TODAY WAS THE DAY, Matt was going to get you to forgive him. No matter what it takes. It doesn't matter if he had to suck up to you all day.

He was gonna do it.

The school bus shuddered to a stop in front of Matt's house, the hiss of the hydraulic brakes loud in the crisp morning air.

Matt stood at the curb, slinging his backpack over one shoulder. His eyes were heavy-lidded, his hoodie pulled up just enough to shield him from the brisk morning chill, but his mind was sharp.

He scanned the line of windows on the bus, looking for you.

He knew you were here. He'd seen you walking to the bus stop ahead of him, the hem of your jean skirt peeking out beneath your oversized striped sweater.

That sight had made him walk a little slower, curious to see if you'd look back over your shoulder—not that you ever did.

Matt's lips curled into a mischievous smirk when he spotted you sitting halfway down the aisle, your head turned toward the window.

You were hunched slightly, your eyes immersed in a book. The black tights hugging your legs and the slight flash of white socks above your high-heeled boots caught his eye.

It was effortless, like you'd thrown together whatever was warm and comfortable, but something about it worked. More than worked.

He felt something stir in him that he couldn't quite explain—a mixture of intrigue and satisfaction.

Matt's lips twitched into a faint smile as he climbed the steps. His boots clunked on the metal floor as he paid no mind to the other students shoving their way to seats.

Instead, he walked straight toward you, his movements unhurried but deliberate.

He strode confidently down the aisle, dropping into the seat beside you without a word.

His cologne—a mix of cedar and something sharp—flooded your senses as he leaned back, slouching like he owned the space.

When he reached your seat, he didn't bother asking. He just sat down, his long legs stretching into the aisle.

You turned your head slowly, your eyes narrowing as you realized who had plopped down beside you. "You've got to be kidding me," you muttered.

"Morning, princess," he said smoothly, his voice low enough that only you could hear.

There was a pause. You returned your gaze to the book you were reading, pretending he wasn't there.

He tilted his head, studying the book in your lap. "You always read on the bus?"

"No," you said curtly, without looking at him.

"Hmm." He reached out a hand as if to tap the edge of the cover, and you snapped it shut before he could.

"Don't touch my stuff," you snapped.

Matt held up his hands in mock surrender. "Noted, beautiful."

You grit your teeth, refusing to look at him. "Don't call me that."

"Can't help it. You just look like a princess today." His gaze swept over your outfit, lingering just long enough to make you squirm. "That sweater? Those boots? You're killing me over here."

The bus jolted forward, and for a moment, the two of you sat in silence, the rumble of the engine filling the air. Matt glanced sideways at you, his profile unreadable.

"Don't you have somewhere else to sit?" you asked, your tone icy as you turned another page in the book balanced on your lap.

"Nope." He stretched his long legs out into the aisle, settling in like he planned to stay all day. "This seat feels right."

You didn't answer.

He chuckled quietly, his voice low and rich. "You always this talkative in the morning?"

"Do you always talk this much to people who clearly don't want to?" you shot back, finally meeting his gaze.

He didn't flinch. If anything, the corners of his mouth quirked upward, just barely. "Fair enough."

You rolled your eyes, burying your face deeper in your book. His presence was like static electricity, buzzing in the air, impossible to ignore. He leaned closer, his breath warm against your ear.

"So, what's your name, princess?"

You slammed your book shut, glaring at him. "For the last time, I'm not telling you."

Matt chuckled, his smirk widening. "Alright," he said, the word dripping with amusement. He sat back, crossing his arms over his chest. "Guess I'll just keep calling you princess until you tell me otherwise."

You huffed, turning your attention back to the window, but Matt wasn't finished.

"Hey, where'd you get those boots?" he asked, his voice annoyingly chipper. "They look great on you. And that sweater—it's so oversized it's almost a dress. You've got the whole cozy-but-killer look down." He rambled

You didn't answer, but your cheeks flushed at the compliments.

He grinned, clearly noticing. "You don't have to say anything, princess. Just let me enjoy the view."

look bus finally pulled into the school lot. You stood up quickly, determined to lose him in the rush of students filing out.

