Although I had been forced to leave Toby and Nikita behind, I handled my first lesson just fine. Mr. Woodhouse spoke briefly of the coming year's curriculum and asked us all to start research on Britain during World War II. When the bell went, I waited behind for a moment, keen to avoid the hustle and bustle of corridor life.

"Maddie, great job today," praised Mr. Woodhouse. "You'll let me know if you're struggling with anything, yes?"

His need to coddle me didn't sit right. Still, I said nothing, knowing he wasn't intentionally belittling me.

"Absolutely, Mr. Woodhouse. Thank you."

I swung my backpack across my shoulder and exited the classroom, making my way towards...

Crap!

Which way was English?

"You lost?"

The voice came at me from behind, vaguely familiar. Jason Scott.

"Umm..." I could feel my face heating up from embarrassment. "Yeah. I forgot where English is."

"That's cool. I'm heading there too. I'll show you," he replied, taking off down the deserted hallway. "You remember me, right?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "Jason Scott."

He winked. "I must've left a lasting impression."

I laughed at his arrogance and refrained from telling him that only my memories from the previous two years were in bits. Everything else before that was still intact.

"So, first day of junior year. Good to be back?"

"Yeah. Kind of," I answered. "Minus the whole forgetting where I'm going."

"It happens to the best of us," he insisted, turning down a right angled corridor. "Just last week I forgot where I parked my car at Gina's diner. I circled the parking lot twice before realising I didn't even drive there."

A loud laugh escaped my mouth and bounced from wall to wall, intensifying the sound. "No way!"

"Yes, way. See, you're not the only one."

His need to make me feel better was appreciated. I had no recollection of being close to Jason but he seemed nice.

"Maddie?"

He stopped walking and I copied his movements, not wanting to get lost again.

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad you're okay. When I heard about your accident, I prayed for you."

Huh? I didn't remember him being religious before?

"Thanks, that means a lot."

"It's nice to have you back," he added, gesturing behind me. "Miss. Clark's class, right?"

I twisted in my stance and locked eyes with my supposed English teacher.

"Yeah, thanks a lot."

"No problem. See you around."

I offered him a coy wave and watched as he walked away before entering my own classroom. By now, most students were seated, though had yet to quieten down. I made my way toward Miss. Clark, knocked back by a sudden wave of light-headedness.

Not now, please not now.

"Maddie?"

I briefly closed my eyes and counted backwards from five, mindful of my breathing. By the time I reached zero, I felt confident enough to open my eyes and was pleased to discover my dizziness had passed.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine, thanks. Would you mind if I sat close to the door?" I asked, keeping my tone lowered for the sake of not wanting to draw attention to myself.

"Of course. We have a new student in who also asked to be seated close to the door. Perhaps you can make him feel welcome?"

New student. Oh no...

I turned in my stance and found familiar, green eyes staring back at me. I hadn't noticed him when I first walked in. How did I miss it?

"Hi," he spoke, somewhat apprehensive.

Did I make him nervous?

"Hi, I'm Maddie Monroe," I introduced, sitting myself down next to him. "It's nice to meet you."

At this, his smile fell. Long gone was his shy politeness. Instead, he just looked confused.

"I'm Ethan. Ethan Ryder."

His name didn't ring any bells.

I took out my pencil case and fiddled with the zip, contemplating my next question. "This might sound odd..."

He made the effort to face me, offering up a perfect view of his chiselled face. The resemblance was uncanny.

"Have we met before?"

Again, confusion swept his face. His beautiful, flawless face.

Wait. What?

"No. We've not met before," he answered. "I've been told I have one of those faces, though."

Disappointment washed over me. "That must be it."

Silence consumed us both, seemingly stretching on for hours.

"So, you've lived here all your life?" he asked, feeling the need to attempt small talk.

I offered him a shy smile and nodded. "Yes."

I suddenly became very aware of my breathing patterns. I felt anxious talking to him and I had no idea why. He was cute. There was no denying that and the fact he was showing even an ounce of interest in me was unnerving. But it felt...nice. Exactly the way it did in my dreams.

"Where are you from?" I questioned, politely keeping our conversation going.

"Originally, Santa Barbra. My family moved here last month," he answered, happy to continue talking.

"Are you liking it so far?" I asked, unable to resist.

It seemed conversation between the two of us just flowed.

A broad smile broke out across his face, confirming that he did indeed like it. "I think it's great."

I smiled at his reply and took note of the way he looked at me. He tilted his head ever so slightly to the left and smirked. Not the type of smirk that made you wary. The type that made your insides swirl.

Yes, ladies and gents, Ethan Ryder makes me feel sick. But in a good way.

"Alright, let's get things started shall we?" interrupted Miss. Clark, standing from her chair. "I hope you all enjoyed your summer break and have come back to school, ready to learn." There were a few hushed disagreements but for the most part, our teacher ignored them. "We'll keep today relatively light but I did want to discuss some important assessments with you guys."

At this, a few students groaned.

"In total, you will hand in four essays, one group project and will undergo one solo presentation."

Upon hearing the phrase 'solo presentation' my mind began to spin.

"The topics are ones I have chosen for you and I think you'll be impressed. But, more on that later."

"Are you okay?" whispered Ethan. "You look like you're going to throw up."

His abruptness made me smile. "I'm fine. I guess solo presentations make me nauseous."

He shot me a grin and playfully nudged my leg underneath the table.

