My Naughty Lover ✔️

Chapter 3

~My love for you will never die

(Zac’s POV)

"Yo, Zac."

I look up from my phone. Max is already leaning against the locker beside me, a lazy smile on his face. He’s been my best friend since forever — one of the few people who knows everything about me, even the shit I don’t talk about. Especially that.

"Hey Maxy," I say in a mock-flirty voice, tossing a wink for good measure.

He grimaces. “Seriously, bro?”

I laugh. "What? You’re blushing.”

“Am not.”

“You always do when I tease you,” I grin. “It's cute.”

He flips me off, but the corners of his mouth twitch. I know he secretly enjoys the chaos I bring.

Just then, Erik walks up to us, slinging his bag over one shoulder. He’s cool, but not someone I let too close. Trust is rare currency these days.

"You at Barbie’s party last night?" Erik asks.

I shake my head. “Nah. Didn't feel like it.”

“She was asking about you,” he says. “Looked pretty disappointed.”

“She’ll live.” I shrug. Jessica — or Barbie, as everyone calls her — is attractive, sure. But there's nothing behind her eyes. Just a pretty shell looking for validation. I’ve hooked up with her a few times, but that’s all it was. And she knew that. Or she should’ve.

“She’s into you hard,” Max adds, nudging me.

I smirk. “Yeah, well... who isn’t?”

They laugh, and I let them. It’s easier than explaining how empty it all feels sometimes.

"I'm hitting the tattoo studio after school," I say. "You guys coming?"

"Yeah, count me in," Max replies.

Erik nods. “I’m down.”

My eyes drift across the hallway—and that’s when I see her.

The girl from earlier.

She storms past with purpose, heading toward the restrooms. Her expression is unreadable, but there’s tension in the way her shoulders move. She looks like she’s trying not to break.

Her clothes are soaked and stained with mud. Her skirt clings to her legs in places, the fabric heavy. But it’s not her outfit that holds my attention. It’s her presence. Her hair is dark, like ink under moonlight, and it swings as she moves. She’s not like the other girls here.

She’s raw. Real.

Familiar?

I squint slightly, something tugging at the edge of memory.

"Yo, Earth to Zac," Max says, waving a hand in front of my face.

“Huh?” I blink, caught off guard.