Accidentally Yours

That Day

The first rule I made on my first day at Westbrook High was simple.

Don't fall in love.

It wasn't because I hated romance. Actually, I used to love it.

I loved the stupid kind of romance that happened in movies, where two people accidentally bumped into each other in a hallway, dropped their books, looked into each other's eyes, and somehow knew they were meant to be together.

But real life wasn't like that. Real life was messy as people changed.

Sometimes, the person you loved most became the person who could hurt you the most.

So, no.

I wasn't going to fall in love.

Not here. Not at Westbrook High. And definitely not with him.

“New girl!”

I barely made it through the front doors before someone grabbed my arm.

I turned around.

A girl with curly brown hair and an immense smile stood in front of me.

“You're Emma Carter, right?”

I blinked. “Yes.”

“I'm Lily.” she released my arm.

“Sorry. I get excited when something interesting happens.”

I looked around the crowded hallway.

Students were everywhere. Lockers slammed. Sneakers squeaked against the polished floor. Someone was laughing too loudly near the stairs while a teacher yelled at two boys for running.

“And me transferring here is interesting?”

“No.” she grinned.

“Your timing is.”

“Why?”

Lily leaned closer.

“Because you arrived on the same day as Lucas Bennett.”

I frowned, “Who's Lucas Bennett?”

Her mouth dropped open.

“You don't know?”

“No.”

“Oh, you're definitely new.”

Before I could ask what she meant, the hallway suddenly became louder. Not because anyone had announced anything.

It simply happened.

Heads turned. Girls whispered. Someone said, “He's here.” I followed their gaze.

A boy walked through the main entrance.

He wore the standard Westbrook uniform, but somehow managed to make it look like he hadn't tried at all. His dark hair was slightly messy, his tie was loose, and one hand rested casually inside his pocket.

He wasn't smiling. He wasn't looking around. He simply walked. And somehow, everyone noticed.

“That,” she whispered, “is Lucas Bennett.”

I looked at her.

“So?”

She stared at me like I'd just announced that gravity was optional.

“Lucas Bennett is the Lucas Bennett.”

“That explains nothing.”

“He's rich.”

“Okay.”

“Smart.”

“Good for him.”

“Handsome.”

I glanced back.

Unfortunately, she was right.

“Popular.”

“Still not impressed.”

“Girls have been asking him out since freshman year.”

“And?”

“He rejected all of them.”

I shrugged. “Maybe he's not interested.”

Lily stared at me.

“I think I'm going to like you.”

I laughed.

“Why?”

“Because you haven't fallen for him yet.”

Yet.

The word bothered me. I looked away. That was when Lucas turned his head.

Our eyes met.

For one second, his expression did not change. Neither did mine.

Then he walked past.

I exhaled.

“See?” I whispered.

“See what?”

“He didn't even notice me.”

Lily burst out laughing. “Oh, Emma.”

“What?”

“You have absolutely no idea.”

I didn't understand what she meant until five minutes later.

My first class was English.

I entered the classroom with Lily and immediately looked for an empty seat.

There was one near the window.

Perfect.

I sat down.

The teacher entered.

“Good morning, everyone. Before we begin, we have a new student joining us.”

I lowered my head.

I hated introductions.

“Emma Carter.”

Thirty pairs of eyes turned toward me.

I stood.

“Hi.”

That was it. I sat down. A few students laughed.

The teacher smiled.

“That's all?”

“I think that's enough.”

More laughter. Even I...smiled.

The teacher pointed toward the empty chair beside me.

“Lucas, since you seem to have arrived just in time, take the seat beside Emma.”

My smile disappeared.

Lucas walked toward us.

Lily looked at me from across the room. Her eyes were practically screaming.

Good luck.

Lucas pulled out the chair.

He sat.

Neither of us spoke.

The teacher began the lesson.

I tried to concentrate. I really did. But after a few minutes, something rolled onto my desk.

A folded piece of paper.

I glanced at Lucas. He was looking toward the board. I unfolded it.

You stole my seat.

I looked at him. “You're kidding.”