But the moment you stepped off the bus, you realized he was still behind you, his pace matching yours without effort.

"You're relentless," you muttered under your breath.

"Relentless?" he echoed. "That's a little dramatic, don't you think?"

The moment you entered the hallway, heads turned. It was impossible to ignore Matt's towering presence beside you.

He walked with an easy confidence, his hands shoved into his jean pockets, but his eyes darted to every guy who dared look your way.

Matt walked like he belonged, his shoulders loose, but there was an undercurrent of something in the way he moved. Tension. Purpose.

You kept your head down, focusing on weaving through the crowd, but Matt didn't let up.

One boy near the lockers glanced at you a second too long, and Matt shouldered past him, muttering something low and dangerous under his breath.

Another guy across the hall didn't even get that courtesy; Matt glared at him so intensely the boy practically melted into the crowd.

Matt's posture shifted subtly. His hand brushed your elbow, steering you away from the gawker, and when you glanced up, his expression was unreadable.

You ignored the commotion, walking briskly to your locker. You were acutely aware of Matt's footsteps trailing behind you.

When you stopped to open your locker, you finally turned to face him. "Do you need something?"

Matt leaned casually against the one beside it, pulling out his phone.

"Maybe," he said, his tone calm.

You opened your locker with a sigh, focusing on pulling out your books.

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw him fidgeting with something in his pocket. A moment later, a pack of cigarettes tumbled to the ground, landing on the space between you.

You picked it up before he could, holding it between two fingers like it might contaminate you.

You glanced at it, then huffed in irritation and disapproval. "Seriously?"

Matt raised an eyebrow, amused. "What, princess?"

You crouched to pick up the pack, holding it between two fingers like it was toxic. "Do you even realize how bad these are for you and the effects it has on your body, Matt?"

He smirked, but before he could respond, you launched into a detailed explanation, your voice sharp and fast. "Cigarettes are filled with carcinogens—benzene, formaldehyde, arsenic—and every puff you take is damaging your lungs, your heart, your blood vessels. You're literally shortening your lifespan with every stick of these."

Matt watched you, an amused smile playing on his lips. As you continued, his expression didn't change. He just watched you, his dark eyes steady, as if he were committing every word to memory.

"And let's not even talk about secondhand smoke," you continued, your voice gaining momentum. "It's not just about you—it's about everyone around you. You're putting their health at risk too. Do you know how many people die from secondhand smoke each year?"

When you finally paused for breath, you realized he was staring at you, his smile wider than ever. And only after looking up from his lips did you realize how close he was actually standing.

"What?" you snapped.

"You're such a Nerd" He laughed.

"I'm so not!" You tried to defend yourself.

"Oh you totally are" He retorted.

He smiled faintly, "You're adorable when you ramble, you know that? I just like listening to you," he said, taking the pack from your hand and slipping it back into his pocket. "Alright, no more smoking. For today, at least. Happy?"

You slammed your locker shut with more force than necessary, brushing past him. "Whatever."

Without another word, you turned and walked away.

Matt pushed off the locker and followed you, unfazed. "Princess, come on. Don't be mad. I'm just trying to get you to forgive me or even just talk to me more than two sentences."

You ignored him, walking faster, but he kept pace effortlessly.

"Are you always this bossy?" he asked after a moment. Trying to get any reaction out of you.

"Are you always this annoying?" you shot back.

He didn't answer, but you caught the ghost of a smirk on his lips.

As you passed a decorative vase in the hallway, Matt suddenly reached over, plucking a flower from the arrangement without breaking stride. He held it out to you, grinning. "For you."

You stopped, staring at the flower, then at him. "You can't just—"

"Take flowers from school property?" he finished, his tone calm. "For you, it's worth it," he winked.

You glared at him, but your cheeks heated as you took the flower, muttering under your breath. "You're unbelievable."

He tilted his head, as if considering that. "Maybe."

When you finally reached your classroom, Matt stopped a few steps behind you. He bowed slightly, his dark hair falling over his forehead. "Goodbye, gorgeous. I'll see you later," he said, his voice quieter now.

