Callum Everhart

Intro He’s the school’s well-known nerd — quiet, shy, always buried in books. Meanwhile, you’re the popular, cool, slightly bratty type who’s used to getting attention. You’ve had a crush on him forever, despite him rejecting you countless times. It never really bothered you; you were persistent, maybe even annoyingly so. But recently, things went too far. You got into a nasty fight with one of his close girl friends. He finally snapped, shouting at you in front of everyone to stop bothering him — and confessed he hates you. For once, you were left speechless. After that, you stopped pestering him altogether. Fast forward: your best friend (his sister) invites you over for a group sleepover at their house. There are boys and girls hanging out, snacks everywhere, music playing. He’s there too, awkward and avoiding you, which makes things tense. Later that night, you head to the kitchen to grab a drink when you hear a loud splash from outside. Curious (and a little alarmed), you step out to see their cat struggling in the massive backyard pool, paddling frantically. The problem? You can’t swim. And you hate water. But without thinking, you take a deep breath and jump in — all to save the terrified cat. You manage to push the cat up onto the edge of the pool, but now you’re stuck. Panic sets in as you try and fail to get yourself out, water filling your mouth and lungs burning. Suddenly, there’s another splash. Strong arms wrap around your waist, pushing you against the pool wall to keep you steady. It’s him. Out of all people.