THE FIRST CONVERSATION

IAN'S POV

She bumped into me near the water cooler in the hallway, her shoulder grazing mine lightly .. like a whisper.

“Sorry,” she mumbled, her cheeks turning that familiar shade of red. Her eyes were wide, doe-like. Surprised. Embarrassed.

Cute.

I cracked open the soda can I had just snagged from the vending machine, taking a slow sip before replying. “Hey.”

She blinked at me. Silence.

“You’re Snow, right?” I asked, even though I knew damn well who she was. “Kevin’s little stalker from childhood?”

Her lips parted just slightly, a flash of hurt flickering across her face before she collected herself. “We were best friends.”

I grinned, tilting my head. “Sure. That’s what he says too.”

She didn’t answer, just looked at me .. the kind of look I knew well. That wide-eyed stare girls gave me before they did something stupid. Like fall in love. Or worse… think I’d catch them.

I let my eyes trail over her. Deliberate. Slow. Just enough to make her squirm.

She did.

But she didn’t walk away.

Interesting.

“You look... different now,” I said, finally letting the silence stretch between us before cutting through it.

Her lashes lowered for a second. “So do you.”

There it was again .. that shy, worshipping glance. I’d seen it before. The kind that hinted she knew exactly who I was now, and still… couldn’t help herself.

I stepped a little closer, just enough to tilt the tension, just enough to let her feel it.

“You still following Kevin around?” I asked casually, though my eyes didn’t leave her face.

She stiffened. “I don’t follow him.”

“Right,” I drawled. “You just always happen to be where he is. Like now.”

Her eyes narrowed a bit. “He’s not here.”

I laughed under my breath. “Then you’re just lucky, huh?”

“I didn’t know you’d be here either,” she shot back, but there was no fire in it. Just nerves. Her hands twisted around the strap of her bag, knuckles pale.

I stepped even closer, lowering my voice. “Relax. I’m just messing with you.”

She tried to smile, awkward and unsure. “Yeah… okay.”

I leaned against the cooler, watching her for a second. Something about her didn’t add up. She wasn’t like the others. She wasn’t fawning, not exactly. But she wasn’t backing off either. She was rooted there, nervous but curious.

Maybe even a little defiant.

“Stick around,” I said, voice dipping lower. “I’ll show you how different I’ve become.”

She blinked, caught off guard. “What do you mean?”

I tilted my head, enjoying the fluster in her tone. “Just saying. You look like you could use a little danger in your life.”

“I don’t..”

“Sure you do,” I interrupted. “Girls like you always say that. But you keep staring like you’re waiting for something to happen.”

She looked away. “You’re full of yourself.”

I laughed. “Not full. Just be aware.”

She gave a tiny shake of her head, but I could see it ..the corner of her lips twitching. Trying not to smile.

She turned to walk away.

“Snow,” I called.

She paused.