My Best Friend Stole My First Love

Eva’s POV

The next morning, everyone acted like nothing had happened.

It was almost impressive.

Yesterday, I had been the main character in the school’s favorite joke. Today, everyone was walking around, laughing and talking about completely different things as if they hadn't spent half the day embarrassing me.

I should have been relieved.

Instead, I kept wondering if people were still whispering about me whenever I walked past.

I hugged my books against my chest and kept my eyes on the floor as I made my way to class.

Maybe if I didn't look at anyone, no one would look at me.

Simple.

I was almost at my classroom when someone suddenly bumped into me.

Hard.

My books slipped from my arms and scattered across the floor.

“Are you blind?” a deep, irritated voice snapped. “Can't you see?”

I froze.

Did he seriously just say that to me?

I looked up, ready to defend myself, but he was already walking away.

A few students nearby had turned to stare.

Of course they had.

Why wouldn't they?

“Excuse y—”

He didn't even turn around.

My mouth fell open in disbelief.

Who did this guy think he was?

I pushed my glasses back up my nose and crouched down to gather my books.

“Unbelievable,” I muttered.

I should have ignored him.

I really should have.

But apparently, my patience had decided to disappear along with my dignity.

He wasn't too far away.

I stood up, took a breath, and shouted, “I'm not the cause of your problems, douchebag!”

He stopped.

Immediately.

My heart dropped.

Oh no.

He slowly turned around.

For a second, our eyes met.

His expression was unreadable.

I suddenly forgot every single word I had planned to say.

Panic took over.

Before he could say anything, I turned around and hurried into my classroom.

I didn't stop until I reached my seat.

I dropped my books on the desk and took a deep breath.

Okay.

Maybe running away wasn't exactly my bravest moment.

But at least I didn't have to deal with him.

Yet.

I was still irritated when Nat walked into the classroom.

She looked unusually happy today.

Actually, happy didn't even describe it.

She looked like she had woken up determined to make the entire world smile with her.

“Hey, Nat,” I called.

She turned toward me with a huge smile.

“Hello, Eva!”

She dropped her bag on her chair.

“Today is such a great day, isn't it?”

She threw her hands into the air dramatically.

I stared at her.

“Are you okay?”

She laughed.

“I'm perfectly fine.”

“You're smiling too much.”

“Is that a crime?”

“It should be.”

She gasped dramatically. “Wow. And I came here ready to spread positivity.”

“Spread it somewhere else.”

Nat laughed and pulled out her chair.

“Okay, okay. What's wrong with you this morning?”

“Nothing.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“That ‘nothing’ sounded very much like ‘something.’”

I sighed.

“Yeah. It was looking like a great day for me too before someone irritated me in the hallway.”

Her eyebrows immediately shot up.

“Wait.”

She leaned closer.

“It was a guy, right?”

I rolled my eyes.

“Of course it was a guy. What other human being is as annoying as them?”

Nat burst out laughing.

“Okay, girl! Relax! What happened?”

I looked around before leaning closer.

“This guy bumped into me.”

“Bumped into you how?”

“Like he was trying to knock me into next week.”

Nat covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I'm not!”

“You are!”

“Okay, maybe a little.”

I glared at her.

“He knocked my books down and then had the audacity to ask if I was blind.”

Her smile disappeared.

“He said that?”

“Yes!”

“Wow.”

“Exactly.”

“What did you say?”

I hesitated.

Nat's eyes narrowed.

“What did you say, Eva?”

I sighed.

“I may have called him a douchebag.”

Nat's mouth dropped open.

“You?”

“Yes, me.”

“You actually called someone a douchebag?”

“Don't sound so shocked.”

“I've known you for how long?”

“Too long.”

“And I've never heard you insult anyone to their face.”

“Well, there's a first time for everything.”

Nat burst out laughing.

“Okay, I need to know what happened next.”

“He turned around.”

Her laughter stopped.

“And?”

“I ran.”

There was a beat of silence.

Then she burst out laughing again.

“You ran?!”

“I panicked!”

“You insulted the guy and then ran away?”

“I was protecting myself!”

“From what?”

“From the consequences of my actions.”

Nat laughed so hard she had to hold onto my desk.

I folded my arms.

“Are you done?”

“No.”

“Nat.”

“Okay, okay.” She wiped the corner of her eye. “I'm sorry.”

She tried to compose herself.

“But how did you even bump into him? You didn't see him?”

I gave her an offended look.

“Nat, seriously? What kind of question is that?”

She shrugged.

“I'm just asking.”

“You're supposed to be pacifying me, not asking me questions.”

“Okay, okay. I'm sorry.” She raised both hands. “He was really rude and made my best friend feel small. I'm so sorry, Eva.”

