Sophia and her friends were still whispering among themselves when one of the girls finally broke away from the group and headed toward Graham. He noticed her movement from the corner of his eye before she even reached him. She walked with an easy kind of confidence, like someone who knew exactly how much attention she drew and didn't mind it at all.
Her hair was dyed a striking shade of blue that contrasted against her warm skin and framed her face in loose waves. She wore a fitted shirt that looked a little too tight for her big boobs, and a short skirt that matched the school colors. Even from a quick glance, it was obvious she had the kind of body most people turned to stare at, but what stood out more was the way she carried herself. Bold. Unapologetic. Like she'd step on anyone who got in her way and laugh while doing it.
Graham kept his headphones in until he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He looked up slowly, his eyes trailing from the edge of her knee-length socks to her sexy thighs and then to the small silver ring on her finger and finally to her face. She was smiling already, she found him amusing before he'd even spoken.
"Hey," she said, her voice smooth and playful. "How're you doing new guy?"
Graham pulled out one earbud and gave a small nod. "I'm cool fr."
She brightened, like she'd been waiting for him to speak. "I'm Hailey. In case nobody bothered to introduce me. This school isn't exactly known for manners."
Graham let out a faint breath that almost passed for a laugh. "So I've noticed."
Hailey shifted her weight to one hip and rested her hand lightly on the back of the chair in front of him. "You just transferred today? That's rough. First days here can feel like being dropped into a blender."
He shrugged. "I've had worse."
"Really?" She raised a brow with curiosity.
Graham shook his head. "Yeah."
Hailey leaned in just a little, not enough to invade his space, but close enough to make it clear she wasn't shy. "Trust me, we get new students every semester. Nobody reacts like that unless they like what they see."
Graham didn't know how to respond to that, so he just gave her a polite nod.
Hailey didn't seem offended. If anything, she seemed more interested.
Graham glanced at Sophia across the room. She was pretending not to look their way, but her posture gave her away.
Hailey studied him for a brief moment, her expression softening just a little. "You don't talk much, do you?"
"Just not in the mood for conversations today." he said cooly.
She nodded slowly, accepting that without pushing further. "Fair enough. First day and all."
Graham slipped his earbud back in, not rudely, just clearly done.
Hailey did not leave even after Graham answered her in a way that suggested he preferred being alone. Instead, she stayed beside his desk and gently slipped his headphones off, placing them on the table with deliberate care. Graham blinked slowly and tried not to show the irritation tightening across his features.
"Did I say you could do that?" he asked in a calm voice, even though the question carried a warning underneath.
Hailey smiled as if she had heard nothing threatening at all. "No, but you looked like you were hiding from the world, and that feels illegal on the first day."
Graham exhaled through his nose and sat up properly.
"That's it?" she asked, raising a brow. "No fun fact, no dramatic introduction, no hometown mentioned in a mysterious tone?"
"I don't really do dramatic introductions," Graham replied. "I came here to study, not audition for a movie."
Hailey laughed softly and rested her hand on the back of the empty chair beside him. "You talk like someone who already retired from life at twenty."
Graham looked at her properly for the first time, noticing the blue hair that fell over one shoulder and the confidence in her eyes. "I just like minding my business," he said. "It keeps things simple."
"Simple is boring," Hailey replied. "And you don't seem boring. Just quiet. There's a difference."
Graham tilted his head slightly. "Do you always walk up to strangers and diagnose their personalities?"
"Only the ones who pretend not to need friends," she answered without hesitation. "I thought I'd introduce myself before everyone else decided who you are for you."
He paused for a moment before responding. "So you want to be friends."
"Yes," she said plainly. "Unless you're planning to bite me or throw a desk across the room. Then we might need to renegotiate."
Graham shook his head. "I'm not a violent person."
"Good," she said as she pulled out the chair and sat down without asking. "Then we're already getting along."
He stared at her for a second before speaking again. "You don't know anything about me."
"That's why people talk," Hailey replied. "We start with nothing and see what happens."
Graham leaned back slightly and folded his arms. "You're really determined."
"Not determined," she corrected. "Just interested. You walked in like you didn't care whether this place swallowed you or not, and that's rare around here."
He considered her words and then nodded once. "There's no harm in having a friend, I guess."
Hailey smiled like she had won something. "Good. So where are you from?"
"A different state," Graham answered. "Moved in recently."
She waited, expecting more, but when nothing else followed, she nodded. "Alright, I won't pry. Not today."
"What about you?" Graham asked.
"Born here," Hailey said. "Raised here. I know every corner of this city, every shortcut. If you ever get lost, I'll rescue you."
Graham let out a quiet chuckle. "I'll keep that in mind."
She rested her elbow on his desk and asked, "So what were you listening to before I rudely interrupted you?"
"Music that keeps my head quiet," he replied.
Hailey's eyes brightened with interest. "Then you have to send me some songs later. I collect playlists...I love music."
The conversation continued with an ease that surprised him. He found himself replying without forcing words out, and the tightness in his chest slowly eased.
"You know," Graham said after a moment, "you're not as annoying as I thought you'd be."
Hailey placed a hand over her heart with dramatic relief. "Finally, a compliment."
"Don't get too confident," Graham replied. "It's only been five minutes."
"Five successful minutes," Hailey corrected. "Which means I'm doing great."
Just then, the classroom door opened. The sound of footsteps made them both glance toward it. A tall boy walked in with a backpack slung over his shoulder. His expression shifted the moment he saw Hailey sitting beside Graham, and although he tried to mask it, the displeasure in his eyes was impossible to miss.