You rolled your eyes, stepping inside without a word, but your heart was racing.

The afternoon felt longer than usual. For Matt, every class blurred together into a meaningless hum. He sat through lectures, his pen moving idly across his notebook, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

He didn't even know your name, and it was driving him crazy.

Who were you?

By the time the final bell rang, he'd made up his mind. He was going to find out.

After class, he started his search.

Matt's search wasn't subtle—it wasn't really meant to be. He navigated the hallways with purpose, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd.

His tall frame and confident stride made him impossible to ignore, and every now and then, someone called out to him or tried to catch his attention.

He brushed them off with a curt nod, his focus elsewhere.

You were a ghost in this school—somehow everywhere but nowhere.

He couldn't figure out how you managed to keep such a low profile, especially when you carried yourself with that quiet intensity.

Approaching a group of guys by the vending machines, he said, "Do you know the girl who's always reading? Beautiful eyes, sharp tongue, and a killer fashion sense? Always has a cute little pink headband on?" He gestured to his own head, as if it might jog their memories.

They shook their heads, shrugging.

"Sorry, man. No clue," one of them said, popping open a soda.

Frustration simmered just under the surface, but Matt tried to keep his cool.

He spent the next hour asking anyone he could find, describing you in glowing detail. "She's got this way of looking at you like you're the dumbest person on Earth," he told a guy near the vending machine. "But it's kind of... endearing."

The guy stared at him blankly. "No clue, man," he said, then took a long gulp of his soda.

As Matt walked across the school courtyard, frustration gnawed at him. He leaned against the railing, scanning the area in hopes of seeing something—anything—that would help him.

And that's when he spotted her.

He'd seen you talking to that girl before, and now she was standing alone near a bench, tapping on her phone, oblivious to the fact that he was watching her.

Matt jogged over, his footsteps quick but light, and leaned casually against the wall beside her.

"Hey, you," he greeted her.

Rowan looked up, clearly unimpressed. "What do you want, Matt?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as she continued tapping her phone screen.

"I need your help," Matt said, flashing his most charming smile. He tried his best to sound casual, though the truth was, he was getting desperate. "Your friend—'princess.' She's always with you. What's her name?"

Rowan crossed her arms and tilted her head. "Why do you care?"

"Because," Matt said, leaning in a little closer, his voice dropping slightly, "she's different. She's smart, beautiful, and she drives me crazy—in a good way. I just want to know her name."

Rowan's expression softened, but not by much. She gave him a small, skeptical smile. "Sounds like you've got it bad."

"Maybe," Matt admitted. "But I still need a name."

Rowan stood there for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she considered him. Then, with a sigh, she shook her head. "If she wanted you to know, she would've told you."

Matt's jaw tightened. "Come on. Just a hint? A letter? Something?"

"No," Rowan replied flatly, without any hesitation.

Matt groaned and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "You're killing me, you know that?"

Rowan smirked, enjoying his discomfort. "Good."

He exhaled sharply, throwing his hands in the air. "Fine. But tell her I'm not giving up. I'll find out her name."

Rowan just watched him, her expression unreadable. "You're hopeless," she muttered under her breath.

"Yep," Matt called over his shoulder as he walked away, a determined look on his face. He had no intention of giving up. Not now, not ever.

The moment he steppe away, he noticed the same group of girls near the bus stop who had approached him yesterday.

They were already watching him, whispering behind their hands and giggling as he walked by.

Matt rolled his eyes. Girls flirting with him wasn't new, and it usually wasn't something he paid much attention to. But today, he had a purpose.

"Morning, ladies," he said with an annoyed tone, crossing his arms beside them.

One of the girls, a blonde with wide, hopeful eyes, tilted her head coyly. "Morning, Matt. What brings you over here?"

"Still looking for some information," he said,  an annoyed look flashing through his facial expression. "You all seem like the type who knows everyone around here."

The blonde's friend, a brunette with perfect curls, stepped closer. "Maybe we do," she said, twirling a strand of her hair. "What kind of information are you looking for?"

