CHAPTER 2:Splashed by a Hurricane

Year 2014/Amelia's POV

Portland.The land of perpetual drizzle,whispering pines,and the occasional rogue downpour that seemed to target you specifically.Today,that target was me,Amelia.Of course,the one day I forget my trusty umbrella,the heavens decide to open up.

Frustration bubbled in my chest as I pedaled furiously down the rain-slicked street.My hair,usually a mane of fiery red curls,was plastered to my forehead,and my bag strapped to my back,filled with textbooks and yesterday's forgotten lunch,was rapidly transforming into a soggy mess.

Just as the thought of arriving at school looking like a drowned rat entered my mind,my phone buzzed in my pocket.A lifeline in this watery chaos.Glancing down at the screen,I saw the familiar name flash–Kaylee.My best friend,the sunshine to my occasional rain cloud.

A small smile tugged at my lips despite the damp chill seeping through my clothes.Maybe a friendly distraction was exactly what I needed.Pulling over to the curb,I parked my bike precariously under the flimsy shelter of a bus stop bench.With a sigh,I reached into my pocket and fished out the phone,the warmth of the screen a welcome distraction from the fact that I was shivering and upset.

Huddled under the thin bus stop shelter,I squinted at my phone,the droplets of rain blurring the screen slightly.Kaylee's message notification popped up,a beacon of hope in this watery misery.

Tapping on the screen,I braced myself.Knowing Kaylee,it could be anything–a hilarious meme,a rant about her latest modeling gig,or some juicy school gossip.This time,it was the latter.

"Hey,Ames!Guess what?There's a new hottie transferring to school today!The Principal's daughter spilled the tea at the coffee shop this morning where I ran into her.By the time I got to school,the news was everywhere.Everyone was already buzzing about him."

I rolled my eyes,a sigh escaping my lips.Portland wasn't exactly a hotbed of excitement,so a"new hottie"transferring was bound to cause a stir.Just what this sleepy place needed,another distraction for the gossip mill.

"Ugh,Kaylee,don't tell me it's another one of those'bad boy'types who think smoldering looks are a substitute for a personality,"I typed back,already picturing the scenario–tousled hair,ripped jeans,a brooding expression that screamed"trouble."

As if on cue,another message from Kaylee popped up.This time,it was accompanied by a link.

"Actually..."the message began,followed by a mischievous emoji.

"Check out his Instagram."

A groan escaped me.Instagram.Of course.Clicking the link,I braced myself.The familiar app loaded,and a profile picture materialized on the screen.

My breath hitched.

There he was,leaning nonchalantly against a motorcycle,but instead of the usual smirk that bad boys seemed to wear like a cape,a bright smile was on his lips.Dark hair that was long enough to fit into a bun,piercing hazel eyes,and a tattoo peeking out from under the sleeve of his leather jacket.He practically oozed"troublemaker"from every pixel.

My stomach lurched.This wasn't just another"bad boy."This was a walking,talking disaster waiting to happen.

"Seriously,Kaylee?"I typed,my fingers flying across the keyboard."This guy looks like he spends more time with his motorcycle than his textbooks.Just what we need at this school–another distraction."

A shiver ran down my spine,a strange mix of apprehension and...something else.Something I couldn't quite put my finger on.This new arrival was bound to cause chaos,and while a part of me dreaded the disruption,another,more curious part,couldn't help but wonder what kind of storm he'd bring to the otherwise predictable halls of East Portland High School.

Relief washed over me as the rain finally tapered off to a gentle drizzle.With a sigh,I pushed myself off the bus stop bench,the damp concrete sending a cold shock through my sneakers.At least the worst was over.I was tempted to turn around and head home but I had never missed a day of school except I was dying and I sure as hell was not about to miss the first day of school.I'd find something in my locker to change into.

Relief washed over me as the drumming on my helmet eased.The rain had finally decided to take a break.I pulled up to the large back entrance of the school which opened into the parking lot,fumbling with the key in the downpour's after-effects.Just as the gate creaked open and I climbed my bicycle to ride in,a blur of black and chrome rocketed past,seemingly unconcerned with the puddles collecting on the uneven road as it raced past me.

.

A frigid wave of dirty water slammed into my side,soaking me instantly.I yelped,startled,and my bicycle wobbled precariously.With a curse,I wrestled it back to balance,my house keys clattering forgotten in the mud.My heart hammered in my chest,a mix of anger and ice-cold shock.

Throwing my helmet onto the ground,I stomped towards the source of my misery.A sleek black motorbike,the kind built for speed and little else,sat idling by the curb.Ignoring the mud squelching in my shoes,I marched right up to it,the fury clear in my voice.

"Hey!"I yelled,leaning down to get a good look at the rider.He was still in his helmet,a mirrored visor reflecting the fading light at me."You think it's funny splashing people on the street?You couldn't slow down for two seconds?"

Silence.The engine ticked a steady rhythm,the only response.I gritted my teeth.

"Well?You gonna say something or just sit there pretending you're invisible?"I rapped my knuckles on the gleaming black body of the bike.It felt satisfyingly solid.

The visor finally clicked open,revealing a young guy,with eyes of the brightest hazel I'd ever seen.He looked surprised,but I could swear that a smirk played on his lips even though I couldn't see it.

"Didn't see you there,sweetheart,"he drawled,his voice laced with amusement."Looks like you could use a towel."

"A towel?I could use a new jacket,some dry pants,and maybe a lesson in basic courtesy for you!"I retorted,my voice rising a notch."You almost knocked me off my bike!"

My tirade screeched to a halt mid-sentence.The air whooshed out of me,replaced by a sudden,stunned silence.As he removed his helmet,the full impact of his arrival hit me.

Gone was the bright smile from his Instagram picture,replaced by a look of genuine regret,tinged with a hint of amusement lurking in the depths of his eyes.Now that the helmet was off I could get a better look at his eyes–they were the color of hazelnuts,flecked with gold and green,swirling with a complicatedness that held me captive.A mess of soft chocolate hair,tied loosely in a bun at the nape of his neck,framed his face,highlighting the strong jawline and the hint of a stubble that dusted his chin.

The pictures on Kaylee's message didn't do him justice.They hadn't captured the way his features seemed to shift and change with the play of light,the way a single raised eyebrow hinted at a rebellious spirit,or the unexpected vulnerability that flickered in his hazel eyes.And then he smiled.

His smile was too perfect,too disarming.It held a hint of mischief,a promise of something exciting lurking beneath the surface and it reminded me of a child's genuine delight at the world.My insides did a nervous little jig.This was a bad idea,a neon sign flashing in my brain.Guys like Adrian Kane,with their effortless charm and those eyes that seemed to see right through you,always spelled trouble.Trouble in the form of late-night texts,stolen kisses in empty hallways,and a heart left in a million tiny pieces when it all inevitably came crashing down.

I knew the drill.I hadn't been there or done that myself,but I'd seen enough people around me go through it to know better than to return that lazy smile of his.Yet,as he winked,a playful glint in his hazel eyes,a different voice whispered inside me-a voice fueled by a reckless streak I usually managed to keep well-suppressed.I was not curious about many people but I was curious about him.

He was trouble,that much was clear.Yet,a tiny,traitorous part of me couldn't help but be intrigued.And despite the voice of reason screaming at me to run,I knew,with a sinking feeling in my stomach,that if someone like Adrian decided to chase after me,the ends of the earth would not be far enough.