smoke pot all the time or not, I have no idea, but they look at me like the outsider that I am

Still, I’d rather be here than anywhere near Derek and Lauren fucking Wallace I’m not jealous, or even all that upset Derek due that I didn’t read until after he stood me up for a date No, it’s not that I wasted a whole summer with that asshole because—hah—he wasted it with me too, and I never put out, which was part of the reason he dumped me

But it’s what he said

We’re different You’re weird and not like the other girls

Farisha held ure out if I should take it all as a hidden compliment or accept his words at face value Because I know I’irls at Silver Ridge High…or in the rest of the world for that matter I try not to let it bother me, but what if it’s true?

“Hey,” a deep male voice co back tears Sam Harris sets his lunch tray down and takes the seat opposite me “You okay, Chloe?”

My heart flutters in my chest, and I’m well aware half the feht now And I hope that includes Lauren fucking Wallace “I’ upit into my salad

“Really?” Sareasy piece of pizza “You don’t look fine”

“It’s just first-day jitters,” I lie, though I know Sah me, which is why he came to sit with me in the first place, I’m sure of it I’m thankful, of course, because now I’m not alone and I have so to be rescued My day just got significantly better, that’s for sure, and being with Sam always puts a smile on my face

My parents were friends with Sam’s parents back in the day, and Sam’s mom was over-the-moon happy that her childhood best friend moved back into town And Mrs Harris was there for us after Mo us a casserole every week for nearly a year

Sarade aboveone of the oldest in his class and est in mine We became instant friends e firstMr Popular anddubbed Creepy Chloe because of ht borderline obsession with all things Harry Potter Though Saic and fantasy as I aest Harris has always been respected by Sam, as well as his other brothers