His lips twitched.

“I'm serious.”

“You weren't sitting there.”

“I was planning to.”

“That doesn't count.”

“It does in my world.”

I rolled my eyes. He looked at me.

Then smiled.

It was the first time I'd seen him smile. And, annoyingly, it changed his entire face. I looked away.

Rule number one: Don't fall in love.

Easy. I could do that.

Probably.

The teacher suddenly called my name.

“Emma, since you're new, why don't you answer the question?”

I froze.

“What question?”

Everyone laughed. The teacher sighed. Lucas leaned toward me.

“Page forty-two.”

I opened the book.

“Thank you.”

He didn't bother to answer.

I answered the question.

Correctly.

“Good,” the teacher responded.

I sat back down.

Lucas whispered, “Not bad.”

“I know.”

He laughed quietly.

I looked at him.

“You're annoying.”

“You've known me for twenty minutes.”

“Exactly.”

“And you already hate me?”

“I didn't say hate.”

“What did you say?”

“Annoying.”

He smiled. “I'll take it.”

The bell rang forty minutes later. Students immediately started packing. I put my notebook into my bag.

As I stood, someone bumped into my shoulder.

My books fell.

“Sorry!”

I crouched down.

Another hand reached the same notebook. Our fingers touched.

I looked up.

It’s him. Lucas Bennett.

He picked it up before I could. “You drop things a lot.”

“I dropped them once.”

“Today.”

I snatched the notebook from him.

“Thank you.”

He didn't let go immediately. His eyes moved to the small drawing on the corner of the page.

“You draw?”

I glanced down.

It was a tiny sketch I'd made during class.

“A little.”

“It's good.”

I wasn't expecting that.

“Thanks.”

He finally released the notebook. I put it in my bag.

“See you around, Emma.”

I stopped.

“You remembered my name.”

He looked amused.

“You're sitting beside me, what do you mean?”

“Still.”

He shrugged then he walked away. I watched him disappear into the hallway.

“Don't.”

Lily suddenly appeared beside me.

I jumped.

“Don't what?”

She pointed toward my face. “Whatever that expression is.”

“What expression?”

“That.”

“I don't have an expression.”

“You're smiling.”

I immediately stopped. “I am not.”

“You absolutely are.”

I pushed her toward the door.

“Come on.”

We walked toward the cafeteria.

Halfway there, Lily suddenly grabbed my arm.

“Wait.”

“What?”

She pointed ahead. Lucas stood near the cafeteria doors with two boys. A girl was talking to him.

She’s beautiful. She has perfect hair. Perfect uniform. A perfect smile.

Lily lowered her voice.

“That's Sophia.”

“Okay.”

“She likes Lucas.”

“Okay.”

“She's been trying to date him for two years.”

“Still okay.”

Lily looked at me suspiciously.

“You really don't care?”

“Why would I?”

Before she could answer, Sophia glanced toward us. Her eyes landed on me. Then on Lucas. Then back to me.

Her smile disappeared.

I frowned.

“What?”

“Nothing,” Lily said.

But she was staring at Sophia too.

Lucas suddenly looked in our direction. Our eyes met again. This time, he smiled.

Not a polite smile. Not the little smile from class.

A real one.

Then he walked toward us. Now, my heart did something ridiculous.

I hated it.

“Hey,” he said.

Lily looked between us.

“Hi.”

Lucas ignored her. He looked at me.

“You're sitting with us.”

I blinked. “What?”

“Lunch.”

He nodded toward the table behind him.

“Come on.”

I glanced at Lily. She looked like she had just won the lottery. I looked back at Lucas.

“I don't even know you.”

“You know enough.”

“That's debatable.”

He smiled. “Then get to know me.”

For some reason, I couldn't answer. Lucas held out his hand. Not dramatically. Not like some movie scenes.

Just casually.

Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I stared at his hand.

Then at him.

I should have said no.

I should have remembered my first-day rule. Instead, I placed my hand in his. And the moment his fingers closed around mine, I realized something terrifying.

Maybe I had made the wrong rule.