The day Ethan Hayes walked into Lucy Carter’s life was the day her carefully ordered world began to unravel.

Seventeen-year-old Lucy had always been the good girl. Quiet, studious, and well-behaved, she lived in the shadow of her father, Professor James Carter—a man revered for his brilliance and strict moral code. For Lucy, rules were a way of life. She had never questioned them, never strayed from her path. But Ethan Hayes was about to challenge everything she thought she knew about herself.

---

Lucy was in her room, finishing her chemistry homework, when the sound of a motorcycle rumbling up the driveway shattered the usual quiet of their suburban home. She frowned, setting down her pen and walking to the window.

The rider parked with an effortless swagger, dismounting in a cloud of confidence. He was tall, lean, and rough around the edges—the kind of guy Lucy had only ever read about in romance novels. His dark hair was tousled, his leather jacket slung carelessly over his shoulder.

“Lucy!” her father’s voice called from downstairs. “Can you come here for a moment?”

Reluctantly, she left her desk and made her way to the living room. Her father stood by the door, shaking hands with the stranger.

“Lucy, this is Ethan Hayes, one of my top graduate students,” her father said with pride. “He’ll be assisting me with my research this semester, so he’ll be spending a lot of time here.”

Ethan turned to her, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers. His lips curved into a slow, lazy grin that sent a strange flutter through her chest.

“Hey,” he said casually, his voice smooth and deep. “You must be the professor’s daughter.”

Lucy nodded, suddenly hyper-aware of her plain sweater and jeans. “Hi.”

Ethan’s grin widened. “Shy, huh? That’s cute.”

Lucy’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away. She wasn’t used to attention like this, especially from someone so... overwhelming.

“Ethan, why don’t you set up in the study?” her father suggested. “Lucy, help him if he needs anything.”

“Sure thing, Professor,” Ethan replied, his tone respectful but laced with amusement.

Lucy avoided his gaze as she showed him to the study, silently cursing the way her heart raced every time he spoke.

---

Over the next few days, Ethan became a fixture in the Carter household. He was loud, confident, and utterly unapologetic about his presence. He took over the study, leaving books and papers scattered everywhere. He made himself at home in the kitchen, raiding the fridge without asking.

And he seemed to delight in teasing Lucy.

“Hey, bookworm,” he called one evening as she sat curled up on the couch with a novel. “Do you ever do anything fun?”

Lucy glared at him over the top of her book. “Reading is fun.”

Ethan laughed, the sound low and rich. “You’re adorable.”

Her cheeks burned, and she buried her nose back in the pages, determined to ignore him.

But Ethan was impossible to ignore. He was always there, leaning against doorframes with that infuriating smirk, finding excuses to brush past her in the hallway. He flirted shamelessly, his words dripping with charm that left her flustered and unsure of herself.

---

One evening, Lucy was in the kitchen, baking cookies for a school fundraiser. She enjoyed the routine of it, the way it calmed her nerves. But her peace was shattered when Ethan strolled in, leaning against the counter with his trademark grin.

“Smells good,” he said, watching her as she rolled out dough. “Didn’t know you were a domestic goddess too.”

Lucy huffed, trying to focus on her work. “Don’t you have something better to do?”

“Not really,” he replied, moving closer. “What’s the rush? Got a hot date?”

Lucy froze, her hands stilling. “Of course not.”

“Shame,” Ethan said, his voice dropping slightly. “A girl like you deserves to have some fun.”

She looked up at him then, her heart pounding. There was something in his eyes, something that made her feel exposed and vulnerable in a way she didn’t understand.

“Why do you keep bothering me?” she asked quietly.

Ethan tilted his head, considering her. “Because you’re interesting.”

“I’m not,” she insisted, her voice trembling.

“See, that’s where you’re wrong,” he murmured, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face.

Lucy stepped back, her cheeks flaming. “Don’t.”

Ethan held up his hands in mock surrender, his grin returning. “Alright, alright. I’ll behave. For now.”

---

Later that night, Lucy lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions she couldn’t untangle. Ethan Hayes was everything she had been taught to avoid—reckless, unpredictable, and far too charming for his own good.

And yet, she couldn’t stop thinking about him.

---

Lucy woke up the next morning determined to forget about Ethan Hayes. She told herself he was nothing more than a distraction—an infuriating, cocky distraction who wouldn’t be around forever.

As she sat at the breakfast table, flipping through her notebook, she heard the unmistakable sound of Ethan’s boots against the hardwood floor.

“Morning, sunshine,” Ethan greeted, his voice dripping with casual charm.

Lucy didn’t look up. “You’re late.”

