HAYLEY
Another Monday.
Another day to watch the lunch lady shovel food onto trays with a disinterested look. The old lady always looks like she'd rather be anywhere else in the world than here. With my tray of sandwiches, salad, strawberries and a bottle of water, I murmur a “thank you” to her. But the woman's attention is already on the next tray in front of her. Of course.
When I turn away from the line, my gaze falls on the last person on the queue, and my muscles go stiff. Axel. The entire cafeteria is teeming with noise and movement, but in the seconds that accompany his slow turn to glance my way, I'd swear I can hear my own heartbeat.
Those emerald eyes land on me and I watch him swallow. Then he says it. “Hey.”
“Hi.” I force the most natural looking smile known to man, be
