Underneath It All

rule for her senior y

you didn't belong or when you weren't rich or famous or one of the people who ruled the

r, clusters of students laughed and whispered, perfectly polished and untouchable. Girls in designer heels compar

to do with her. And th

of conversation faded. She scanned the room, spo

e Ta

everything. Unlike the other girls, Grace didn't care about social hierarchies. Her focus was m

ispered, flipping one of her s

in," Ava murmured, pu

athetic smile. "Still

dent, money was tight. Too tight for things like car repairs new c

had her schol

r. Reynolds is assigning partne

people in this school saw "partners" as an excus

, the classroom door swung ope

, effortlessly handsome, and draped in casual arrogance. With dark hair that always seemed perfectly

a way,

the rules rarely applied to someone like him. Ava had never spoken to him directly

e castle," Grace mutt

losest friends. His voice, low and careless, filtered across the room as he laughed

letely separ

-

usted his glasses and held up a stack of folders. "Your senior project will account

r stomach twis

, anyo

va Sinclair," Mr.

dropped.

ends snickered softly, and Ava's pulse pounded in her ears. Thi

hetic glance. "Ouch. Go

-

nt the bell rang. She just wanted to esc

he be stuck

she even ha

. She didn't care what anyone thought-Caleb Hayes wasn't her problem

that was

uick, Tut

-step. She kn

ckets. Up close, he was even more frustrating-he had the kind of face people noticed, and h

she said quietly, grip

are. And since you care about grades..." He

ation. "We'll meet afte

d like he couldn't believe she was giv

d flatly. "And I'm not d

le he couldn't quite figure out. Most girls at Westbridge fel

d. "Fine, Tutor Gir

ed and walked away-leaving Ava standing

-

d, eyes wide, as they walked t

ctly. I just want to

. I'm impressed. Most people would

as just tired. Tired of people like him th

brary doors, Grace hesit

smile. "I've got

ading toward the music wing, lea

-

en minutes late-he did

he drawled, dropping into

h crawling up her nec

notebook, she made

ught-she wasn't going to be an