“For breakfast? Didn’t know there was a schedule,” he replied, grabbing a mug and pouring himself a cup of coffee.

“For helping my dad,” she shot back, finally glancing at him. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his shirt was unbuttoned just enough to hint at the tattoos peeking out from beneath. She quickly averted her eyes, feeling her cheeks heat.

Ethan smirked, clearly noticing her reaction. “Relax, bookworm. The professor and I have an unspoken understanding. He’s not expecting me this early.”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “Of course not.”

“Something on your mind?” he asked, leaning casually against the counter and taking a sip of coffee.

“No,” she said quickly, shoving her notebook into her bag and standing up. “I have to get to school.”

“Good girl,” Ethan teased, his grin widening. “Don’t let me corrupt you.”

Lucy glared at him, her face burning. Without another word, she grabbed her backpack and left the house, his laughter following her out the door.

---

School Sanctuary

At Westfield High, Lucy found solace in her daily routine. She attended her classes, took meticulous notes, and avoided drama. But even as she focused on her studies, Ethan’s words replayed in her mind.

“Don’t let me corrupt you.”

What did he mean by that? And why couldn’t she stop thinking about him?

During lunch, her best friend Ellie noticed her distracted state.

“Alright, spill,” Ellie said, leaning across the cafeteria table. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Lucy said, poking at her salad.

Ellie raised an eyebrow. “Don’t lie to me. You’ve been weird all day.”

Lucy hesitated, then sighed. “It’s Ethan. My dad’s grad student.”

“The bad boy with the motorcycle?” Ellie asked, her eyes lighting up. “Tell me everything.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” Lucy said quickly. “He’s just... annoying.”

Ellie smirked. “Annoying, huh? Is that code for ‘hot but infuriating’?”

Lucy groaned. “He’s not hot.”

“Sure,” Ellie said, clearly not believing her. “So, what’s he done to get under your skin?”

Lucy hesitated, unsure how to explain. “He’s just... there. All the time. And he thinks he’s so clever.”

Ellie laughed. “Sounds like someone’s got a crush.”

“I do not!” Lucy said, her voice a little too loud. Heads turned, and she quickly lowered her voice. “I don’t.”

“Alright, alright,” Ellie said, holding up her hands. “But if you ever need advice on dealing with a bad boy, I’m your girl.”

Lucy shook her head, laughing despite herself. “Thanks, but I’m fine.”

---

Unwanted Attention

That evening, Lucy came home to find Ethan sprawled on the couch, flipping through channels on the TV. He glanced up as she walked in, his smirk returning.

“Hey, bookworm. How was school?”

“Fine,” she said shortly, setting her bag down and heading for the stairs.

“Come on,” he called after her. “No small talk? No witty comebacks?”

Lucy paused, her hand on the banister. “Why do you care?”

Ethan shrugged, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Maybe I like getting a reaction out of you.”

“Well, you’re wasting your time,” she said, heading upstairs before he could reply.

In the safety of her room, Lucy closed the door and leaned against it, taking a deep breath. She couldn’t let Ethan get to her. He was just another distraction, nothing more.

---

Late-Night Encounter

That night, Lucy couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned, her thoughts racing. Finally, she decided to get a glass of water.

As she padded quietly down the stairs, she saw the light on in the kitchen. Peeking around the corner, she froze.

Ethan was there, leaning against the counter with a beer in hand. His shirt was unbuttoned, revealing more of the tattoos that covered his chest and arms. He looked up as she entered, his smirk softening into something almost... inviting.

“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked, his voice low.

“Yeah,” she said awkwardly, grabbing a glass and filling it with water.

Ethan watched her, his gaze unreadable. “You know, you don’t have to be so uptight all the time.”

“I’m not uptight,” she replied defensively.

He chuckled, setting his beer down. “Sure you’re not.”

Lucy frowned, her irritation flaring. “Why do you care so much about how I act?”

Ethan moved closer, his eyes locked on hers. “Because it’s fun watching you squirm.”

Her heart raced as he leaned against the counter beside her, his proximity overwhelming. She could feel the heat radiating from him, his scent a mix of leather and something distinctly masculine.

“Well, maybe you should find someone else to bother,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.

“Maybe,” he said, his lips curving into that infuriating smirk. “But where’s the fun in that?”

Lucy turned away, her face burning. “Goodnight, Ethan.”

As she hurried back upstairs, she could still feel his eyes on her.

---

Lucy spent the following morning at school trying to focus on her classes, but Ethan lingered in her thoughts like an uninvited guest. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the memory of his smirk or the way his presence made her feel simultaneously irritated and flustered.

