Chapter 2
When the final bell rang, the sky had zipped up its raincoat.
Ivy stuffed her brolly into a baggie, slung it in her backpack, and booked it to the stationery shop by the school.
It was dinner time, and the burger joint must be swamped. Aunt Hazel had a helper roped in to flip patties, but the place was buzzin' like a beehive and they were still swamped. Ivy, bless her, didn't wanna dawdle at the stationery shop, grabbed a no-big-deal eraser, and bounced outta there.
The second she hit the pavement, BAM, there was Brianna Caldwell and her squad, strutting like they owned the sidewalk. Insta-panic hit Ivy, and she did the only thing that made sense—she yeeted out of there like her Nikes were on fire.
Ivy was booking it so hard, she didn't even have a pin dropped on Google Maps. When she finally hit the brakes, she craned her neck—coast clear. But she wasn't about to backtrack or chill. She kept trucking, eyes peeled for a bus sign to hitch a ride to her crib.
Then, outta nowhere, "Yo, isn't that chick from yesterday?"
Ivy's heart skipped a beat. That voice was like a bad remix of the dude from the drugstore who had dissed her burn. She hit the gas, her side-eye catching an alleyway. She swerved hard.
And that's when Alex Forrest clocked the burn on Ivy's hand—it was looking rough, like a popped bubble with some cream slapped on top.
"Huh, it's the bookworm from the pharmacy," Alex mused, clicking his tongue. "Why's she sprinting like there's a ghost on her tail? But, for real, never seen a 'straight-A' bolt like that. Kinda spicy."
Ivy skidded to a halt.
Right there, Neon Glow Gaming Cafe was lit up like a Christmas tree.
Just off to the side, a bunch of dudes were kicking it, puffing on cigs, and throwing shade.
"She's cute, but too much of a goody-two-shoes, ya feel?"
"Dude, you're missing the point. It's the angel faces that are a riot to flip. Just picture it, bro," one laughed with a devilish glint.
"Y'all are savage! But, low-key, sounds like a riot."
"She's mad pure, though. Doubt she's down for the ride."
"Why not shoot your shot, see if she's game?"
"I'm down for that bet. I'll have her eating out of my hand in a hot minute!"
Alex Forrest, with a cig hanging from his lips, took a drag, chuckled, and cursed, "You think you got game? Nah, it's gotta be someone who's got the looks and the charm..."
His gaze landed on Nolan Frost, leaning cool against the wall, smoke swirling.
The "someone like me" vibe shifted as he said, "Gotta be a stud like Frost over there."
The boys cackled and nudged each other, "Nolan's probably not down. She's easy on the eyes but looks like a snooze. Doubt he'd stick around."
Alex's eyes sparkled with a wicked idea, and he smirked, "Let's throw down a bet."
The crew leaned in, all ears, "Bet on what?"
Alex, all fired up, laid it out, "If Frost can keep it 100 with her for two whole months, he takes the crown."
All eyes swiveled to Nolan, who was just chillin' with his cig. He felt their stares, looked up, and saw them all grinning like Cheshire cats.
"Nolan, if you lock it down with her for a solid two months, no splitsville, you're the man," Alex declared with a sly grin.Yo, check it. Nolan's just chillin', flickin' ash from his cig like it's NBD. "Who?" he's all like, not even bothered.
"That chick who breezed past, man. Yo, Nolan, you think you can keep it tight with her for a hot minute? Like, two months, bro?" his buddy's eggin' him on.
"..." Nolan kept silent, cool as ever.
"Whatever, man. It's just a game. Somebody take the bet!"
"I bet he can't!"
"There is no way he could. Take my bet!"
"Yo, Alex, why don't you put your money where your mouth is?"
Alex is all, "Ugh, you guys are a trip... aight, I'm in. Nolan's got this."
Nolan's just leanin' back, smokin' his cig, while rain's comin' down like a sad music video or somethin'. He flicks the cig butt, and it's like swish—straight in the trash. Dude's got game, no doubt.
Then there's Ivy Sterling, tucked away in that alley, catchin' her breath and overhearin' the boys. She's feelin' that cold creepin' up, like it's tryna hug her bones or somethin'.
