Fade Into You

Chapter 2

Faye's POV

The next day, Kaycee and I met at a local café called The Box. It's pretty popular around this part of Los Angeles—mostly because teens from every nearby school come here to hang out, gossip, and grab coffee. I

t's basically a teenage hotspot. But for Pendleton High? This café is the place to spot the popular crowd. Like, every time.

At one table, the cheerleaders were busy ogling the hot barista, who—of course—walked over personally just to take their order. No surprise there. The cheerleaders at Pendleton aren't your typical, preppy pompom-waving girls. 

These girls are something else—edgy makeup, jaw-dropping outfits, and a dangerous aura that comes from being daughters of some of the most notorious gang leaders in LA. When they walk into a room, people look.

Here's the thing about Pendleton High: it's unlike any other school in the world. It's where Mafia bosses, gang leaders, drug lords, and other dangerous figures send their kids. If you go here, chances are you're someone's heir—or at least connected to someone powerful. 

There are no "normal" kids with picket-fence families. This place was built for us, and the world outside doesn't even know it. Most people think Pendleton's just a school for troubled teens with a reputation. And yeah, we get that a lot. But if they only knew.

"Oh my god, check this out," Kaycee said, snapping me out of my thoughts. She held up her phone for me to see.

My eyes locked on the screen—and holy hell. I snatched the phone from her hands and practically melted at the sight.

Two words:

Jonathan. Shirtless.

Seriously? How is that even legal?

This is what Kaycee and I usually end up doing when we hang out—stalking Jonathan's Instagram. Since I don't follow him (for obvious reasons), Kaycee keeps me posted on every new update. And let me tell you, his jawline alone is a work of art. I'm obsessed. No shame.

And those abs? Don't even get me started.

I kept scrolling until I suddenly stopped on a photo that made my heart drop. It had been posted two days ago: Jonathan hugging some stunning girl with strawberry blonde hair, arms wrapped around her from behind.

I dropped the phone on the table and pushed it back toward Kaycee.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

I picked up my coffee and took a long sip, trying to stay cool. My eyes wandered to the front counter.

"New flavor of the week, huh," She muttered, rolling her eyes.

"I don't get it. I try so hard to stop catching feelings for him, but it never works. Why?" I finally said, more to myself than to her.

Kaycee tilted her head, watching me. 

"Maybe because he's your first love?"

I let out a dry laugh. "First love, my ass. It's just a crush."

Just then, the bell above the glass door jingled, signaling someone had walked in. I glanced up—and my heart almost stopped.

Jonathan.

He strolled in casually with his two best friends trailing behind, and they headed straight for the counter. The entire café seemed to perk up. The cheerleaders straightened in their seats, flipping open compact mirrors and fixing their gloss like their lives depended on it.