3
After dinner, I packed my bag and got ready to head back to the classroom for evening study hall.
Olivia suddenly appeared behind me and slapped my back with a grin. “Ava, can you do me a favor and tell the teacher Sean and I won’t be at study hall? He’s going to help me with my homework at his place.”
She casually tossed her backpack to Sean, who caught it without a second thought. This was at least the
tenth time I’d covered for them.
In the past, seeing Sean carry Olivia’s bag or give her a ride home on his bike for a “study session” would
19.21
Chapter 1
have torn me up inside. But tonight, my mind was buzzing with Adrian’s offer to tutor me. I just mumbled,
Oh, okay.”
“Wait a minute.”
Sean’s voice, sharp and commanding, stopped me in my tracks. “You’re coming to my house tonight, too. I’l help you with physics.”
Olivia’s smile instantly vanished.
I shook my head. “No, thanks.”
He frowned. “Why not? Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted? For me to tutor you? What about that last prob lem on the physics test you said you couldn’t solve?”
I met his gaze directly. “Thank you,” I said, enunciating each word. “But it’s too late. I already figured it out o my own. Besides, Adrian said he’d help me tonight. I can’t flake on him.”
Sean’s expression darkened. “Ava, stop being difficult. You’ve always wanted me to tutor you. What is this some new game you’re playing? Stop it. I don’t have time for these push-and-pull theatrics.”
He held out his hand to me. “Come here. Whether we get back together or not depends on your performance
tonight.”
I took a step back. “I’m not playing a game. I really don’t want to go.”
His hand hung in the air. He let out a cold, humorless laugh. “Fine,” he said, his voice laced with smug confi
dence. “Then let’s break up.’
He’d said those words so many times before. Each time, they’d sent me into a week-long spiral. I’d be unable to focus in class, and I’d spend my nights crying while writing him long, rambling apologies.
Maybe if I just bowed my head, soothed his ego like I always did, he’d let this all go.
But suddenly, I just felt… tired. No one can keep retreating forever.
I took a deep breath and summoned all my strength. “Okay,” I said. “Let’s break up.”
The color drained from Sean’s face. He sneered. “Are you serious?”
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to nod.
The next second, he kicked a nearby chair with a vicious thud. The loud crash made me flinch.
“Fine,” he spat, his voice like ice. “I hope you don’t come crawling back to me like a stray dog, begging me to
take you back.”
With that, he snatched his bag from the floor, turned on his heel, and stormed away.
“Wait,” I called out.
