Nobody can know.

Getting noticed.

By Wednesday, Essence Academy didn't feel quite as intimidating as it had on my first day.

I still didn't know everyone.

I still occasionally took the wrong hallway.

And I definitely still hadn't figured out why the cafeteria coffee tasted like burnt water.

But I was getting used to it.

Mostly because of Kayla.

She had somehow made the past few days easier without making a big deal out of it.

She knew which teachers were strict, which bathrooms were usually empty between classes, and which parts of the cafeteria had the best food.

More importantly, she knew people.

Almost everyone seemed to know Kayla.

We were walking through the hallway after lunch when a girl called her name from across the corridor.

"Kayla!"

Kayla turned immediately.

"Hey!"

The girl waved and continued walking.

A guy passing us bumped fists with Kayla.

Another girl stopped to ask if she was coming to something that weekend.

Kayla answered casually before catching up with me.

I looked at her.

"What?"

"Nothing."

She narrowed her eyes.

"You're looking at me weird."

"You're like...popular."

She laughed.

"I've been here forever."

"Apparently."

She shrugged.

"It's not that serious."

"It looks really freaking serious."

She smiled.

"Okay, maybe a little."

I laughed.

She nudged my shoulder.

"You'll know everyone soon."

"I'm not sure I want to."

"You say that now."

We turned the corner.

A group of guys were standing near the lockers.

I recognized Marcel immediately.

He spotted Kayla.

"Kayla."

She stopped.

"Marcel."

He grinned.

"Still ignoring my messages?"

"I wasn't ignoring you."

"You definitely were."

"I was busy."

"Busy doing what?"

"Having a life."

He laughed.

"Ouch that's rude."

Kayla rolled her eyes.

They clearly weren't close, but they weren't strangers either.

There was an easy familiarity between them.

Marcel looked at me.

Then he smiled.

"You're Madeline."

I nodded.

"Yeah."

"I've been meaning to introduce myself properly."

"You've had two days."

"Exactly. I'm late."

Kayla laughed.

"Very late."

Marcel held out his hand.

"Marcel."

I shook it.

"Nice to meet you."

"You too."

He looked at Kayla.

"You're bringing her around?"

Kayla raised an eyebrow.

"She's my friend. Obviously."

Something about the way she said it made me smile.

Marcel nodded.

"Fair."

One of the guys beside him said something that made Marcel turn away.

Before he left, he looked back at us.

"See you later."

"Bye," Kayla said.

I waved.

Once he was gone, Kayla looked at me.

"What?"

"You two know each other."

"Of course."

"You said he's your friend?"

"I didn't."

She laughed.

"He's Nick's best friend. I've known him for years."

That made sense.

Kayla seemed to know everyone.

Thursday was when I started noticing something else.

The school had its own hierarchy.

It wasn't written anywhere.

Nobody explained it.

You just figured it out.

There were students everyone knew.

Students people wanted to know.

Students people avoided.

And then there was Nick.

He didn't need to introduce himself.

People did it for him.

Every time he walked through the halls, conversations shifted around him.

Girls looked.

Guys nodded at him.

Someone always seemed to call his name.

Even teachers noticed him.

Not because he was necessarily the best student.

It was something else.

Influence.

I didn't understand how one person could have so much of it.

Until I remembered the way everyone reacted to him at the house.

Nick wasn't just rich.

He was used to being important.

And at Essence, he clearly was.

I was standing with Kayla near the lockers when he walked past with Marcel.

He didn't look at me.

I didn't look at him.

Exactly like we'd agreed.

"That's Esme," Kayla said quietly.

I followed her gaze.

Esme was walking toward Nick.

She looked effortlessly perfect, with long blonde hair, a flawless uniform, and the kind of confidence that made people move aside without being asked.

She stopped beside Nick.

He said something to her.

She smiled.

Then they continued walking together.

"Are they dating?" I asked.

Kayla made a face.

"Depends who you ask."

I looked at her.

"What the f**k does that mean?"

"They're... complicated."

I laughed.

"That's not an answer."

"Well, it's the only one you're getting."

"Why?"

"Because I don't gossip."

I stared at her.

She stared back.

Then she started laughing.

"Okay, fine. I gossip a little."

I laughed too.

"But they're not officially together," she added. "At least not the last time I checked."

"Okay."

I looked away.

For some reason, I found myself watching Nick disappear down the hallway.

Then I caught myself.

Why did I care?

I didn't.

I really didn't.

Friday arrived with a completely different energy.

Everyone seemed excited about the weekend.

People were making plans in the hallways, talking about parties, dates, sleepovers and things I had no intention of getting involved in.

Kayla, however, looked suspiciously happy.

"What?" I asked.

She smiled.

"Nothing."

"You're smiling."

"So?"

"You look like you know something."

"Maybe I do."

I shook my head.

"You're annoying."

"You love me."

"I've known you for five days."

"That's enough to fall in love,hello."

I laughed.

We reached our classroom.

Before we could enter, Shawn appeared.

I had seen him around school several times, but this was the first time he had stopped to talk to us.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, with neatly styled dark hair and an expensive-looking watch around his wrist. His uniform was perfectly fitted, and there was something effortlessly confident about him.

"Kayla."

She looked at him.

"Shawn."

He smiled.

"You disappeared yesterday."

"I had class."

"You could've skipped."

"Absolutely f*****g not.."

He laughed.

Then he looked at me.

"You're Madeline, right?"

I nodded.

"Yeah."

"I've heard about you."

I frowned slightly.

"Good things, I hope."

He smiled.

"Mostly."

Kayla rolled her eyes.

"Don't listen to him."

Shawn ignored her.

"There’s a party at mine tonight."

Kayla looked at him.

"I know."

"Come."

"I'll think about it."

He looked at me.

"You too."

I pointed at myself.

"Me?"

"Yeah."

I laughed awkwardly.

"I barely know anyone."

"That's the point."

Kayla looked at him.

"You just want me there."

Shawn smiled.

"Maybe."

Kayla shook her head, trying not to smile.

"I'll see."

"That's not a no."

"It's not a yes either."

"I'll take it."

He walked away.

I watched him go.

Then I looked at Kayla.

She was still smiling.

"You like him."

Her eyes widened.

"What?"

"You do."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to."

She laughed and pushed my shoulder.

"Shut up."

I laughed.

For the first time since I'd arrived at Essence, I felt like I was actually becoming part of something.

Not the school.

Not Nick's world.

Mine.

But I didn't know yet that one invitation was about to change everything.

Because that night wasn't going to end with a normal party.

And Nick had no idea I was going.