"Girl, we need to talk," Maya said, pulling her toward their usual spot by the science building.

"What's wrong?" Lena asked, confused by the serious look on Maya's face.

"I heard about yesterday. Jaden Mitchell talking to you by the lockers." Maya crossed her arms. "Lena, you need to stay away from him."

"Why? He was just being friendly."

Maya shook her head. "Friendly? That boy doesn't know the meaning of the word. Ask anyone - Jaden goes through girls like he changes clothes. Last month it was Sarah from the drama club. Before that, it was that girl from the neighboring school. He sweet-talks them, gets what he wants, then moves on."

Lena felt her stomach drop. "Maybe you're wrong. Maybe those girls just weren't right for him."

"Lena." Maya's voice was gentle but firm. "You're thirteen. You're smart and beautiful and you have your whole life ahead of you. Don't waste it on a boy who sees you as just another conquest."

During lunch, Lena sat with Maya and their other friends, but she couldn't concentrate on their conversation. Her eyes kept drifting to where Jaden sat with his friends, laughing and looking so confident. Every few minutes, he would catch her looking and flash that charming smile.

"And don't even get me started on that substitute teacher," said Jessica, one of the girls at their table.

Lena's head snapped up. "What about Mr. Blackwell?"

"Oh, come on. Haven't you heard? He's got girls from three different schools wrapped around his finger. My cousin goes to Westfield High - she said he was substitute teaching there last month and had half the senior class writing him love letters."

"That's not true," Lena said quickly.

"Why are you defending him?" Maya asked, studying her face. "Lena... you don't have a crush on the teacher, do you?"

"No!" Lena's voice came out too loud, making nearby students turn to look. "I just... he's nice, that's all."

But even as she said it, she could feel her cheeks burning. Was it that obvious?

"Listen," Maya said quietly, "I've seen the way he looks at you in class. And girl, that's not appropriate. He's your teacher."

"He's only a substitute. And he's not that much older than us."

"He's old enough," Jessica chimed in. "And trust me, teachers who flirt with students are bad news. My sister told me about this teacher at her old school who got fired for dating a student. Ruined both their lives."

That afternoon, Lena couldn't focus during Aaron's class. Every time he called on her, she stumbled over her words. When he smiled at her, she felt guilty, like she was doing something wrong just by looking at him.

After the bell rang, she gathered her things quickly, trying to leave before he could say anything. But his voice stopped her at the door.

"Lena."

There it was again - the way he said her name.

"Have a good rest of your day," he said simply.

"You too, Mr. Blackwell."

As she walked out, she heard one of her classmates whisper to another, "Did you see that? The way he looked at her? That's so inappropriate."

Lena's heart sank. Were her friends right? Was she making a fool of herself?

But as she walked home, she couldn't shake the feeling that everyone was wrong about both Aaron and Jaden. Maybe they just didn't know them the way she was starting to.

Maybe she could be the one to see who they really were.

The thought both thrilled and terrified her.