A long chapter? Horray! Hope you like the fun going on in this scene. Looking forward to hearing your comments. Thanks for reading. :)

My feet slid and squeaked against the floor as I rounded the corner running with my bag's weight tugging on my shoulders. The doorway to class was still open. I can make it!

The shrill of the bell sounded.

Nooo! I watched in horror as five fingers wrapped the edge of the door. Chloe peeked into the hall, smirked, and started to close the door.

Only three feet away. I press my sneakers into the floor, held my breath and threw my arm through the tiny crack. The wood crushed my flesh with a thud. I winced and tried not to gasp in pain. I thrust the rest of my body through the gap, forcing it open. 

Standing inside the room, I rubbed my throbbing arm and glanced down. An angry purple line already marred my pale skin.

"Oh, Tessa," Chloe said in an apologetic tone. "I should've looked before I shut the door." She held her hand to her chest feigning concern. "Are you okay?"

If this were drama class, even I would've given her an A plus for her performance. God, why was I ever friends with her? She's such a—

"Miss Brackstone. You're late." Mrs. Kennedy adjusted her glasses and tapped her watch.

"But—I made it before the door closed," I squeaked out, holding up my arm to prove my claim.

"The bell marks the start of class Miss Brackstone, not the closing of its door." She picked up a piece of chalk from the tray. "Now, unless you care to add to your existing detention, then I trust you can find your seat.

"Figures. Teacher's pet equals no punishment," Chloe said under her breath. She stormed past me knocking her shoulder into mine as she passed.

I scanned the sea of desks for mine. Wynter caught my attention, she waved and gave me a sympathetic expression. She nudged her head toward my seat like she was trying to warn me about something.

Following her directions, I looked over at my empty desk next to her. I was about to give her my, I have no idea what you're talking about look when I realized the spot in front of mine wasn't vacant.

I gasped when I saw him. A drool worthy God had plunked himself in Jake's chair and lounged in the seat as if he owned it. He must have heard me when I walked by because he looked up and smirked like my reaction was the typical response he got from the female population. It was hard to miss how his dark lashes framed his emerald eyes, making them stand out and sparkle.

Like a dumb ass, I passed by him with my mouth hanging open in shock. When my brain finally rebooted from its lapse in function, I shut my mouth and slid into my chair. I wanted to bang my head against my desk not sit in it. Ugh, he's gonna think I'm fangirling over him.

How could she just give away Jake's desk? He hadn't even been gone one day, and someone else was already sitting in front of me. Getting angrier by the second, Mrs. Kennedy rambled on about some class assignment we had to do. I stared at the back of new guy's head, wishing I had heat vision so I could drill a hole through him and make him disappear.

I pulled out a mechanical pencil to take notes, but after breaking the lead five times printing the first word, I had to revert to a pen. This lecture was shaping up to be the most painful class of my life.

"Before you get excited and start picking partners— For this assignment, I'll be matching you."

A unified groan of displeasure filled the small room. It seemed being saddled with a partner that we didn't choose, was unpopular with all of us. With my luck, she'd pair Chloe and me together. I hoped Mrs. Kennedy prepared for nuclear disasters, because if she paired us together, this class might end in bloodshed and mayhem. I eyed the first aid kit and fire extinguisher attached to the wall next to the door.

"Miss Ellard and Mr. Fisher, you'll be presenting on these works." She handed Wynter and Nick a stack of books.

Mrs. K fingered the page. "Miss Brackstone and..."

Not Chloe, anyone but Chloe, I prayed silently.

"Mr. Parker."

Who? The last name of everyone in the class scrolled through my head—no Parker. That only left one person— My eyes widened, watching him scan the room. On second thought, Chloe and I will make great partners.

When his eyes met mine, he chuckled and glanced down at the stack of books Mrs. K slid between us.

"Miss Brackstone will be your guide for today," Mrs. Kenndy said addressing the new guy. "So if you have any questions just direct them to her."

He tilted his head to the side and when he nodded a lock of his brown hair fell into his eyes. "That's cool. Thanks."

Oblivious to the awkward situation she'd just left us in, our matchmaker continued calling out names and handing out stacks of books to the rest of the class.

"Teacher's pet," someone behind us said, coughing over top of their words.

My cheeks burned, and I dropped my gaze to the top book, Romeo and Juliet. Seriously? I sucked in a deep breath of air and glared at Mrs. Kennedy for a moment.

I jerked my attention back to Parker when something tickled my arm. His pen dragged along the edge of the plum-colored bruise marking my skin.

