Unnoticed to Unforgettable

Chapter 2

Kate

The second Cedar Creek came into view, my stomach did Olympic-level gymnastics.

First days always made me nervous, mostly because they came with the uncomfortable reminder that everyone else seemed to know exactly who they were while I still felt like I was figuring it out.

They all made high school look easy.

Meanwhile, I felt like I was constantly one awkward interaction away from needing to transfer schools and legally changing my name.

And of course, Liam and Jackson looked completely at ease.

Like they’d been given a secret handbook on how to survive high school.

If they handed those out in freshman year, they definitely forgot to give me a copy.

The parking lot was already packed by the time we arrived.

And thanks to Liam’s demonic brakes, half the student body turned to look at us.

“This is so embarrassing,” I muttered, slumping lower into my seat and shielding part of my face with my hand like that would somehow make me invisible.

“For once, I actually agree with her.” I heard Jackson say from the backseat.

Not that Jackson being in the car would change anything for him or Liam.

As soon as Liam pulled into his parking spot, people started making their way to the car.

And when I say people, I mostly mean thirsty girls with a couple of jocks thrown in as muscular decoration.

Luckily, I was sitting on the side that wasn’t being swarmed, so I managed a clean getaway.

Not that anyone noticed I was there in the first place.

I scanned the parking lot, out of habit, looking for Dean’s black Mustang. It sat in its usual spot on the opposite side of the parking lot.

By the looks of it, he was probably already inside.

Immediate disappointment.

I just wanted a tiny glimpse to fuel my one-sided delusion for the rest of the day.

The second I walked into the building, I was swallowed by crowded hallways, loud voices, and the chaos that came with the first day back after summer break.

It was a miracle Cassie managed to find me.

“Oh my god. Why does it seem like the student body doubles every year?”

Cassie Anderson—my best friend, my other half— linked her arm through mine as we weaved through the sea of students crowding the hallway.

“And I swear, if I get shoulder-checked one more time, this school is going to become a crime scene.”

And without skipping a beat, she looked me up and down.

“That’s a very Kate outfit.” Her gaze reached my shoes. “And really, Kate. Those Converses?”

“Well. Good Morning to you too.”

“What happened to the outfit we picked out yesterday?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but she cut me off before I could say anything.

“Before you give me your usual Kate excuse,” she said pointing a finger at me, “that outfit was cute and you looked good in it.”

“What do you mean we? You picked it out while I stood there like a reluctant dress-up doll.”

“You nodded your approval.”

“I just wanted to get it over with.”

Cassie gasped dramatically. “See? That attitude right there is exactly why you’re hopeless.”

“I’m not hopeless.”

“You want Dean to notice you, but the second attention gets directed at you, you act like a Victorian woman seeing ankle.”

“First of all, what does that even mean?”

Cassie ignored me completely, a mischievous look suddenly spreading across her face.

“And lucky for you,” she said, glancing over my shoulder, “this crowded hallway just handed you the perfect opportunity.”

Before I could ask what she meant, Cassie hip-checked me hard enough to send me stumbling into someone.

And of course — because the universe clearly hated me — that someone was Dean.

My brain immediately short-circuited.

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s alright. You good?” Dean asked as he reached out to steady me.

And oh my god, I swear every part of my body sparked to life from that one little touch.

“Yeah. Just peachy.”

If I could have face-palmed myself in that moment, I would have.

“Good,” Dean said with an easy smile that made me weak in the knees.

I stood there one painfully awkward second too long before forcing my brain to function again.

“I’m gonna get to class,” I said, while doing that stupid thumb gesture over my shoulder.

“Okay. later.”

I turned around, my face feeling like it was on fire.

When I caught up to Cassie, who had been waiting only a few feet away, she still wore that stupid smile on her face.

“I could kill you.”

“You’re welcome.” She said, slinging an arm over my shoulders.

If I was being honest, I loved her a little more for that.

Sure, she’d publicly humiliated me, but any interaction with Dean felt like a win at this point.