By Wednesday morning, the rumors had evolved.
Apparently Autumn and Luca were:
secretly dating
already in love
fighting
or planning to run away together
None of which were true.
Autumn stood at her locker trying to ignore the whispers around her.
Two girls walked past.
"That's her."
"The girl Luca Hayes kissed."
Autumn shut her locker harder than necessary.
"You're famous now," Lily said, appearing beside her with a grin.
"I hate it."
"You kissed the most talked-about guy in school."
"That was not the plan."
"Then what was the plan?"
Autumn hesitated.
"I don't know."
Lily studied her carefully.
"You like him."
Autumn didn't answer.
Because the truth was—
She did.
And that scared her.
Right on cue, a familiar voice drifted down the hallway.
"Morning."
Autumn turned.
Luca leaned casually against the lockers across from her.
Dark hair falling into his eyes.
Hands in his pockets.
Watching her like she was the only person in the hallway.
Lily gave Autumn a knowing look.
"I'm going to class," she said.
"You have class in fifteen minutes."
"I suddenly care about my education."
Then she vanished.
Autumn sighed.
"You planned that," she said.
"I didn't even say anything."
"You didn't have to."
Luca pushed off the locker and walked closer.
"So," he said.
"So?"
"You avoiding me?"
"No."
"Good."
He stepped closer.
The hallway buzzed with students, but the space between them suddenly felt private.
"Because I was thinking about you all morning," he said quietly.
Her pulse jumped.
"That's a dangerous habit."
"I've been told."