"For today, I would like us all to think of three goals we'd like to achieve by the end of this semester and jot them down, anonymously, on three separate pieces of paper." She paused, simply to take breath. "Before Christmas, I will read them out and we'll see what goals we managed to reach."

The class immediately broke out into a noisy discussion, throwing out goals left, right and centre.

"I want to become cheer captain!"

"I'd like to learn how to crochet."

"I want to finish this semester on nothing less than a C."

"I'd like to get to know the girl sat next to me," shared Ethan, completely throwing me off.

I had no idea how to respond other than to blush bright red.

"Oh?"

He smiled. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

"You didn't," I insisted, though my burning cheeks said otherwise. "I just wasn't expecting you to say that."

There was a moment where neither of us talked.

"I don't mind you having a discussion," stated Miss. Clark. "But remember, the point of this exercise is to write down goals personal to you. Try not to be influenced by others."

"How about we share two of our goals with each other and keep the last one secret?" suggested Ethan, twisting in his position as to better see me.

"Sure."

I was gifted a blinding smile in return. "Okay, you know my first one. What's yours?"

I thought long and hard for a moment, perhaps taking the exercise too seriously. It wasn't going towards our overall grades in any way, but something about it felt deep and personal.

"I'd like to get to know you too," I stated, lamely.

Jeez, he must think I'm an idiot.

"Good choice," he replied, scribbling away in his notepad.

I copied his actions and tore off three separate pieces, preparing my second goal.

"Okay, goal number two. You go first," he encouraged, bringing the pen up to meet his lips.

The lid rested against his cupid's bow and my goodness, I wished more than ever I was his pen in that moment.

Concentrate, Maddie!

"Umm.." I struggled to focus with his gaze set so intensely on my face. The way he looked at me was something I had never experienced before. Strong, smouldering eyes read my every expression, taring past the many barriers I'd built over the past ten months. "I'd like to get through my solo presentation without throwing up."

I laughed, which prompted Ethan to follow. Once again, he nudged my leg from beneath the table and I found the act strangely intimate.

"What's your second goal?" I asked, quickly writing mine down and folding the piece of paper over.

"I'd like to perfect my heelflips," he informed, casually chewing on his pen.

"You snowboard?" I questioned, knowing enough about the sport to recognise certain terminology.

He grinned. "No, I skateboard."

I raised both brows and shot him an impressed smile. "That's awesome. Are you any good?"

He removed the pen from his mouth and leaned in, almost brushing his lips against my ear. "I'm the best."

I felt his hot breath caress my cheek and, for a moment, stopped breathing.

"Just not at heelflips," I teased.

A laugh followed. "Exactly."

****

Throughout the rest of class, Miss. Clark set out various exercises (each one somehow relating to personal achievements) and allowed us the pleasure of quietly talking in our pairs. Ethan and I conversed non-stop about pointless subjects. I learned his favourite colour was blue, he hated mashed potato and couldn't not cry when watching Titanic. I also learned that he was funny, charming and handsome, but one could argue I already knew that. I still hadn't figured out why he frequented my dreams. It seemed unlikely to be a coincidence. Perhaps my brain injury made me psychic? Did I somehow know I'd meet him on my first day of junior year? Probably not. The more likely outcome was that the boy in my dream looked similar to Ethan and when I saw him this morning at orientation, I latched onto the idea that my imaginary friend (as Caroline liked to call it) was here to support me through a difficult day.

"I don't suppose you could help a guy out on his first day?" asked Ethan, packing away his things and kindly escorting me to the door. "I have economics next and I've no idea where I'm going."

"Oh." I stalled for a moment, taking extra caution as I excited the classroom.

The hallway was a little too crowded for my liking but I didn't want to draw attention to myself.

"I'd really appreciate it," pleaded Ethan, throwing in a dimple to his already-perfect smile.

"I'm probably not the best person to ask," I admitted.

He backtracked slightly. "It's okay if you don't want to."

His lean body folded in on itself and looked somewhat wounded. Crap! Not how I intended ending our first conversation at all.

"It's not that I don't want to," I explained, offering him a small smile. "It's just...I can't remember where everything is. You might end up being more lost with me."

At this, his earlier confusion came hurtling back.

"Maddie!" Jason came skidding to a halt to my right, backpack slung over one shoulder. "Do you need help finding your next class?"

I looked between both boys and formulated a brilliant plan in my head.

"No, thanks. I'm actually going home now. I'm only doing half days this week."

From my peripheral, I saw Ethan's intrigue.

"But my friend Ethan is new and could use some help. I don't suppose you could show him the way to economics?" I asked, hoping Jason didn't mind me offering up his services.

"Of course. Follow me, Ethan."

Jason bounced off before I could so much as say thank you, leaving Ethan and I in a slightly awkward stare-off. I shuffled in my stance and tightened the straps on my backpack.

"It was lovely getting to know you," I confessed, kicking myself afterwards.

Really, Maddie! Who even talks like that?

"Yeah, it was," he agreed, blinding me with that grin of his. "I'll see you in English tomorrow?"

"Yes, you will," I confirmed, knowing for a fact I had it first period.

I'd spent weeks memorising my timetable.

"I look forward to it," he admitted, shyly blushing afterwards.

Before I could respond, he gifted me a small wave and followed Jason to economics. For a while, I stood and watched his back, wondering why on earth I couldn't wipe the huge smile off of my face. Screw it! I knew why. And his name was Ethan Ryder.

****

CLASS BUDDIES!

Who is/ was your cutest class buddy in school or college?