Don't You Dare

Prologue

Monday September 28, 2015

Everything in my life is planned. Controlled. Calculated. I have to be perfect.

At a place like Rosemont Academy, being the only scholarship student means more than just keeping up with the elite. It means being better. It means never giving them a reason to say I don't belong here. One wrong move, one slip in my grades, and this life they take for granted slips away from me.

So, I keep my head down, my grades flawless, and my goals sharp. I don't have the luxury of falling behind, of making mistakes, of being ordinary. I'm going to graduate early, get out of this place, and leave behind the life that's tried so hard to break me.

That's why, when the door to the classroom swings open mid-lecture, I don't look up right away. Late arrivals mean one thing: attention. And attention is the last thing I need.

But something in the room shifts. It's not just the usual murmurs of curiosity. The energy changes, like everyone is suddenly holding their breath.

Mr. Henderson pauses his lecture, and I hear footsteps-slow, steady, and purposeful. He's coming closer, heading right toward me, and the knot of irritation in my stomach tightens.

"Class," Mr. Henderson says, his voice a little too loud. "This is Gabriel Bauer. He'll be joining us for the rest of the year."

Gabriel Bauer.

I finally glance up, and it all clicks into place. Of course. The Bauer family. Everyone in this school knows who they are. Rich, connected, important. The kind of people who don't have to follow the rules because their name is the rule. Gabriel was the golden boy-a senior, star athlete, and always surrounded by a crowd. But he had disappeared for a while after the tragic death of his older brother over the summer, leaving everyone wondering what had happened. And now, he's back, standing in front of me, a new addition to this elite little bubble.

As he walks in, I hear the whispers start, like the hushed hum of a hive. They're talking about him, of course. About where he's been, what he's been through. But there's more to it. I catch snippets of gossip about his ex-girlfriend, Jessica, who's sitting two rows behind me.

Jessica Parker-Rosemont's queen bee. The kind of girl who never seems to have a hair out of place and whose life looks like it's been plucked straight from a high-gloss magazine. She and Gabriel were a perfect match, the power couple everyone talked about. But now, she's staring daggers at him, her perfectly manicured nails tapping impatiently on her desk.

Gabriel doesn't say anything. He just walks toward the only empty seat-next to me.

Perfect.

He's tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair that looks like it belongs in some magazine spread. His uniform fits a little too perfectly, and there's an ease in his movements, like he's never had to struggle for anything in his life. The kind of guy who has no idea what it's like to earn his place.

I grip my pen a little tighter, keeping my eyes on my notes, willing myself not to care.

"Look at Jessica's face," someone whispers, barely suppressing a laugh.

"I heard he broke up with her right after his brother's funeral," another voice says, quieter, but still audible enough to catch. "She must be pissed he's sitting next to the scholarship kid."

I feel the familiar prickle of unease, but I force myself to focus on the page in front of me. The last thing I need is to get dragged into whatever drama is unfolding around me.

Gabriel takes the seat next to me, but I can already feel the shift in the air. I pretend I'm focused on the page in front of me, but I can't ignore the heat of his presence-too close, too distracting.

And then, I feel him glance my way.

I look up, and our eyes meet.

He doesn't look like the entitled jerk I was expecting. His gaze is calm, curious even, but there's something about it that sends a jolt straight through me. His eyes are a dark, intense green, and for a split second, I forget where I am.

I blink, forcing myself to look away. I'm not about to get distracted by some rich boy who probably thinks this school is just another playground.

Mr. Henderson's voice breaks the silence. "We're halfway through Wuthering Heights, Gabriel. Andrea has some of the best notes in class-maybe she can help you catch up."

What?

I don't even look up this time. My fingers tighten around my pen, and I feel the sharp sting of resentment rising in my chest. My notes are sacred. I've spent hours perfecting them. They're my ticket out of here, and I don't hand them over to just anyone-especially not to someone like him.

Before I can say anything, Gabriel speaks, his voice low but steady. "I don't want to bother her," he says, his tone calm but polite. "I can manage on my own."

I glance at him, surprised. There's no arrogance in his voice, no expectation that I'll just hand over my work. He doesn't seem like the entitled rich boy I thought he was.

Still, Mr. Henderson is waiting for a response, and I know I can't afford to make waves. Not here. Not now.

I force a tight smile. "It's fine. I can help after class."

Gabriel nods, his eyes locking on mine for just a moment longer than necessary. "Thanks," he says softly, and there's something about the way he says it that throws me off balance again. His voice is smooth, controlled, but it doesn't feel forced. It feels... real.

I try to focus for the rest of the class, but I can't. Not with him sitting next to me, his quiet presence pulling my attention even when I don't want it to. And just when I think I've managed to get a grip on myself, he leans slightly closer.

I glance at him again, and that's when it happens.

He catches my eye, and the corner of his mouth lifts into a small, knowing smile. Then, without a word, he winks.

It's quick, almost imperceptible, but it hits me like a shot of electricity. My heart skips, and I look away too fast, my face heating up in a way that annoys me. Why is he getting to me?

The bell rings, and I practically bolt out of my seat, ready to escape the tension building inside me. But as I grab my things and head for the door, I hear his voice behind me, calm and unbothered.

"You sure about those notes?"

I spin around, already ready to snap something back, but Gabriel's still in his seat, looking far too comfortable, an easy grin playing on his lips. His eyes glint with something that feels halfway between amusement and challenge, like he's daring me to react.

Before I can come up with something sharp to say, he stands, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "I'll find you at lunch," he says, casually throwing it over his shoulder as if it's already decided.

As he walks out, I notice Jessica's gaze following him, her eyes narrowing as they flick to me. I feel a chill run down my spine. The last thing I need is to get caught up in whatever history they have.

But it's too late for that now.

I watch him disappear through the doorway, and I already know. Everything is about to change.