I am so deep in thought that I didn’t even realize that my brother is no longer standing beside me. 

“Hey,” a voice calls out from behind me, jolting me from my thoughts. I spin around to find a tall guy, roughly six feet, with tousled brown hair and mesmerizing green eyes.

There is something undeniably intriguing about him, a quality that draws me in the moment I look at him. It isn’t just his sudden appearance that catches me off guard; it is the way he carries himself, like he knows exactly who he is and doesn’t care what anyone else thinks.

There is this effortless confidence in his posture, a kind of quiet confidence that would make it impossible not to notice him. When our eyes met, I felt a spark of surprise, like I’d been caught staring at something I shouldn’t. However, it isn’t just that I am puzzled, because he seems just as caught off guard as I am.

It is like we are both trying to figure out what has just happened in that split second, our expressions mirroring each other. I can feel my cheeks flush, realizing I’d been in some kind of trance, completely lost in my thoughts as I try to make sense of this unexpected encounter.

My mind is racing, trying to piece together why he’s talking to me. The hint of a smile plays on his lips, like he knew something I didn’t.

“Hi,” I blurt out, my voice coming out louder than I intended, making my cheeks flush even more with embarrassment. 

He flashes a warm, inviting smile and introduces himself, “I’m Matt.” His smile has an undeniable charm, and I can’t help but feel drawn to him.

I quickly try to regain my composure, willing myself not to make a complete fool of myself. “Hi, Reese,” I manage to say, my voice a bit shaky. My blush deepens as I realize what I’ve just said. “Oh my god. I mean, I’m Reese,” I correct myself, my eyes locking onto his captivating green gaze, which seems to sparkle with amusement.

“Do you go to Willow Creek High?” he asks, his tone casual but genuinely curious.

“This will be my first year,” I explain, trying to keep my voice steady as I push past my nervousness. “We just moved here in July.”

“Are you Ethan’s sister?” he asks, surprising me with his question.

“Yes, how did you know?” I reply, a mix of shock and curiosity colouring my voice. It feels strange that he would know who I am.

“I’ve lived in this town my whole life, and I would have remembered you,” he says with a knowing smile. “I figured you must be the sister Ethan’s mentioned a few times. My brother is Max; I’ve been hanging out with your brother all summer.”

“I didn’t know Max had a brother,” I admit, feeling slightly embarrassed for not being more aware.

“Yup, I’m a year younger than him,” he says, a playful glint in his eyes.

“So, you’re seventeen?” I ask, trying to keep the conversation going, though my mind is still reeling from how effortlessly charming he is.

“That’s right,” he confirms with a nod, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Cool,” I say, though my thoughts are anything but cool. My god, he’s gorgeous. My gaze drifts to the intricate tattoo that snakes around his neck, disappearing under his shirt. His arms are also covered in ink. My parents would absolutely lose it if Ethan or I ever came home with tattoos.

“So, how is Willow Creek High?” I ask, my eyes still drawn to the tattoos.

“It’s okay,” he says with a laugh, clearly noticing where my attention is focused. “You like my artwork?”

I look up at him, mortified for staring so openly. “You have a lot of it,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Yeah, I started getting them last year,” he explains, extending his arm so I can get a better look at it. “All I wanted for my 16th birthday was a tattoo, and then, well, I was hooked.”

“Don’t your parents care?” I ask, wondering how he managed to convince them.

“They did at first,” he admits with a shrug, “But they knew I’d find a way to get them anyway, so they figured it was better if I got them done somewhere safe.”

“My mom would lose her shit if I came home with a tattoo,” I say, half-joking but also completely serious.

“I think a lot of parents would, so you’re not alone,” he says with a laugh.

I gaze into his eyes and feel a sense of calm as if I have known him forever. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

“So how come I haven’t seen you around?” he asks, tilting his head slightly as if trying to figure me out.

“I don’t know,” I reply, thinking about my depressing summer.  

“You should hang out more,” he says with a smile. Before I have the chance to respond, a girl comes running over, wraps her arms around him, and gives him a kiss.

“Matt, let’s go,” she says. 

“See you around,” Matt says, as the girl pulls him by the hand into the other room.

I don’t say anything but just stare as he leaves the room. I’m lost in thought, almost forgetting where I am. All I can think about is Matt and his tattoos. It takes me a few minutes to refocus.  I go to find Ethan. I start by checking the backyard. 

“Reese,” I hear Ethan shout. At first glance, I don’t see him. I continue searching the back of the yard and then see an arm waving near the fire pit. I walk over and realize that it’s my brother. 

“How’s it going?” he asks rather loudly. I can tell he’s had more than one drink.

“Good,” I say with a laugh. I don’t know how he gets away with drinking and then coming home to Mom and Dad.

“Come sit with us. I told Mom I’d keep an eye on you,” Ethan calls out, laughing as he motions for me to join his group. My face flushes with mild embarrassment, does he always have to do this? I bite back a retort and silently take a seat, trying to blend in without drawing too much attention.

The girl sitting next to me gives a small, tentative smile, her expression one of relief, almost as if she’s been waiting for someone to talk to her.

“Hey,” I greet her, my voice a bit more cheerful than I expected.

“Hi,” she replies, sounding a little shy but clearly glad to be noticed.

“I’m Reese,” I say, feeling surprisingly confident.

“I’m Lily,” she responds, her smile widens a little.

“Do you go to Willow Creek High?” I ask, curious to see if she’s someone I’ll be seeing around.

“Yup, I’m starting grade 11 this year,” she says, with a hint of nervous excitement in her voice.

“Me too!” I nearly shout, my excitement bubbling over. We both burst into laughter, the initial awkwardness dissolving instantly.

I nod toward Ethan, who’s chatting animatedly with a group of guys. “That’s my brother, Ethan.”

“That’s cool. My brother’s around here somewhere too. His name is Trevor,” she says, glancing around as if she might spot him in the crowd.

“I think he’s friends with my brother,” I say, piecing together the connections.

“I think you’re right,” she agrees, nodding.

“So, how are you liking the town? I heard you guys moved here from Toronto,” she asks, her voice curious but gentle.
I shift awkwardly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “It’s okay, I guess… I haven’t really done much or met many people yet,” I admit, feeling a little embarrassed by how lame I sound.

She tilts her head and gives me a warm smile. “Well, now you’ve met me,” she says, her tone lighthearted, as if trying to lift the mood.

“Yeah, I guess I did,” I reply, and return a smile. There’s a small flicker of connection between us, a sense of relief that maybe I’m not as alone here as I thought.