Chapter 5
By lunchtime, I was still reeling.
“I see you.”
His words kept bouncing around in my head like an echo I couldn’t turn off. I tried focusing on my classes, but every time I blinked, I saw those blue eyes and heard that voice. It didn’t help that everyone—and I mean everyone—kept staring like I’d grown a second head. I wasn’t used to this kind of attention. I’d spent years perfecting the art of invisibility, and now suddenly I was the center of the school’s gossip storm.
Jess was practically vibrating with excitement as we sat at our usual lunch table, which, for the record, had never been remotely near the popular crowd. Until today.
Because guess who strolled right over with his lunch tray and sat down next to me?
Logan.
Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I froze, mid-bite, and nearly choked on my sandwich. Jess dropped her soda can and just stared at him.
“Hey,” he said smoothly, leaning back like he belonged here—which, to be fair, he kind of did. “Hope you don’t mind me crashing.”
“You’ve never even looked at this table before,” Jess blurted out.
Logan smirked. “Guess I needed a change of scenery.”
He turned to me. “Want some fries?”
I blinked. “What?”
He nudged the tray toward me, like this was totally normal. I reached for one without thinking, and when our fingers brushed, I felt it again—that spark. Or maybe it was just nerves. Or confusion. Or both.
Jess was watching us like she was witnessing a live-action rom-com.
“Right,” she muttered. “Totally fake.”
Logan chuckled, clearly hearing her, but didn’t say anything. Instead, he leaned closer to me and lowered his voice. “Just roll with it.”
“I’m trying,” I whispered back. “But this is a lot.”
“Yeah,” he said, and then his tone softened. “But you’re handling it.”
I looked at him, really looked at him. He didn’t seem like the arrogant guy I’d pegged him to be. Not right now. He seemed… almost genuine.
Almost.
A group of popular girls walked by, staring hard. One of them, Mia—or was it Tia?—gave me a look that could’ve melted steel. I had a feeling I’d just made her hit list.
Logan noticed. He looked them dead in the eye and casually slipped his arm across the back of my chair.
The girl flinched and walked off.
Jess leaned in. “This is so going to be a problem.”
“No kidding,” I muttered.
After lunch, Logan walked me to my next class again. More eyes. More stares. More whispers. My head felt like it was buzzing by the time I made it to my seat.
And then, just when I thought things couldn’t get weirder, Sarah Richards cornered me in the girls’ bathroom.
“You think this is funny?” she snapped, arms crossed, eyes blazing.
I backed up a step. “Excuse me?”
“You and Logan. Whatever act you’re putting on.” She sneered. “You really think someone like you has a chance with someone like him?”
My stomach twisted. The words were like a punch. But instead of shrinking like I normally would, something in me snapped.
I took a deep breath. “Well, considering he kissed me and not the other way around… maybe you should be asking him.”
Sarah’s jaw dropped.
I walked out before she could respond, heart pounding, legs shaking, but something in me felt… powerful. For once, I wasn’t the invisible girl hiding in the back of the classroom. I was being seen. Even if it was just temporary. Even if it was fake.
But if it was fake, why did it feel so real?
And why did Logan’s smile make my heart race every time?