**Chapter 1: Unwanted Interviews**

The fluorescent lights of John W. North High School hummed overhead, casting an unforgiving glare over the crowded hallway. Ava Valeria Arredondo navigated through the sea of students with a practiced air of indifference, her red hair a vibrant splash of color amidst the sea of monotony. Her eyes, a piercing green, seemed to hold a thousand secrets, and her piercings – a vertical labret lip ring, a stretched septum, an eyebrow piercing, a tongue ring, and a naval piercing – added to her edgy charm. A faded zebra-print scarf wrapped around her neck, a subtle nod to her eclectic style. As she walked, the sound of chatter and laughter filled the air, punctuated by the occasional blast of music from a phone or the clang of lockers slamming shut. Ava's gaze drifted to the ground, her Converse sneakers scuffling against the floor as she made her way to her locker. She rummaged through her bag, searching for her schedule, and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. Her eyes scanned the page, her mind registering the familiar routine of classes and clubs. Yearbook. Ava groaned inwardly. She had completely forgotten that she was assigned to work on the wrestling page with Ms. Vahl, the yearbook advisor. Her heart sank at the thought of interviewing one of the wrestling team members. She had had a string of lackluster relationships in the past – Daniel, her recent situationship, had been a master of mixed signals; Damien, her ex, had been emotionally and physically abusive; and Gigi, her ex from freshman year, had cheated on her. The memories still lingered, a painful reminder of her vulnerability. The smell of freshly waxed floors and stale air filled her nostrils as she made her way to the wrestling team's practice room. She spotted Ms. Vahl, a harried-looking woman with a kind smile, and a tall, lanky boy with brown fluffyish hair and a goofy grin. "Hey, Ava! Perfect timing," Ms. Vahl said, handing her a notebook and pen. "I need you to interview Soren Lex Harris Pham for the wrestling page. He's a senior and one of our star wrestlers." Ava's gaze flicked to the boy, who was watching her with an air of amusement. "Great," she muttered, her tone laced with sarcasm. Soren's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "Hey, I'm Soren." Ava's response was a curt, "Ava." Ms. Vahl beamed. "Excellent! I'll leave you two to it. Make sure to get some great shots, Ava." As Ms. Vahl walked away, Ava turned to Soren, her expression a mask of indifference. "So, Soren, tell me about yourself." Soren chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, I'm a senior, I wrestle, and I love taking naps." Ava raised an eyebrow, her pen hovering over her notebook. "That's... riveting." Soren's grin faltered for a moment, but he recovered quickly. "Hey, I'm just trying to be honest. I'm not exactly thrilled about being interviewed either." Ava snorted, her monotone demeanor slipping for a moment. "I'm sure you're not." As they began the interview, Ava couldn't help but notice the way Soren's eyes seemed to dance with amusement, or the way his hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck. She pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. She wasn't interested in Soren, or any boy for that matter. She was still reeling from her recent experiences, and her heart was still raw. The sound of Soren's laughter, low and husky, sent a shiver down her spine, but Ava refused to acknowledge it. She was here to get a job done, not to make friends or, heaven forbid, fall for some jock. As they wrapped up the interview, Ava felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had gotten what she needed, and now she could move on. "Thanks for the chat, Soren," she said, her tone still laced with sarcasm. Soren grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "No problem, Ava. I'll make sure to send you a signed copy of my wrestling program." Ava rolled her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips. "I'm sure I'll treasure it." As she walked away, Soren's laughter echoed behind her, and Ava couldn't help but feel a spark of curiosity. Who was this boy, really? And why did she feel like she was only scratching the surface of something much deeper? The hallway stretched out before her, a sea of possibilities waiting to be explored. Ava took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She had a feeling that this was just the beginning of something much bigger than herself.