LOVE NOT 💘

1) .NEW GIRL.

Emma’s POV

“Hi… hi… hi…” I muttered to myself, staring at the school gates. My heart was pounding in my chest, and my stomach churned.

Here I was again—the new girl. I had grown used to this feeling, but that didn’t make it any easier. Dad’s job was always moving us, and I had no choice but to tag along. Each time, I had to start fresh—new school, new classmates, and a new life I never asked for. I couldn’t help but feel like a ghost, always blending in, never quite fitting in.

I was lost in my thoughts when a harsh, high-pitched voice sliced through the air, yanking me back to reality.

Snap.

I flinched, my eyes shooting up to find a girl standing right in front of me, her fingers still snapping impatiently. She was glaring at me with piercing eyes, her posture like a lioness ready to pounce.

“What’s your name?” she snapped, her voice sharp, demanding. “Full name.”

I blinked, caught off guard by her sudden aggression. Who the hell was this?

“I… I’m Emma Stones,” I stammered, trying to sound calm, though I could feel my heart rate spike.

She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “And your dad?” she asked coldly, not even blinking.

I hesitated, my mind racing. “Brad Stones,” I answered reluctantly.

The girl smirked, like she had just uncovered some grand secret. “Oh. Good. So, you’re a nobody.”

The words stung, and I froze, my chest tightening. A nobody? What was her problem? Before I could muster a response, the sound of footsteps interrupted us.

“What’s going on here, Charlotte?” a voice asked, smooth and deep.

I turned instinctively, my breath catching in my throat. There, standing a few feet away, was the most handsome guy I’d ever seen. His hair was dark, tousled in the perfect messy style, and his eyes—God, his eyes—were a striking shade of green that seemed to pierce right through me. He was tall, with a confident air about him, effortlessly cool. He looked like he belonged in a movie.

Charlotte’s attitude shifted immediately. Her lips curled into a fake smile, the sweetness so thick it made me want to gag. “Oh, Marcus! I’m just welcoming the new girl,” she cooed, a sinister edge to her words. “No big deal.”

She turned to me, her eyes narrowing. “Bye, Nobody Stones,” she spat, the words dripping with venom.

I stood frozen, her words still echoing in my ears. Nobody Stones. I wanted to shout back, to make her regret it, but the words stuck in my throat.

Marcus turned to me, his gaze softening with an apologetic look. “Sorry about that. My girlfriend Char… she can be a little much sometimes,” he said, giving me a crooked smile that made my knees weak.

His words should’ve made me feel better, but instead, my chest tightened. Girlfriend. I barely registered the words. Of course, he had a girlfriend. A guy like him? There was no way he wasn’t taken. I felt the weight of it hit me like a ton of bricks.

“Don’t worry about it,” I managed, forcing a smile even though I felt like I was crumbling inside. “Nice to meet you, Marcus,” I added, trying to sound casual, though my voice came out quieter than I intended.

Marcus chuckled softly, his grin widening. “Nice to meet you, Emma.” He gave me one last look, his gaze lingering for just a second too long, and then turned to leave, following Charlotte down the hallway.

I stood there for a moment, stunned, my heart racing.

As they disappeared around the corner, I let out a shaky breath. It wasn’t like I could blame him for being with Charlotte—she was everything I wasn’t: confident, popular, and, apparently, a somebody.

But me? I was just Emma Stones. And after that encounter, I knew I had no place in this school. No place in their world.

Still, a small part of me couldn’t help but wish for something—anything—to change. For Marcus to look at me like he looked at her.

But that was a fantasy, wasn’t it? One that I’d never get to live.

Marcus’ POV

I sat down at my desk, waiting for the teacher to arrive, but my mind kept drifting back to Emma. Emma—what a beautiful name. I couldn't shake the thought of her.

"Stop it, Marcus," the angel on my shoulder whispered. "You have a girlfriend."

But I ignored it. Screw her, I thought. It’s not like I want to be with Charlotte. I’m just doing this for my mom. She always follows my dad’s orders like some kind of puppet. And my dad? He’s just an asshole—he only cares about money and nothing else.

"Max!" I called out as my best friend walked into the classroom. He instantly noticed something was off, his eyes narrowing as he took a seat next to me. Max knew me better than anyone. We’d been friends for years, and I trusted him with everything.

"What's up with you, man?" he asked, sensing my mood.

"I’ve been thinking about this girl," I said quietly, hoping he wouldn’t tease me.

Max burst into laughter. “Oh really? What girl?”

I looked at him, and then a small smile tugged at my lips. “Her name’s Emma.”

Max raised an eyebrow. "Okay, what do you like about her?"

Before I could answer, the teacher walked in, cutting off our conversation.

“Open your textbooks to page 26,” the teacher said, looking around the class. "And Max, you'll be reading today."

I couldn't help but laugh quietly to myself. Max looked like a poor puppy, his face cringing. He hated English, and everyone knew it.

As Max reluctantly flipped through his book, I couldn't help but think about Emma again. Something about her had caught my attention, and for the first time in a while, I didn’t know how to handle it.