BEHIND HER SMILE

CHAPTER TWO

I couldn't believe my eyes! I'd walked into this school thinking I had everything under control, only to discover that Christopher was right about me being...well, a bit naive. The school, which teenagers call hell, had just become a lot more complicated. I couldn't focus on the math lesson, my eyes fixated on Reece Joseph Akerman. He was a striking mix of Asian and Latino heritage, with dark, expressive eyes and a commanding presence that made him stand out even in a crowd. It was impossible to look away. Even Christopher's glaring didn't help.

"Stop staring!" Jerry's pinch jolted me out.
"How can you not tell me that Reece Joseph Akerman goes to our school?" I hissed at Jerry.

"For this exact reason," he sighed. "That group isn't exactly good news. They're—"

"Do you have something to add, Mr. Hensler?" The maths teacher interrupted, his gaze sharp.

"No, sir," Jerry said smoothly, "I was just explaining Ms. Wild's confusion." The teacher gave him a scrutinizing look but eventually turned back to his work.

"Mr. Hensler, next time, pick a more believable lie. Ms. Wild's academic record is hardly the type to need explanations. She's got a solid 5 gpa. And Ms. Wild, please see the school counselor at lunch for extra credits and forms," the teacher said before returning to his lesson.

Jerry and I exchanged no further words during the rest of the period. As we exited the classroom, Christopher stopped us.

"What was that stunt about, Judgy?" Christopher's tone was challenging. Reece Joseph Akerman and an angry blond guy flanked him.

"I don't know, Percpy. That's Reece Joseph Akerman and—" I started, but Jerry quickly covered my mouth with his hand, pulling me into a tight hold. "She means you're famous, the mafia boys." he said, his emphasis on "famous" clearly hinting at the "mafia boys" reputation.

"The gangster group of the school?" I whispered to Jerry, loud enough for everyone to hear. His expression was pained as he nodded.

"Well then, that's not great. I've been annoying Christopher all day," I muttered back, but Christopher's frown deepened.

"We can hear you, you know!" snapped the angry blond guy.

"I apologize on her behalf," Jerry said smoothly, "It's her first day, and she's a bit clueless. She can be pretty thick sometimes."

"What's happening?" Hailey's voice broke through the tension. Reece's reaction was instant; his eyes flicked toward her, freezing momentarily.  Hailey, with her warm olive skin and long, dark hair, had a graceful yet understated presence. Her simple yet elegant style and the way she carried herself spoke of both resilience and kindness.

This was the exact reason I knew Reece Joseph Akerman so well: He'd been stalking Hailey and I'd been stalking him to make sure he wasn't a threat to Hailey. And now, my plan to play Cupid seemed more urgent than ever.

"I'm planning to play Cupid... Is that a bad idea?" I whispered to Jerry, who fought a smile, giving me the green light.

"Nothing. Christopher was just introducing Reece Joseph Akerman to us, and we were about to leave," I said, looking at Hailey, who had turned a faint shade of red.

"I came to pick you up for our next class. Let's go," she said softly and hesitantly, avoiding eye contact as she turned and walked away.

"Later, Percpy," I called to Christopher as Jerry and I followed Hailey.

"Day one, and you're already stirring up trouble," Jerry said with a sigh.

"Well, I came here to make life interesting and chaotic," I replied with a grin. "The academy won't give me any real challenges. I need something outside of studies. Besides, something's bound to happen in the cafeteria, so take Hailey and eat somewhere else."