At lunch, Ellie was relentless in her curiosity.

“Let me guess,” Ellie said, sitting down with her tray. “Bad boy Ethan is still occupying way too much of your brain space.”

Lucy glared at her. “Can we talk about something else?”

Ellie grinned. “Nope. I live for this drama. So, what’s he done now?”

Lucy sighed, picking at her food. “Nothing. He’s just... everywhere.”

“Everywhere? Or in your head?”

Lucy groaned, dropping her fork. “You’re impossible.”

Ellie leaned closer. “Listen, Luce. Maybe you need to stand up to him. Show him he can’t mess with you.”

“I don’t think that’s going to work,” Lucy muttered.

“Why not?”

“Because,” Lucy said, lowering her voice, “he thrives on getting a reaction. The more I push back, the more he enjoys it.”

Ellie smirked. “Then stop pushing back. Play it cool. Ignore him. Nothing throws a guy off more than indifference.”

Lucy nodded, considering the advice. Maybe Ellie was right. If she stopped letting Ethan get under her skin, he’d lose interest.

---

Back at Home

When Lucy returned home that afternoon, the house was eerily quiet. She dropped her bag by the door and headed to the kitchen, but she stopped short when she saw Ethan leaning against the fridge, eating an apple.

“Hey, bookworm,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement.

Lucy took a deep breath, determined not to let him rattle her. “Hi, Ethan.”

His eyebrows lifted, clearly surprised by her calm tone. “That’s it? No snarky comment? No death glare?”

She shrugged, grabbing a bottle of water from the counter. “Nope.”

Ethan narrowed his eyes, watching her carefully. “What’s going on? Did someone put you up to this?”

“Nope,” she repeated, turning to leave the kitchen.

“Wait,” he said, stepping in front of her. “You’re acting weird. What’s your deal?”

Lucy looked up at him, meeting his gaze head-on. “I don’t have a deal, Ethan. Maybe I’ve just decided you’re not worth the effort.”

For a moment, he said nothing, his blue eyes searching hers. Then, to her surprise, he grinned.

“Alright, Carter,” he said, stepping aside. “Let’s see how long you can keep that up.”

Lucy walked past him, her heart pounding. She had no idea how long she could keep it up, but she was determined to try.

---

An Unexpected Encounter

Later that evening, Lucy was in her room, finishing an essay, when she heard a knock at her door. Before she could answer, the door opened, and Ethan strolled in.

“Ever heard of privacy?” she asked, glaring at him.

“Relax,” he said, leaning against her desk. “I’m just here to talk.”

Lucy crossed her arms. “About what?”

“You,” he said simply.

Her stomach flipped, but she kept her expression neutral. “What about me?”

Ethan smirked, tilting his head. “You’re different today. Not in a bad way, just... different.”

“Maybe I’m tired of playing your games,” she said, meeting his gaze.

“Games?” he repeated, chuckling. “You think I’m playing games with you?”

“Aren’t you?”

Ethan leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “What if I’m not?”

Lucy’s breath hitched, and she quickly looked away. “You should leave. My dad wouldn’t like you being in here.”

“Your dad’s not here,” he pointed out, but he straightened and stepped back. “Alright, I’ll go. For now.”

As he left, Lucy closed the door and leaned against it, her heart racing. She didn’t know what Ethan’s intentions were, but she couldn’t deny that he was getting harder to ignore.

---

Rising Tension

The next few days passed in a blur of awkward encounters and stolen glances. Ethan seemed to find new ways to invade Lucy’s space, his teasing more relentless than ever.

But Lucy started to notice something else, too—something she hadn’t expected. Beneath his cocky exterior, Ethan had moments of surprising depth. She caught glimpses of it in the way he spoke to her father about their research, his passion for the subject clear.

It was confusing, frustrating, and... intriguing.

One evening, as Lucy sat in the living room reading, Ethan came in and flopped onto the couch beside her.

“Don’t you have your own space?” she asked, not looking up.

“Your couch is more comfortable,” he replied, stretching out lazily.

Lucy sighed, trying to focus on her book. But his presence was distracting, his proximity making her heart race.

“You’re impossible,” she muttered.

Ethan grinned. “And you’re adorable when you’re annoyed.”

“Stop saying things like that,” she snapped, closing her book.

“Why? Does it bother you?”

“Yes,” she admitted, standing up.

Ethan’s grin softened, and for a moment, he looked almost serious. “Then maybe I should stop.”

Lucy hesitated, unsure how to respond. Finally, she shook her head and left the room, her emotions swirling.

---