I sighed.

“Thank you.”

“Besides,” she added, “maybe he was having a bad morning.”

I stared at her.

“Are you defending him?”

“No!”

“Because it sounds like you're defending him.”

“I'm not defending him. I'm just saying…”

“Good. Because I already hate him.”

Nat laughed.

“You don't even know his name.”

“I don't need to.”

Before she could reply, the classroom door opened.

Miss Agatha walked in.

The noisy classroom immediately became quiet.

Everyone stood.

“Good morning, ma.”

“Good morning, class.”

She smiled before turning toward the doorway.

“Today, we have someone new joining us.”

A boy stood behind her.

Tall.

Handsome.

Calm.

And somehow… familiar.

Miss Agatha stepped aside.

“Come in.”

The boy walked into the classroom.

I stared at him.

There was something about him.

Something I couldn't quite place.

Miss Agatha smiled.

“Class, this is your new transfer student.”

She looked at him.

“You can introduce yourself.”

He cleared his throat.

“Hello, everyone. My name is Ethan Brooks. I'm a new transfer student.”

He paused briefly.

“I hope to get along with everyone.”

A loud applause filled the classroom before he could even finish.

Someone from the back shouted, “Welcome to Eastview, Ethan!”

Another person added, “You picked the right class!”

Everyone laughed.

Ethan gave a small smile.

“Thank you.”

I barely joined in.

Miss Agatha pointed toward an empty seat.

“Ethan, you can sit over there.”

He nodded.

“Thank you, ma.”

He picked up his bag and started walking toward his seat.

Then his eyes met mine and something strange tugged at my chest. It wasn’t attraction.

At least, I didn’t think it was. It felt more like déjà vu.

There was something strangely familiar about his face.

I immediately looked away.

My heart skipped.

I frowned.

I shook the thought away and opened my English textbook.

Focus, Eva.

Just focus.

A few minutes later, Mr. Michael walked into the classroom.

“Good morning, class.”

“Good morning, sir.”

He started the lesson, but somehow, my mind kept drifting.

Every few minutes, I found myself glancing at Ethan.

His face.

Every time I looked at him, I felt like I was trying to remember a dream I’d forgotten.

But where had I seen him before?

“Eva.”

I jumped.

I looked up.

Mr. Michael was staring directly at me.

“Yes, sir?”

“You haven't been paying attention since this class started, have you?”

My eyes widened.

“Ye…”

I stopped.

Everyone was already looking at me.

“...No.”

A few people laughed.

Mr. Michael raised an eyebrow.

I swallowed.

“Yes, sir. I have.”

“Then tell me what I just explained.”

My heart sank.

Oh no.

I stared at him blankly.

Mr. Michael folded his arms.

“Well?”

I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

Someone behind me snickered.

My face immediately heated up.

Mr. Michael sighed.

“Eva, you're usually one of the more attentive students.”

“I'm sorry, sir.”

“Sit down and focus, or I'll send you out of my class.”

“Yes, sir.”

I quickly sat down.

Nat leaned toward me and whispered, “Smooth.”

I shot her a warning look.

“Don't.”

She covered her mouth to hide her laughter.

The rest of the lesson dragged on forever.

When the bell finally rang, I let out a long breath.

Finally.

I felt like I had been sitting there for hours.

Nat walked over to my desk, resting her hands on it.

“So,” she said, “what do you want for lunch today?”

I closed my textbook.

“I don't know. Maybe rice.”

“Again?”

“What's wrong with rice?”

“You eat rice like it's your boyfriend.”

I stared at her.

“Please leave my table.”

She laughed.

“Fine. So rice?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

She turned to leave.

Then I looked up.

My eyes suddenly landed on the new transfer student.

Ethan Brooks.

He was standing a few desks away, talking to another student.

I stared at him.

Something about him had been bothering me all morning.

The way he looked at me.

Why did he seem so familiar?

I narrowed my eyes.

I tried to remember.

Where had I seen him before?

Nat noticed that I wasn't listening.

“Eva?”

I didn't answer.

“Eva?”

Still nothing.

She waved a hand in front of my face.

“Earth to Eva.”

I blinked.

“Huh?”

“What are you staring at?”

I pointed subtly toward Ethan.

“There's something about him.”

Nat glanced at him.

“What about him?”

“I don't know.”

I frowned.

“His face just looks familiar.”

“Maybe you've seen him around.”

“Maybe.”

I kept staring.

Then suddenly—

It clicked.

My eyes widened.

I sat up straight.

“Yes!”

Nat jumped slightly.

“Yes what?”

I barely heard her.

I was still staring at Ethan.

And suddenly, I knew exactly where I'd seen him.

“I know him.”