The Deal Cracks

Lila’s POV

I pushed open the heavy glass doors of the school library, still unable to get over the fact that Ryan had just spoken to me in the hallway. I’d spent the rest of the day replaying it like a broken record. 

And now, here I was, about to keep my end of the deal with Cole Harrison.

I spotted him immediately.

He was sprawled across one of the tables, as if he owned the place, his long legs stretched out. His chair was tipped slightly back on two legs—completely ignoring the giant “NO TIPPING CHAIRS” sign right behind him. 

His backpack sat unopened on the table, and instead of a notebook, he had his phone in his hand, lazily scrolling.

Here we go, Lila

I inhaled slowly, tightening my grip on my books as I began to make my way toward him. 

You can do this, Lila.

It’s just tutoring.

Just…ignore the fact that he's an annoying jerk.

“Wow,” Cole’s voice cut through my thoughts the second I stepped closer, not even bothering to look up. “You actually showed up.”

I dropped my books onto the table with a soft thud. “Unfortunately we had an agreement.”

“Yeah,” he shot back, one eyebrow raising like he found that amusing.“We do.”

Something about the way he said it made my blood boil, but I ignored it, pulling out the chair across from him and sitting down.

“Alright,” I said, flipping open my notebook and trying to sound like I had control over this situation. “Let’s start with—”

“Wait.”

I blinked. “What?”

Cole leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table, his eyes locking onto mine. 

“How was your little hallway moment with Ryan? Huh?”

My heart skipped.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said quickly.

“Oh, come on.” That annoying smirk at the corner of his lips widened. “Did you really think I didn't know he finally spoke to you after, like forever?”

I pressed my lips together, refusing to give him the satisfaction of getting a reaction out of me. Especially not today. Nor when I was still beaming with happiness from that moment with Ryan.

“Can we just focus?” I snapped. “Let’s start with what we actually came here for.”

For a moment, Cole didn’t utter a word in response. Then he leaned back in his chair again, completely relaxed, like this conversation was entertainment for him.

“You haven’t thanked me yet, though,” he said. “Ryan noticed you only because of me.”

Unbelievable 

Already acting like some kind of hero when he’d done absolutely nothing.

“I—”

“I don’t get what you see in that annoying guy anyway,” he cut in before I could finish, watching me closely now. “You’ve built this whole… fantasy around him, haven’t you?”

“That’s not true.”

“Isn’t it?”

He shrugged, completely unbothered by the fact that he was starting to piss me off. 

“Okay, Mr. know-it-all,” I said, leaning closer until our elbows nearly brushed. “Why don’t you tell me what exactly you think you know?”

Cole didn’t move back.

If anything, he leaned in closer, his gaze dropping over me in a way that made something uneasy twist in my stomach.

“I think,” he said slowly, “that you’re the kind of girl who waits around hoping someone like Ryan is going to magically notice you.”

That did it.

I pushed back in my chair, anger rising fast and sharp. “Okay, you need to stop,” I said.

For a second, the entire library seemed to go quiet, and I thought—just maybe—Cole would actually shut up for once in his life.

“Wow…” he dragged out, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Looks like someone’s mad I told the truth.”

“What did you just say?”

Cole didn’t look sorry. Nod even a little. 

He leaned forward, his eyes locking onto mine without looking away for a second. “You heard me. Little Miss Thompson didn’t suddenly become visible all on her own.”

The words hit harder this time.

Because there was something underneath them.

Something I didn’t want to overthink so much about.

“Wow,” I said, letting out a short, disbelieving laugh. “You’re unbelievable, and arrogant at the same time.”

His expression didn’t change. If anything, he looked like he was enjoying every second of this moment. 

“I’m just honest.”

“No one cares about your stupid opinion!”

A couple of students at a nearby table glanced over at the tone of my voice. I lowered my voice, but the anger stayed, rising even faster.

“You don’t get to act like you’re the reason anything good happens to me,” I continued, anger rising through me in violent bursts. “I agreed to this deal to help you—not to sit here and listen to you tear me down.”

“I’m not tearing you down.”

“Really?” I shot back. “Because that’s exactly what it feels like.”

He held my gaze, and for a second—just a second—something flickered across his face, but then, it disappeared too quickly before I could make any sense of it.

I looked down at my open notebook, at the neatly prepared notes, everything I had organized for this tutoring session. Before I could second-guess it, I snapped the notebook shut and shoved it inside my bag.

“What are you doing?” Cole’s voice cut through the tension.

“I’m done.”

His brows pulled together slightly. “Done with what?”

“With this,” I said, gesturing between us. “With you. With this entire deal.”

“Lila—”

“No.” I cut him off coldly, turning toward the door. “You don’t get to talk to me like that and then expect me to sit here and help you like everything’s fine.”

“Come on…you’re just overreacting.” He replied, the expression on his face still clearly showing that he wasn’t a bit sorry for his actions.

I let out a short laugh, but there was no humor in it this time. “You wanted a tutor, right?” I said, slinging the strap over my shoulder. “Find someone else.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes. Seriously, because our deal is over.”

Before he could say anything else, I turned and began to walk away without looking back.