LAW OF ATTRACTION

CHAPTER 1 : FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

"Don't worry. It's gonna be alright, sweetie." My Mom tries to reassure me as she slows down in front of the dull grey building, with for only touch of color: the blue letters forming the word HIGH SCHOOL.

I fake a little smile as I think of what's ahead for today... My first day as a senior.

Let's not think about it. I should hurry up if I don't want to be late for my first day; it would only be worst.

I reach out to untie my belt. Unfortunately, I find it tangled, almost as much as the knots in my stomach; the wires of my headphones along with the strings of my jacket are intertwined – I don't even know how – with the belt. The more I try to untangle it, the more it tangles, to the point where I can't even move.

"Let me help you." My Mom offers me a compassionate smile, used to my clumsiness.

I always end up in those kinds of messes, and my nervousness for today is clearly not helping.

It's not that I don't like school; I love the lessons. Yes, I'm kind of a nerd, at least that's what the others call me, and that's precisely the others, the problem: I'm not really popular. I have two friends, and I've been bullied several times. I'm shy, awkward, clumsy, and I have good grades, attributes that don't really help in high school.

"And text me when you've got your schedule, so I can pick you up." My Mom pulls me out of my thoughts. Her clear eyes are already on me again, and the knots of cords have vanished faster than in a Houdini's trick. I wish she could have unraveled the ones inside my stomach as well.

"Yeah, don't worry." I give her a kiss and carefully grab my bag, trying to avoid another disaster.

"Good luck! I love you."

"I love you too, Mom. See you later."

I get out of the car and walk fast through the schoolyard full of students scattered in groups. Head down, trying to get unnoticed, that's my main goal for school, for this year, for life...

I head straight for the noticeboard where the lists of students and classes are displayed. The corkboard standing by the main door, which is usually only covered with a few unread news, is now hidden behind ordered rows of papers and a messy crowd of students. This only happens one day in the year: the first day.

I take a deep breath and try to sneak through the people gathered in front, readying myself to find out which doom I've got attributed.

As I finally get to the notices and start the difficult search for my name in the hundreds lines, "Elena !" someone calls me from behind. I turn around, and I'm met by a petite figure with bleached hair and a contagious smile.

"Judy! How are you?" I ask her as she gives me a quick hug.

"Fine, but I'd be better if I was still in my bed! And you?" she replies, already looking at the lists.

"Same! The summer went by too fast!"

I finally see my name on the third paper and read the other names in my class.

"Oh look, we're in the same class!" Maybe this year I won't be as alone!

"Cool! We haven't been in the same class since... I don't know... Elementary school!"

Judy has been my childhood best friend. We're neighbors, and we have been inseparable, but we've grown apart. We're still friends, yet not that close. We don't have the same interests anymore: she like parties, make-up and boys, and I'm more interested in books and music.

"Ahh!" she squeals, pulling me back to reality and almost stopping my heart, though I should be used to her excessive outbursts by now. "Alex Carter is in our class!"

As if just pronouncing his name has made him appear, just at this moment, we see him arriving with his 'band' on the other side of the schoolyard.

Alex Carter is THE BAD BOY. Everyone in our town knows him – okay, our town is not that big, but it's not that small either, and I can tell you most people don't even know my name in this school. He's the typical bad boy with bad behavior, leather jacket and that dark aura. Plus, he's a hottie: strong, handsome, with brown hair, smolder look and tattoos, who makes almost every girl drool. But he's also known for fighting, dealing drugs, vandalism... which makes everyone fear him.

Judy starts gushing about all the 'hot' guys in our school, and just at this moment, the bell rings, and I can say I'm saved by the bell!

A few minutes later, the school's atmosphere is fully sinking in as the first class – which is, of course, homeroom – is about to begin, and the vacations already appear far-off as everyone is settling in.

I'm one of the first seated, a place in the middle to be as invisible as possible – for the professors as much as the other students – next to Lisa, a friend I've made last year in Biology. While half of the class is still standing and chatting, including the teacher, I quietly get my things out of my bag and, obviously, because my clumsiness is as big as my bad luck, I drop my bag. Luckily, I have good reflexes, as I'm used to cause disasters, and I catch it just in time, except for my apple that rolls smoothly to the back of the room. 

I chase it, and suddenly, a foot stops it in its race and a hand grabs it. I lift up my head, and I'm met by none other than... Alex Carter. He is lifting an eyebrow and the only thing I see are his eyes; actually I get lost in them. It's the first time I look him in the eyes because I usually gaze down and don't hold people's gazes, even less with the bad boys of the school. Yet now it's like I'm hypnotized; I can't look away. His eyes are a mix of brown and hazel, like a mix of dark and light, intense and warm.

I don't know how long I'm stuck like this, two seconds, two minutes, two hours?! But when I get back to reality and realize what has happened, I quickly grab the apple and mumble a "thank you" before rushing back to my seat, my cheeks burning and my fingers tickling from where I've brushed his hand grabbing my apple. I don't dare to look back and I must be imagining things, but I feel eyes on me. I push it to the back of my mind and try to focus.

After we've got our schedule and all the other info for the organization, the professor starts to talk about the importance of this year for our future.

"This year you will reach adulthood, you will think about your future career. But you also have to think about Who do you want to be? What do you want to do in your life? How do you want to live your life? The choices you make and the people around you will have an influence on your future life, and that's even truer as adults..."

I zone out and think about what he's saying. I have a vague idea about what I want, yet those questions are far from being answered, and while they're echoing in a void inside, my eyes are wandering around the room, drawn towards something, someone special... Alex Carter, and he is looking at me?! I quickly glance away and look out of the windows, trying to hide the blush creeping up on my cheeks and getting lost in my thoughts.

Hi new reader :) Thank you for checking my book and welcome in this intense, magnetic romance, I hope you like it so far! :)

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