As Mia walked through the school halls, she looked down to escape the comments and snickers that seemed to follow her. Eve's most recent joke, which involved writing random words on Mia's biology notes, made her feel embarrassed and out in the open. The pain was made worse by Jared's lack of interest. His laughter echoed down the hallway, a cruel reminder of the love she would never have. Since that night, he hadn't talked to her directly. The time they spent alone was now just a painful memory. As she turned a corner, rushing to get to the library, she ran into a thick wall of warmth. "Whoa there!" a deep voice laughed, steadying her with soft hands. When she looked up, her eyes met Austin's, and his brow wrinkled in worry. His presence, which was usually a quiet source of co