I filtered through the lines of students and passed the registers to the main seating area.  The popular seniors always sat at the benches in the center of the lunchroom, but since Caroline and I belonged to a smaller social circle, I found us some seats in the far corner of the cafeteria. Our usual place was by the wall of windows, directly across from the other seniors. Claire, of course, took her typical seat at the center benches with Conrad right beside her.

“She is certainly trying to mark her territory, isn’t she?” Caroline sat down her tray as she glanced over at Claire.

“I don’t think he seems to mind,” I said.

“Maybe not.” Conrad and Claire were the center of a large group of laughing seniors. I watched as she touched his arm and threw her hair over her shoulder. She was a shoo-in to be nominated for football homecoming court, and she was the queen of Tulson. No doubt she felt the need to introduce Conrad into her exclusive social circle. I couldn’t blame her though; if any girl in school had a chance with him, it would be her. While I was watching the two of them eat lunch, Conrad looked up from his tray and caught my gaze. He smiled at me, and I returned the gesture. Maybe it was idiotic to think I could have a shot with him, but at the very least he’d make for a good distraction.

When we returned from lunch, it was time to report to our last period of the day. For the first time in my life, I was ecstatic to leave history class. Discovering the prisoner from my dreams was real was exhausting. And how could I ever forget the distorted figure I saw being mutilated? You would think after all the dreams I had over the years I would be used to it, but that wasn’t the case and it never would be. As hard as I tried to be a normal girl, a small voice in my head was screaming that I was exactly the opposite.

I followed Conrad to the door, stopping him just before he could disappear into the hall. “Thanks for letting me use your pencil,” I said, holding it out to him.

“You keep it. Like I said, I don’t take notes.”

“How—how can you come to all your classes and not take a single note?”

“Because people like me don’t need to take notes.”

“What do you mean, people like you?”

“Ridiculously attractive people. Obviously.”

“Right, because everyone on the face of this earth thinks you’re ridiculously attractive.”

 “You mean that thought didn’t cross your mind when you were staring at me earlier?” he asked with a smirk. His nonchalant attitude toward school grated at my nerves. I was in no mood to be taunted by someone so cocky, especially not today.

“Are you hitting on me?”

“Am I that obvious?”

“Arrogant and apathetic aren’t really my type,” I said, shrugging.

“So, if I showed more attention to my studies, I’d be your type?”

“You’d have better luck with me.”

“Interesting,” he said and grinned before slipping into the hallway.

“What was that about?”

I turned to Caroline, confused. “What do you mean?”

“He is so good looking, lets you borrow his pencil, and you thank him by accosting him for not wanting to take notes in class? I mean I barely take notes in this class!”

 “It’s not just about the notes! He’s arrogant and kind of a dick,” I replied in a defensive tone.

“I thought you were going for it.”

“I am! At least I was, until he started acting like he is God’s gift to the female sex.”

“You’re hopeless, Evey.” She started to laugh. “Come on let’s go to physics.”