boy of my dreams- JESS MARIANO

CHAPTER 2:

CHAPTER 2

AVERYS POV

It was 5:30 a.m., and I already dreaded what was ahead. *The first day of hell,* I thought to myself as I sat in front of the mirror. I straightened my bangs, carefully curling the rest of my hair before brushing it out to create soft waves. Next, I put on a light layer of makeup—mascara, tinted lip gloss, a touch of blush, and the tiniest amount of bronzer to add some warmth to my face.

Afterward, I slipped into my outfit: a black baby tee with "Vivienne Westwood" printed across the front and a pair of dark blue wide-legged jeans. I laced up my Converse, took a deep breath, and grabbed my bag, ready to face the day.

When I got downstairs, the smell of breakfast greeted me. My mom was at the stove, flipping eggs in the pan. "Morning," she said, turning to give me a warm smile.

"Morning," I mumbled, sitting down at the table. She slid a plate of eggs and toast in front of me, and I picked up my fork, trying to force down a few bites despite the nerves twisting in my stomach.

"You'll do great today, Avery," she said encouragingly, sitting across from me with her own breakfast. "Just be yourself, and everything will fall into place."

I nodded, offering a small smile. "Yeah, maybe." I managed to finish my breakfast, feeling a little bit better after talking to her. "Thanks, Mom."

"Anytime, sweetheart. Now go knock 'em dead," she said, giving me a playful wink. I grabbed my bag, slung it over my shoulder, and headed out the door.

As I approached the bus stop, my heart pounded. *You've got this,* I repeated to myself. The bus soon arrived with a screech of brakes, and I climbed up the steps, giving the driver a quick nod before scanning for a seat. That's when I saw him.

*Oh no.* The guy from that stupid diner was sitting in the back, casually reading a book. My stomach flipped, and I froze for a second, eyes locked on his profile. *Please don't notice me,* I prayed silently. Without thinking, I quickly chose an empty seat at the very front, ducking down as low as I could.

I spent the entire ride staring straight ahead, gripping the straps of my bag tightly. Every second felt like an eternity. When the bus finally pulled up to school, I stood up to leave, keeping my eyes fixed on the floor. I was almost at the door when I heard a voice from behind me.

"Hey, wait—"

I turned my head just enough to catch a glimpse of him looking straight at me. Panic surged through me. Before he could say another word, I bolted out of the bus, practically sprinting down the sidewalk as fast as I could.

*So much for a fresh start,* I thought, my heart racing. I didn't stop until I was safely inside the school, panting and clutching my side. *Great. Just great.* I sighed, already wishing I could crawl back into bed and start over.

I made my way to my locker, trying to shake off the embarrassment from my bus escape. As I spun the combination lock, I glanced to the side—and my heart nearly stopped. *Him. Again.* He was right there, at the locker next to mine. Of all the places, why did he have to be *here?*

I swallowed hard, feeling my cheeks flush. Keeping my eyes down, I shoved my books into my locker as quickly as possible, trying to ignore his presence. I could feel him glancing my way, but I refused to look up.

*Just get out of here.* I grabbed my notebook and slammed my locker shut. Without a word, I turned on my heel and bolted down the hallway, not even caring how ridiculous I probably looked. I just needed to be far away from him.