Chapter 1

"Oliver, are you sure you want to study abroad? With your grades, you could get into just about any institution in the country. But studying overseas is expensive. Can your family really afford it?"

In the faculty office, the teacher looked at Oliver Hayes with concern, but Oliver had already made up his mind.

"I'm sure. And I've already figured out how to cover the expenses."

The teacher frowned and was about to try talking him out of it again when Oliver's phone rang.

It was Sabrina Collins' best friend.

As soon as he answered, he heard her panicked voice. "Oliver, help! A bunch of guys have cornered Sabrina at a hotel! They're saying she has to spend the night with them! You have to get over here and help her!"

Oliver hurried to the hotel, but the moment he pushed open the door to the private room, confetti cannons went off.

Through the shower of colorful streamers, he saw Sabrina sitting on the couch with a bright smile on her face.

There were no men threatening her anywhere. Meanwhile, her so-called friends were practically crying with laughter.

"Oh, my God, Sabrina! You called it! Oliver really did come running like a good little lapdog!"

"Seriously, Sabrina, how do you do it? You've got the smartest guy in our grade wrapped around your finger! He skips class for you and would do just about anything you ask. That's crazy!"

Oliver finally realized the whole thing had been a prank. Everyone turned to him with mocking smiles, waiting for him to get angry.

Instead, he sighed in relief. "Thank God you're okay."

The laughter slowly died down.

Sabrina got up from the couch and walked over to him, a mocking smile on her face.

"Oliver, are you seriously that into me?" she asked with a sneer. "I just made a complete fool out of you, and you're not even mad? You're fine with anything as long as I'm okay?"

Oliver met her eyes and nodded. "Yeah. As long as you're okay."

He just needed her to stay out of trouble until the SATs were over. Of course, he didn't say that part out loud.

Instead, he took a notebook out of his backpack and handed it to her. "Sabrina, I made you a study guide for the exam. I know you hate memorizing stuff, but if you can learn everything in here, you could raise your score by at least 20 points."

Her friends immediately started hooting and laughing again.

"Oh, my God! Is this what romance looks like when you're a straight-A student? Making your crush a study guide instead of buying her flowers?"

"Wait, you guys don't know? Sabrina's parents told her she has to get into a good college if she wants to stay here. Otherwise, they're sending her abroad! Oliver's probably terrified she'll leave!"

"Right? I heard he follows her around every day, begging her to study. I'm surprised he hasn't gotten down on his knees yet!"

"Guess even the way nerds suck up to girls is different!"

Sabrina was so annoyed she actually laughed. "You think I'm just going to read it because you told me to? Who the hell do you think you are, Oliver?"

Oliver's expression faltered.

She was right. He had no idea what he meant to her anymore. He could be nothing more than her lapdog, a replacement for someone else, or perhaps nothing to her at all.

He asked quietly, "Then, what do I have to do to get you to read it?"

"What do you have to do…" Sabrina raised an eyebrow and glanced at the bottle of vodka beside her. "You're allergic to alcohol, right? You're not supposed to drink?"

Oliver hesitated, but before he could respond, Sabrina filled a glass to the brim with vodka and held it out to him. "Finish this, and I'll read your notes."

The glass was huge. With his allergy, that much alcohol would probably put him straight in the hospital.

But Oliver didn't hesitate. He reached for it.

But before his fingers could touch the glass, Sabrina let go. The glass shattered on the floor, spilling vodka everywhere.

"Oops! Looks like I spilled it." Sabrina raised an eyebrow, a cruel smile spreading across her face. "Guess you'll have to get on your knees and lick it off the floor instead."