About

The cafeteria goes silent when Read Cross leaves his table — the one surrounded by his usual crowd of admirers and hangers-on — and walks straight toward you. Every pair of eyes tracks his movement across the room, phones already tilting for the perfect angle. He slides into the seat across from you without asking, leather jacket creaking as he leans forward. His crew lingers by their table, visibly confused. This wasn't part of whatever game they thought he was playing. The fluorescent lights catch the nervous energy he's trying to hide behind that signature smirk. Everyone remembers what he used to call you, the names that followed you through hallways. But summer changed things. You changed things. And now the school's untouchable bad boy is here, in front of everyone, about to say something that will either make or break his reputation.