𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤|𝟏𝟖+

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐

𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤 |

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐍 was already underway when the classroom door creaked open. Everyone turned to see who had interrupted, and I felt my curiosity piqued as the principal walked in. He was accompanied by two guys I'd never seen before, their presence immediately commanding attention. Whispers began to spread across the room like wildfire.

"Good morning, everyone," the principal began, his tone formal but friendly. "I'd like to introduce two new students who have just joined us from the United States. This is Rafe Cameron, and this is Lucas Hunter. Their families recently moved to Spain, and they'll be finishing out the year with us."

Rafe Cameron stood slightly ahead of Lucas, a relaxed smile playing on his lips as he scanned the room. His blond hair was perfectly tousled, and his sharp blue eyes seemed to take in everything with an easy confidence. He was the kind of guy who had that effortless charm, the type that made heads turn without even trying. And as I glanced around, I noticed I wasn't the only one who thought so. A wave of soft giggles and murmurs spread through the classroom, and I could practically hear the hearts thudding as the girls around me took in the blonde guy.

Lucas, on the other hand, had a more reserved air about him. His dark hair contrasted with Rafe's lighter features, and there was something intense in the way his hazel eyes surveyed the room. He was quieter, more withdrawn, but no less striking. I didn't miss the way Adriana's eyes widened as they landed on Lucas, a soft blush creeping up her cheeks. She leaned over to Sofia, whispering something that made them both smile, though her gaze never strayed far from Lucas.

"Hi," Rafe said, his voice smooth and confident. "I'm Rafe. We're looking forward to getting to know everyone."

Lucas gave a small nod. "Yeah, what he said."

The principal gave them both a nod and then looked around the room, his gaze settling on the empty table directly in front of me and Alejandro. "Why don't you two take those seats? We're glad to have you with us."

Rafe and Lucas moved to the table, their strides easy and unhurried. As they settled in, I couldn't help but notice how close they were now, just a few feet away. Rafe's presence seemed to fill the space, his relaxed demeanor making it look like he'd been here all along.

I caught myself staring for a moment too long at his huge back, and quickly shifted my gaze to my notebook, pretending to be engrossed in the notes I wasn't taking. He was undeniably gorgeous, that much was clear, but I wasn't about to lose my head over some new guy, no matter how many hearts he was already capturing. School was my priority, and I'd spent too long building my reputation to let a pretty face distract me.

Still, as the teacher resumed the lesson, I couldn't help but notice the way Rafe leaned back in his chair, his attention seeming to drift as if the lesson was the least interesting thing in the world. The whispers around the room hadn't completely died down, and every now and then, I saw a few girls sneaking glances in his direction, their cheeks flushed with excitement.

Meanwhile, Adriana's attention was clearly fixed on Lucas. I saw the way her eyes sparkled whenever he so much as shifted in his seat. It was obvious she was already smitten, her usual composed demeanor giving way to the unmistakable signs of a crush. Sofia nudged her with a grin, whispering something that made Adriana blush even deeper.

By lunchtime, the buzz about the new guys had reached every corner of Instituto Monteverde. It seemed like everyone had something to say about Rafe Cameron and Lucas Hunter, whether it was about Rafe's confident charm or Lucas's quiet intensity. And of course, both had already caught the attention of the teachers, who praised their
"exceptional potential" after only one class.

I wasn't the only one who noticed the way Rafe seemed to have everyone wrapped around his finger. It was like he didn't even have to try; people were just drawn to him. And that was starting to grate on me.

As we made our way to the cafeteria, my friend group hummed with conversation. Adriana and Sofia were chatting away, Sofia trying to act nonchalant about Rafe while I could tell she was clearly interested. Adriana, on the other hand, was still swooning over Lucas, making it obvious to everyone that her heart was already set.

Alejandro walked beside me, glancing over at me with a knowing smirk. "Something bothering you?" he asked, his voice low enough that the others couldn't hear.

I sighed, trying to push down the irritation that was simmering beneath the surface. "Not at all.
Just thinking about how quickly people latch on to the next shiny thing."

Alejandro chuckled, nudging me with his elbow. "Jealous?"

"Hardly," I scoffed, though the word lingered in my mind longer than I wanted it to. Jealousy wasn't something I liked to admit to, even if there was a grain of truth to it.

We entered the cafeteria, not taking long to spot Rafe and Lucas.
They were at the center of attention, of course, surrounded by students eager to make the new kids feel welcome-or maybe just to catch their eye. Rafe seemed completely at ease, like he'd been doing this his whole life. And for all I knew, he had.

We grabbed our food and headed to our usual table. As I took my seat, I couldn't help but notice that Rafe and Lucas were just a few tables away. Sofia's eyes kept drifting toward Rafe, and Adriana's gaze was firmly locked on Lucas. I had to keep reminding myself that this was just another school day, just more noise in the background. But it was harder than usual to stay focused.

As we started eating, I noticed Rafe glance our way. He locked eyes with me for a moment, and there was something in his gaze that made my stomach tighten. It wasn't just confidence-it was like he knew exactly what he was doing, like he could see right through the carefully constructed walls l'd built around myself.

I looked away, determined not to let him get under my skin.
Unfortunately, it didn't take long before he made his way over to our table. He moved with that same relaxed confidence, like he owned the place. He wasn't alone-Lucas followed, a bit more reserved but no less present.

"Mind if we join you?" Rafe asked, his voice smooth and easy as he flashed a charming smile at Sofia.

Sofia blushed, glancing at me and then Adriana before nodding. "Sure, why not?"

The rest of the group made space, and Rafe took the seat directly across from me, with Lucas beside him. Alejandro raised an eyebrow at me, clearly enjoying the show, while I forced myself to remain calm.