Chapter 39. Losing Something I Never Had

2014/Adrian’s POV

Portland was different from everywhere else I’d lived. Smaller, quieter, tucked away behind a never-ending veil of mist and rain. Everyone thought a fresh start here would be good for me—far from New York, far from my old life, and far from the trouble I had gotten myself into. Not that I was remorseful or anything. Not that it changed the truth; that I was running from my problems.

New town, new school, same shit.

I wasn’t exactly eager to make an impression when I transferred to East Portland High, but people had their own ideas. Before I even officially set foot on school grounds, my Instagram had gained an influx of new followers. I saw the messages, the friend requests, the comments—”New guy’s hot,” “Who is he?” Some things never changed.

I didn’t mind the attention. I was used to it. But what I hadn’t been expecting was the girl who would hate me on sight.

The first time I saw her, she was already pissed at me. To be fair, I kind