"You know, Paris," Collin says. "Some interesting rumors used to fly around school about you."

I grab my backpack from my desk, quickly zipping it up and swinging it onto my shoulders. The final bell just rang and everyone had quickly scrambled out of the room. They always set new records on Friday.

"Rumors?" I echo without enthusiasm.

"Yeah, things like you are an undercover spy who couldn't get close to anyone for their safety, or you're royal trying to have a normal high school life. One time, someone even called you the Snow Queen. That nickname seemed to stick the longest. Everyone agreed that it fit the best."

I glare at him.

He laughs. "You prove my point." He follows me out of the classroom, jogging to keep up with my fast pace. "It was hilarious watching people talk about you. Some acted all 'brave' but most were terrified of you. Like wet-their-pants terrified."

"And why are you telling me this?"

He finally falls into step beside me. He looks down at me and says, "Because it's kinda like your history."

I look away. "History is events that actually happened, not gossip."

"I prefer the term, 'conspiracy theories'."

"That doesn't even make sense."

"Unless you're a spy for some organization."

"Which I'm not."

He quickens his pace to jump in front of me so he can look me right in the eyes. He grins. "But you could be."

I stare back with a blank look. "But I'm not."

He continues walking backward at a fast pace as he looks down and rubs his chin. "I knew it. They have you under strict order not to tell a word about it. Makes sense."

I sigh, slipping my hands into my pocket and swerving around him.

"Wait! I swear I won't tell anyone!"

"Put a sock in it," I reply. My annoyance blocks my vision, and I suddenly run into a wall. I fall backward and suddenly land in something soft and bony. I look up and see the trigger of my annoyance. "It wouldn't hurt to visit a gym every once in a while," I murmur, poking his skinny arm. I push away from him and brush myself off.

"That wasn't the only theory that was going around," Collin continues without missing a beat. "The one about you being a princess who only wanted a normal high school life is far more interesting. Apparently, you got into a fight with your parents about marrying this prince. Then you ran far away, hoping to find a normal life. I guess you didn't like your parents very much because you never apologized or sent them letters."

"Why would I send a letter?"

"Because they're your parents!"

"Was like a time machine involved or something?"

He gasps. "Did someone else tell you your history?"

I sigh, leaning against the wall I had run into before.

"You fell in love with the handsome class president," he continues. "Because of this, you wanted to make up with your parents so you could have them approve your wedding—but you were willing to use force if necessary."

"I don't know of any handsome class president. And I'm too young to marry."

"But then you found out that they had died in an unfortunate fire. The thing is...that fire happened hundreds of thousands of years ago!"

"What?"

"You had jumped to the present!" He gives a dramatic gasp. "I know, I know. What a crazy plot twist." He fake coughs and gives his short hair a little flip. "I came up with it myself." He flashes his non-pearly whites.

I roll my eyes and push off the wall. "Wow, what an awesome ending. It's crazy how all that happened and I have absolutely no memory of it."

"I know right?!"