THE BOY WHO HATED ME

THE UNKNOWN KINDNESS

The rain continued pouring as the car drove through the quiet streets.

I kept staring out the window, watching the water slide down the glass.

The silence inside the car felt strange.

Especially because it was Adrian sitting next to me.

After everything that happened today, I never expected to end up in his car.

“So…” he said suddenly.

I looked at him.

“Where do you live?”

I hesitated for a moment before pointing ahead.

“Left at the next street.”

He turned the wheel without another question.

A few minutes later, the car slowed down in front of my house.

It was a small place compared to the large homes we had passed on the way.

Adrian noticed.

I could tell by the quick glance he gave the house.

“Here?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

He stopped the car.

For a moment neither of us moved.

Then I reached for the door.

“Thanks for the ride,” I said quietly.

Before I could open it, Adrian spoke again.

“Lena.”

I paused.

“What?”

He leaned slightly closer, resting his arm on the steering wheel.

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

“What question?”

“Why you transferred here.”

I sighed.

“That’s personal.”

His eyes studied my face carefully.

For a second, it felt like he was trying to read my thoughts.

Then he leaned back again.

“Fine,” he said.

I opened the door and stepped out into the rain.

Before closing the door, I looked back at him.

“You’re not always as horrible as you pretend to be,” I said.

His eyebrow lifted.

“Careful,” he replied. “You might ruin my reputation.”

I rolled my eyes and shut the door.

The car stayed there for a moment.

Then it slowly drove away.

Inside the house, my mom was in the kitchen.

“You’re home!” she said, smiling.

Then she noticed my wet hair.

“Oh my goodness, were you walking in the rain?”

“Not exactly,” I said.

She looked curious.

“How was your first day?”

I hesitated.

Where do I even begin?

“It was… interesting.”

She laughed.

“That doesn’t sound very convincing.”

I smiled weakly and headed toward my room.

Once inside, I dropped my bag on the floor and collapsed onto the bed.

My mind replayed everything that happened today.

The hallway.

The cafeteria.

Detention.

The car ride.

And somehow, the same person was in every memory.

Adrian Black.

I stared at the ceiling.

“Why do I feel like this isn’t the last time we’re going to argue?” I muttered.

Something told me my life at Silverwood High was only getting more complicated.

And somehow…

Adrian Black was right in the middle of it.