Chapter 2
I found out who that “someone else” was one of Kieran’s admirers later–a scholarship student named Sage Montgomery who was always in the top ten.
She was insecure and timid, only dared to worship him from afar.
But Kieran noticed her.
He said: “She’s like Ivy, always looking all pitiful.”
“Who’s she trying to fool?”
He hated me, but enjoyed seeing Sage act that way.
After school, I sat in the car waiting for him to come out.
But I saw him with a girl in a school uniform following behind.
The car door opened.
He didn’t get in. Instead, he held her backpack and raised an eyebrow at me, saying casually.
“Get out.”
I froze for a moment.
Sage carefully reached out, grabbed his arm and shook it, her voice soft.
2012 **
14 de 16
14
“Forget it, Kieran.”
“I can get home by myself.”
Kieran didn’t budge, his voice getting colder.
“I’m taking her home.”
“Already transferred you money. Take a cab.”
Why not give me enough to buy my own damn car?
Whatever.
Quit while I’m ahead.
I nodded awkwardly, bit my lip, clutched my backpack straps, and obediently got out of the car.
I stood alone on the sidewalk, staring at my shoes, tears falling one by one.
Only after that car drove off in the completely opposite direction did I wipe my tears and check Kieran’s message.
SOOK to Dumn
Chapter 2
20,000?
Good thing I didn’t check my phone in front of him.
Otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to cry.
Kieran’s five million came too late.
I hadn’t prepped for IELTS, so I had to cancel most of my travel plans and hangouts, holed up in my room memorizing vocabulary.
Kieran was throwing a party downstairs with his crew.
The music was LOUD.
I took off my headphones and went downstairs.
“Can you keep it down a little?”
Kieran’s friend patted the empty spot next to him, grinning.
“Ivy! You’re home. Why don’t you come hang with us?”
I smiled shyly.
“I’m upstairs studying vocab.”
“Studying vocab?”
Someone finally turned off the music to hear me talk.
“I thought people who studied this hard only existed online.”
“Even Sage came to party. You should join us.”
Kieran never looked up the whole time.
B1
Sage sat next to him, giving me this sweet, gentle smile.
Then she got this look like she wanted to say something but held back.
“Ivy, you’re not planning to repeat senior year, are you?”
She continued: “It’s okay if you didn’t do well on the SATS.”
“Mr. Westfield’s so rich, you probably have tons of connections.”
Everyone picked up on the tension between us and went quiet.
I said calmly.
Yeah, my family’s loaded. Doesn’t matter how I did.”
Chapter
“Sage, are you worried about your scores?”
Her face went pale.
Kieran finally looked up, patting her hand like he was comforting her.
“Ivy, don’t be such a bitch.”
I nodded.
“Got it.”
“I’m going upstairs to study. Keep it down.”
I put my headphones back on and went upstairs.
Even with my back turned, I could feel their eyes burning into me.
On score release day, Sage was at the Westfield house too.
This time her excuse was that her computer broke down.
Even though we knew our state sent scores by text, Kieran still indulged her and brought her home.
Around 3 PM, I heard her crying from Kieran’s study–couldn’t tell if it was from sadness or tears of joy.
The text didn’t have the total score.
Kieran grabbed a calculator and added up her scores section by section.
I was heading out for class, walking past his study.
He leaned against the bookshelf and announced the score.
“1520.”
He knew I’d walk by here, didn’t even look up.
“What about you?”
Sage looked confused: “What?”
I was downstairs putting on my shoes, casually replied:
“1540.”
Did better than expected.
I waited for him to ask.
Something suddenly dropped to the floor, making a loud noise.
