Nephilim

4

Sophomore Year

Ryder Herondale isn't what you'd consider popular, while he had met or heard of everybody at the school at least once, he only had a group of friends he was actually close to. These people were talked about a lot in middle school and are still in the public eye in the high school, they just fade into the group easier than before. People called the main ones 'The Core Four', Maya Hart, Riley Matthews, Andi Hart, and Farkle Minkus. Then it became Riley's friends after Lucas joined, followed by Zay and Smackle. Ryder had joined them freshman year after Andi decided she liked hanging out with Mason more than being in the whole school's view.

This year, everybody was buzzing for a whole new reason. Two new students, about a week into the year and there were already new students. They were, as far as everyone knew, both girls. Assumed to be related, everybody is eager to catch a glimpse, hoping for the best; which probably included models or something.

Ryder hadn't exactly planned to scope out the new girl, or one of them anyway, but he knew nearly everybody in the school. She was either someone he forgot about, or new, and he was placing his bets on the latter. Him being "the social one", as Andi dubbed him, he wanted to talk to her.

When he got to the locker she was standing in front of, she seemed to be having an issue getting the locker open, and she was definitely not afraid to show it, "Stupid freaking lock!" Hitting the locker repeatedly, shifting the heavy looking backpack on her shoulder, some of her black hair getting caught under the strap. She was holding a page with her classes, grade, and her locker combo on it. Freshman with three sophomore classes. A smart one, cool.

He laughs, causing a squeak to erupt from her, turning towards him, blue eyes wide. Ryder smiles, leaning against the locker next to her, "Need some help?"

That earned him a scoff, "Does it look like I need help from you?"

He glances towards the locker, then at her, raising an eyebrow jokingly, "Uh, yes, very much so."

"Well, I don't. See you never." She goes back to trying to open the locker, her bag sliding down her arm slightly as she adjusts her position to face it.

He snorts, "You're pretty mean for a Freshman." Her face scrunches up in an awkward expression, glancing at him again. After a few choice words muttered, she took a slight step to the side, gesturing to give it a try.

"Just because I'm a freshman, doesn't mean I'm a stereotype. You didn't hear me commenting on how you look like a jock. Not everybody fits into stereotypes." Snorting again at the jock comment, he nods along. Turning to the locker, checking the number, before nodding quietly he gesture to come slightly closer.

"Okay, so you need to push the lock in slightly harder than you were and give it an extra spin before you put in the combination. The lock is weird on this one." She pulls on her strap before scooting over and trying it. When it opens on the first try, she nods slightly before looking at him again.

"Thanks. Was this your old locker?" She leans down putting her stuff from her backpack into the locker.

"Uh, no. A friend of mine. She moved away. And before you ask, no she wasn't my girlfriend." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Cool. Do you make it your mission to befriend everyone here?" I laugh as she closes the locker.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ryder raises an eyebrow, sarcasm clear on his face.

"Means, I saw you watching me the first three times I tried to put the combo in. Now that is either because you're a creep that likes to watch people, or you were trying to figure out if I'm new here."