The Edge Of Innocence

Unwanted Attention

Ryan's POV

This place is the same as all the others. Boring. Predictable. But at least here, nobody knows the full story—just the rumors. That's how I like it.

"Yo, Ryan." Caleb's voice snaps me out of my thoughts. He's leaning against the lockers next to mine, his easy smile in place like always. "You see those girls staring at you? You're already a legend, man."

I roll my eyes. "Don't care."

"You should. If you're gonna be stuck here, might as well enjoy it, right?" He laughs, clapping me on the shoulder. "But seriously, you gotta watch out. Luca's still pissed about what went down. He'll find you eventually."

I shrug. Luca's always pissed. "Let him come."

"Yeah, but it's not just you anymore. We're all targets."

"I didn't ask anyone to follow me," I mutter. Caleb's loyalty is something I don't deserve. I've tried to push him away a dozen times, but he always comes back, like a brother I can't shake. And I know, deep down, he's right. Luca won't just come for me. He'll come for everyone connected to me.

Caleb nudges me, his grin widening. "Anyway, those girls, man. The blonde one's hot, but the other girl—she's the one who was staring the hardest."

I glance back down the hall, and sure enough, there she is. The quiet one with the camera. She's walking away now, but I can still feel the way her eyes were on me, the way she seemed to be looking for something in me.

"She's trouble," I say without thinking.

Caleb raises an eyebrow. "You don't even know her."

"I don't have to."