8
I ran out of the house.
Adrian was waiting for me downstairs. The night air was thick and warm. His tall, lean figure was silhouetted against the glow of a streetlamp, leaning against a sycamore tree. I had arranged this with him beforehand, asking him to call me during dinner and pretend to be my boyfriend so I’d have an excuse to leave. He had agreed without a moment’s hesitation.
Just as I reached him, a voice called out from behind me.
Chapter 2
“Ava!”
19:22
It was Sean. He had run after me. His hair was damp with sweat, and he reached out a hand, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Ava. Come here.”
I didn’t move.
His eyes flickered to Adrian, a storm brewing in their depths. “You’re with him?” he demanded.
My heart hammered against my ribs. “What does it matter to you?”
He took a deep breath, as if resigning himself to a great defeat. “Ava, you win. Let’s get back together.”
I stared at him. “What?”
“I said, I’m willing to be the one to back down this time. Let’s get back together,” he repeated, his voice lace with impatience. “I know you only ran out because you were jealous of Olivia. Don’t worry, I was just having her pretend to be my girlfriend. You broke up with me, you started hanging out with him… it was all just to make me jealous, to force me to be the one to come to you. Well, you got what you wanted, Ava. I’m willing to take you back.”
He still had that same arrogant, condescending air, as if his willingness to apologize was a grand gift that should be grateful to receive. He was the one who said to break up, and now he was the one who wanted to
get back together. Why should I let him dictate my emotions?
“Sean, I was serious about breaking up with you,” I said, my voice firm. “I never, ever wanted to get back toge
ther.”
“Stop pretending!” he snapped, his jaw tight. “I know you still like me. You said you wanted to break up, bu you couldn’t stay away, so you showed up at my house for dinner. You never dress up, but tonight you’re in a
dress and lipstick. A woman dresses up for the one she desires. Are you seriously telling me you didn’t do al
this for me? You think I don’t know what you’re thinking? Just admit it, Ava. You’re jealous.”
I was genuinely stunned by his colossal ego.
I was about to respond, but Adrian stepped in front of me, shielding me.
“Excuse me,” he said, his voice dangerously calm. “Did you just time-travel here from a Jane Austen novel? A woman dresses up for the one she desires? My god, your entire primary education was a waste if you can’t even understand that a woman dresses up to please herself. You should really spend less time reading those tropey web novels and more time in reality. You seem to be under the impression that the entire world revolves around you.”
His words were like a machine gun, sharp and relentless. It gave me a surge of courage.
“Sean,” I said, finding my voice. “Who said I was jealous of you? I believe I already told you we broke up. Lite- rally no one wants to get back together with you.”
Sean’s face darkened, his rage palpable. After a long, tense moment, he suddenly laughed, a bitter, ugly sou-
Chapter 2
19:22
- “Adrian, you really think she likes you? Do you know that the day she came up to you in the cafeteria, it was because of me? I was the one who told her to go seduce you, to drag your grades down. And she did it without a second thought.”
The air went still. I felt an invisible hand clench around my heart.
33 F 2 0 37
Adrian looked down at me, his long lashes casting shadows on his cheeks. I desperately searched his amb- er eyes for any sign of a crack, any hint of doubt.
“Is that so?” he said. He let out a soft chuckle, and his fingertips gently brushed against the tip of my ear, which was burning red. “Well then, I suppose I should thank you. You gave me the perfect opportunity to get close to her.”
He turned to face Sean, his gaze shockingly bright. “To be honest, I’ve had a crush on Ava for a very long time. I transferred to this school just for her. I spent weeks trying to figure out what the first thing I would say to her should be.” He smiled, a triumphant, brilliant smile. “So thanks to you, I didn’t even need an opening
line.”
