[in progress] As hearts collide {chicklit}

Prologue - Alex

The first time I saw him, I remember it rained. The greying skies unleashed fat droplets that brought a much-needed relief from the hot, sticky heat that had made the previous week so unbearable.

Double PE - thank you, British government, had started with a bang, kicking off the first week back in school after the leisurely summer holidays, with track. We were still adjusting to the rhythm of early mornings and the familiar scent of Priory Academy filling our nostrils. The field stretched out before us, a patchwork quilt of yellowish greens, as all year eleven students took turns completing the dreaded 1500 metres. A near-impossible feat, especially considering the overwhelming temperatures that had scorched us just days before. The sky, overcast and brooding, hung low like a heavy curtain, and the air was muggy - a silent warning of the downfall to come.

The girls sat cross-legged on the parched grass awaiting their turn, their eyes following the boys as they stretched and prepared for their gauntlet on the track. I positioned myself further back, seeking refuge beneath the shade of an old beech tree. My mum always said I lived life like I was "sat on the outside looking in," which, in fairness, is a pretty accurate description. Happy to fade into the background and be a mere observer of life in action.

Then I saw him.

He materialised like a character from a daydream, tall and athletic. His dirty blonde hair sat messily around his ears, as if he'd perfected that "just woke up" look. His jawline was sharp, hinting at an early stubble, and his eyes - a deep shade of sapphire blue - sparkled in the sun like a hidden treasure buried beneath the waves. He moved with an effortless grace, long legs propelling him around the track. I couldn't tear my eyes away.

I wasn't the only one who noticed him. Half the girls had shifted their attention to this strange but enigmatic new figure pacing the track.

As he took his final lap, he veered off track, bending down to scoop up a lone daisy from the grass. The delicate white petals contrasted against the dry strands, as he held it delicately in the palm of his hand. And then, in a move that caught everyone off guard, he approached Mia. Mia was the most popular girl in our school. With her long blonde hair, naturally sun-kissed skin, and wide hazel eyes, she was every guy's wet dream. But this boy, this stranger, didn't seem intimidated. Instead, he handed her the daisy, a simple offering that held more weight than any grand gesture. Mia's perfectly glossed lips parted to giggle, her laughter as delicate as the petals she held, before dropping the solitary flower with little care onto the grass in front of her.

Lee, the most popular boy at school, stood nearby, his jaw clenched and eyes simmering in silent anger. Lee was Mia's boyfriend, their love story etched in every teenage novel, destined for glory.

But today, the new boy had disrupted the script. His arrival was like a sudden gust of wind and his name - still a mystery - was whispered in hushed tones, accompanied by curious glances.

Lee's broad shoulders hinted at the strength he worked hard to maintain. His ash brown hair, meticulously styled, framed a face that belonged on magazine covers. Always immaculately dressed, he was the embodiment of teenage perfection. The prom king to Mia's queen.

"Emily!" Miss Brown's voice sliced through my daydream, pulling me back to reality. I blinked, disoriented, and brushed crisp dead grass from my legs.

Over the summer, my body had transformed. From a mid-height plump teen, I'd blossomed into a tall, curvy woman. My baby blue shorts, once comfortable, now clung high and tight to my thighs. The matching t-shirt also strained against my expanding cleavage and I looked like I'd borrowed my PE kit from the lost and found. I'd be lucky if I made one loop around the track before my thighs started chafing.

Sighing and pulling my damp, sticky bronze hair up into a high ponytail, I paced slowly over to the track. As I neared my position, I watched as Lee intercepted the new kid, pulling him aside. Their conversation was intense, a silent battle for territory. The new boy, oblivious to the unspoken rules, stood tall.

He wasn't Mia's type - far from it. But his lack of social awareness made him dangerous. Lee needed to remind everyone who ruled this kingdom. And so, against the backdrop of teenage rivalry, the alpha faced his challenger.

Stood on my mark, the cloying remnants of dry grass clung to my battered trainers. The track stretched out before me and anxiety coiled in my stomach, threatening to unleash itself. Closing my eyes, I willed my nerves to settle. As I opened them again, I inadvertently locked gazes with the new boy and my stomach roiled. He licked his bottom lip and grinned, a gesture both arrogant and enticing, before turning to talk to Jim, my next door neighbour and once closest friend.

Caught between embarrassment and curiosity, I tore my gaze away, cursed under my breath and swiftly looked down.

I wasn't sure if my beating heart was due to the running I was about to undertake, the ill-fitting outfit clinging to my skin or the new boy, but his presence lingered to me. I felt exposed, vulnerable.

And then the heavens opened. Raindrops, thick and blubbery, descended upon the field and, as if by magic, the PE teachers called us back inside. Relief washed over me. Dripping wet but grateful for the change in location, I nodded in acceptance as we were ushered inside.

Turning into the doorway, I briefly glanced over my shoulder to see the new boy, raindrops clinging to his hair. His eyes found mine once more and, in that fleeting moment, something shifted and I knew I would never be the same again.