"This must be some class if you're willing to risk life and limb not to miss it." He lifted his pen from my forearm. "I'm Matt, Matt Parker."

I hugged my arm into my chest. "Tessa."

"Something tells me you've read these?" He picked up the top book and flipped it over in his hand. "Haven't you?"

A stack of Shakespearian plays? Of course, I'd read them. My father had been a professor of English literature. These were bedtime stories when I was eight, but I wasn't about to tell him that.

"Maybe, maybe not."

He scrunched his brows in thought and slid the copy of Romeo and Juliet back onto the desk.

"Oh happy dagger," he said in a sarcastic tone.

My mouth dropped open in disbelief. Did he just quote the play?

"You, know Shakespeare?"

He shrugged, and the corners of his lips turned up into a mischievous smile. "Maybe, maybe not."

Damn. I would've bet a hundred dollars Matt had never heard of the play, let alone been able to quote a line from it. New guy, just got more interesting.

"Sorry, I'm not all that keen on daggers at the moment," I responded.

"They're better than swords. I hear those things are hazardous to your health around here." Matt leaned forward putting his arms on my desk. "Know anything about that?"

I looked out the window and then back at the desk he was sitting in.

"Never was there a story of more woe..." I said, quoting the open scene of the play. My throat tightened, and I licked my lips.

"Oh, shit. I knew this was a small school, but you're that girl. The one everyone's talking about back in the dorm." He ran his hand through his hair. "Wow, you must think I'm a complete jerk."

Yeah, he was. I could feel the hum of my sword against my back. It must have picked up the change in my emotions. I crossed my arms and glared at him.

"I wasn't the only girl there, you know."

"I heard—but it's you they're talking about." He leaned forward on my desk with his elbows. "Did you know some of the guys have a pool on whether or not you'd even show up to class today?"

"Oh—?" I dug my nails into my palm. "Is that news supposed to make me happy?"

"No. It just shows how dumb they are. You're probably the most fearless person in this place." He tapped his pen against the desk next to my bruised arm. "I've only been here ten seconds, and even I can see that."

Nice recovery, but I wasn't in the mood to just let things slide. "You're sitting in his seat."

"What?" His body went rigid.

"The desk," I said in a flat tone, pointing. "That's where Jake sat."

That did it. Matt's nose crinkled in disgust as he processed my comment. He glanced at our teacher, then back to me.

"She gave me Jake's desk and partnered me with his girlfriend?"

"Who said I was his girlfriend?" My palm warmed against the desk's smooth surface.

"The way everyone's talking..."

I could only imagine the stories circulating school after last night. "Not that it's any of your business, but Jake and I weren't an item."

"Good to know." The corners of Matt's mouth turned up into a coy smile. "So, you're not dating anyone?"

What's he playing at? There was no way he was interested in me, with his cover album looks and way too cool vibe. I tilted my head trying to figure him out. Was he poking fun at me? Just because I hadn't dated anyone at school before, didn't make the rumors about me being untouchable true. There was only one guy I was interested in, and he didn't even know I existed until yesterday. I picked up the copy of Hamlet from the stack and restrained myself from hitting the insensitive jerk with it.

"Can we focus on the assignment? Please?" I said, still not knowing what the assignment was.

"Sure, what's the topic?" he asked.

I looked at the blank chalkboard and then to my empty notepad on the desk. "No idea."

He plucked the copy of Romeo and Juliet from the desk and flipped open the cover. A thin slice of pink paper rested between the pages. He pinched it in his fingers, looked down and skimmed the writing on it. Matt licked his lips, smiled like something was funny, and passed the paper to me.

Only one word graced the scrap: Love.

"Love?"

Matt with his amused smile looked like he was not only entertained but enjoying my flustered confusion. I glanced around wondering if the other groups had the same word, thinking this had to be a joke. Nick and Wynter's paper rested on top of her book. I could see the word jealousy on the tiny yellow scrap.

"All right, I give. What's the assignment?"

Matt lounged back in his chair and clasped his hands behind his head. "Why? Weren't you paying attention?"

"I was a little preoccupied with my throbbing arm." And drilling a hole through your head with the heat vision I wish I had. Now, there was a superpower I'd kill for. It'd sure beat being creepy ghost girl.

"Happy to help. Just admit you need me, and I'll tell you anything you want."

Yeah, when hell freezes over buddy boy and having stood at its gate, that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. I crumpled a page from my notebook and tossed it at Wynter trying to get her attention. It bounced off the wood top and rolled onto her hand. Following the direction it came from, she scrunched her brows, and mouthed, what?

"Hey, what's the assignment?"