"There's this girl," Matt said, lowering his voice just enough to make them lean in. "Sits by herself on the bus, always reading. Cute pink headband, killer boots. You know the one?"

The blonde exchanged a look with her friend, her lips pursing slightly. "Oh," she said, drawing out the word. "Her. I think I've seen her around."

Matt's eyes lit up. "Yeah? What's her name?"

The brunette laughed softly. "Why do you care about her? She's...not exactly your type."

Matt raised an eyebrow, the smirk slipping from his face. "And what exactly is my type?"

The blonde shrugged, her tone turning a little defensive. "I don't know. Someone who, you know...actually talks to people."

"She talks," Matt said, his voice firm. "Just not to everyone. Makes her more interesting, don't you think?"

The girls hesitated, clearly taken aback by his tone.

"Do you know her name or not?" he pressed, his patience wearing thin.

The brunette crossed her arms. "Why don't you just ask her yourself?"

"Don't ask me questions," Matt said, straightening. "I'm asking you."

The blonde sighed, finally relenting. "Sorry, I can't help you, I don't talk to losers." She huffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder with a look of clear disdain.

Matt clenched his jaw, his muscles tensing. He had never been one to take insults lying down, but something about the way she dismissed you—someone he was trying to learn more about—set him off.

"Oh she's the loser?. Funny coming from you who literally can't seem to keep friends around long enough to satisfy her fucking stupidity, so fuck you and watch your mouth next time you talk about her" Matt shot back, his tone sharper than he intended.

He hadn't meant to snap, but it came out that way. He had been running on frustration all day, and this girl's attitude was the last straw.

The blonde's eyes widened at the sudden aggression. She stammered, "What did you—"

"Yeah, that's right. You think you're better than everyone else? Newsflash: you're not." Matt took a step forward, his posture challenging, but he didn't want to escalate things too much.

He glanced around at the other girls, who were now watching the scene unfold. They looked unsure of how to react, as if they were waiting to see what Matt would do next.

"Don't talk about her like that," Matt added, his voice lowering. His eyes locked onto the blonde's with an intensity that made her flinch. "You don't know her. And you sure as hell don't know anything about what she's going through."

The blonde hesitated, the bravado slipping from her face. "I didn't mean—"

"I don't care what you meant," Matt interrupted, his anger cooling, but only slightly. "You don't get to talk down to someone just because you think you're better. So, maybe next time you want to throw insults, remember—people like you? You're the ones who look pathetic."

For a moment, there was only silence. The blonde stared at Matt, her expression faltering.

She looked like she was about to say something more, but then she just turned and walked off, her heels clicking against the floor as she moved away from him.

Matt stood there for a moment, his chest still heaving with the adrenaline of the exchange. He hadn't expected to lose his temper like that, but something about the way she had dismissed you made him feel protective.

He glanced over his shoulder to see the other girls retreating, unsure if they would ever cross his path again, but his focus quickly returned to the task at hand. He had to find out who you were.

With a deep breath, Matt let the anger melt away. He wasn't going to let anyone talk down to you—not now, not ever. You deserved so much better than that.

Matt walked away from the group of girls. As soon as he looked up, he saw exactly who he was looking for. A smile instantly made its way to his face.

"Hi," Matt said, approaching slowly. The tension in the air between you was thick, as if both of you were unsure what to say next.

He stopped just in front of you, studying your face. There was no sign of those snide girls now, but he couldn't help but wonder why you were here, so close to him. "You okay?"

You shrugged, but there was a slight smile tugging at the corner of your lips. "I saw what happened back there," you said, your voice soft but direct. "That was... intense."

Matt chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess I lost my cool a little bit."

"Let me walk you home"

"Okay" you whispered.

Matt didn't say anything as he walked beside you, the only sound between you the soft crunch of your footsteps against the gravel.

The air had cooled since the bus ride, and the quiet seemed to settle around both of you as he stayed a little behind, his gaze focused ahead.

"Matt..." you began, your voice breaking the silence, but you weren't sure what you wanted to