Chapter 3

I looked at the familiar profile pictures and read their vicious speculations, one after another.

In three years of high school, I'd done little besides study, and I'd rarely joined in their little cliques.

In their eyes, Camelia was the beautiful, wealthy It girl of the school, and Grayson was the handsome, top-performing class heartthrob. The two of them were simply meant to be together.

As for me, the childhood friend who'd been at Camelia's side since we were kids, I was nothing but a clueless, clingy third wheel.

Camelia seized the moment and popped up to smooth things over.

Camelia: [Everyone, let's tone it down. Clyde's in a bad mood today. Skipping the exam has hit him pretty hard too.]

Camelia: [Clyde, you should still come to the party tomorrow and take your mind off things. I'll help you figure out the whole repeating-a-year thing.]

How magnanimous of her. The picture of devotion.

On the surface, she was trying to break up the fight, but in reality, she'd casually made the charge of me "skipping the exam" stick.

As I watched message after message sucking up to Camelia and tearing me down, I suddenly felt sick of it all.

Arguing with this bunch of brainless people was a complete waste of my life.

I opened the group settings and left the chat.

Less than thirty seconds after I left, a private message from Camelia came through.

Camelia: [Clyde, why did you leave the group? Who are you putting on this victim act for?]

Camelia: [You have to come to the party tomorrow. Don't make me look inconsiderate in front of my parents.]

I looked at her messages without the slightest urge to reply. Instead, I blocked and deleted her.

The next morning, before I'd even woken up, my mom yanked my blanket off me.

"Clyde, why are you still sleeping? Hurry up and get ready. The party's about to start."

I rubbed my eyes and sat up, completely confused. "What party?"

My dad was wearing the suit he usually only wore to meetings, and my mom had put on her favorite dress.

"What other party could there be? The celebration for Camelia and Grayson!" my dad said as he adjusted his tie.

"Charles called me first thing this morning. Our two families go way back, so all three of us have to be there today."

I froze.

Camelia's parents, Charles and Kelly Kester, had personally invited our family?

My mind raced, and I quickly figured it out.

Camelia knew that she and I had a falling out and that I definitely wouldn't show up to a class party. So she'd brought in her parents to pressure me through the grown-ups.

A wave of disgust washed over me. I frowned. "Dad, Mom, I don't want to go."

If I went, the fact that I hadn't taken the last exam would definitely come out.

My dad's face instantly turned stern. "Charles personally called to invite us. If you don't go, that'll be a slap in his face."

My mom leaned in to try persuading me too. "I know you and Grayson don't usually get along, but your classmates will all be there today.

"If you don't go, what will people say about you? That you're jealous he did well on the exam? Hurry up and get ready."

Seeing that my parents were already dressed and ready to go, and unable to come up with a good excuse to get out of it, I sighed. If I didn't go, I really would look immature.