"Miss Brackstone," Mrs. K's voice bellowed behind me.

My hands lurched in surprise, and the pen tumbled from my grip on to the open notebook in front of me. Busted— I scrunched my eyes shut, waiting for the worst. How she snuck up from behind was beyond me. Geez, she had to be quieter than most of the ghosts I encountered.

"This isn't a group assignment. I believe you're facing the wrong way, don't you?"

I squared myself in my desk and glanced up at Matt beneath my lashes. He looked like he was trying to restrain himself from breaking into a fit of laughter.

"Sorry, Mrs. K. I was just getting clarification on something. We're good."

The phone on the wall rang, breaking the silence. She pursed her lips and walked past us to pick it up.

"Again?" Mrs. K said into the receiver. "Fine, tell him to wait. I'll be right there." She hung up the phone, with half the class still watching her. "You have your assignment to get started. I suggest you use this time to do it." She shooed us with her hand, grabbed the keys from her desk, and headed out the door.

Matt leaned forward on one arm and raised an eyebrow. "We're good, are we?"

"Would you just knock it off and tell me what this is about?" I held the slip of paper in my hand.

"And ruin all my fun? Why would I do that?"

I was going to curse his ass into the next dimension. I'd only know him for half a class, and he'd already burrowed his way under my skin like a termite.

"You might be used to other girls falling for your roguish charm, but you can count me out."

"Ouch." Matt held his hand over his heart, not taking his eyes from me. "You wound me. It's a good thing I have a whole semester to change your mind as we discuss the love theme in these plays."

"You, change my mind?" I scoffed. "Fat chance of that happening."

A chime of bells sounded, and I canvassed the room to locate the ghost.

"Tess—" Jake started to say, but he stopped short when he saw Matt sitting at his desk.

The class continued to chat over their assignment oblivious to our latest addition to the room. Jake's eyes went glassy, and he clenched his hand at his side.

"A challenge?" I heard Matt say.

But I wasn't looking at him. It was Jake who had my attention, as usual.

Matt slipped his fingers under my hand. "A quest worth accepting."

Jake's eyes flashed, and I glanced back at Matt.

"What quest?" I said, turning to see Matt lift my hand to his lips.

"For your heart. I accept your challenge."

"Are you crazy?" I yanked my hand away, a second before his lips graced the back of my hand.

But before I could retaliate and punch him like he deserved, the air went icy cold, and Jake slammed his palm into Matt's chest sending him to the floor.

"Don't touch her!" Jake yelled, holding his hand out in front of Matt's face with his fingers spread wide ready for round two.

Matt may not have been able to hear Jake, but I had a feeling he knew it wasn't me who pushed him. Matt glanced in Jake's direction and then over to me.

"Are you insane?" I said not sure which of them I was talking to.

"It's like our play, Romeo and Juliet," Matt said, pushing himself off the floor. "Look at you, what guy wouldn't try to get your attention?"

There was no scene like that in Romeo and Juliet, at least, not that I remembered. Jake flexed his fingers like he was going to punch Matt into a realm he'd never come back from.

I took a step forward, blocking Matt from another attack I'd have no chance of explaining. "What's that supposed to mean, I'm weak? That I'm easy prey, 'cause I wouldn't stand up for myself?"

A few of the girls in the room started clapping and cheering me on.

"Woo, go Tessa!" Wynter hollered above the cheers.

"That's not what I meant at all, little lioness." Matt dusted himself off and stood toe to toe with me. "It's your fearlessness I find attractive."

Attractive? I'm yelling at him, and he finds that attractive? "You were dropped on your head as a child, weren't you?"

He chuckled and shoved his hand in the pocket of his jeans. His white t-shirt caught on his watch, and the thin fabric stretched over his body, clinging to his rippling muscles. He was in shape. I'd give him that. I was sure a couple of girls behind me sighed at the sight of his abs.

"You said you weren't dating anyone. Why don't you let me take you out some time."

He wanted to date me? The room went silent like he'd just asked me to marry him. Everyone held their breath, waiting for my answer.

"Tessa? You told him that?" Jake's voice cracked when he said my name.

I never said that, but I didn't deny it either. To be honest, I didn't know what was going on between Jake and I. Were we dating? Was that even possible? I hugged my arms to my chest, swallowed and dropped my gaze to Jake's feet next to his desk.

"Jake..." I said barely above a whisper.

The class broke into a roar of commentary at the mention of Jake's name, and he disappeared.

Thanks for reading! I'd love your vote of support and comments! What do you think of the NEW guy? What are your thoughts on TESSA? If you were Jake, what would you do?