Chapter 2

The next morning, Yale walked into class just as the bell rang. As usual, he shoved his black backpack under his desk and slouched back in his chair.

It wasn't long before our English teacher started going over yesterday's test. When she reached the cloze section, I felt a light kick against the back of my chair.

Thump.

My pen paused.

Before, that was all Yale had to do. The second he kicked my chair, I'd pass my notebook back without him even having to ask.

This time, I didn't turn around. I didn't move either. I simply lowered my head and wrote down the expression the teacher had just explained beside the question.

For a few seconds, there was silence behind me. Then I heard Yale lazily call to the guy sitting next to him.

"Let me see your test."

The boy froze for a second before hurriedly handing it over. "Here."

Yale took it without another word.

I lowered my eyes.

That was when I realized there had never been anything special about the way he treated me. He could ask anyone for what he needed.

I'd just always been too quick to give him whatever he wanted.

After class, Jade came over with her phone in hand.

"Zoe, did you see that post on the school forum? The one about Yale and Xandra?"

She lowered her voice, unable to hide her excitement over the gossip.

"Everyone's saying Yale suddenly started studying because of Xandra. Honestly, they do kind of make sense together. The bad boy and the prettiest girl in school."

Then she added, "I also heard they've known each other since they were little, and apparently their families are close."

Jade nudged my arm. "What do you think?"

"Yeah."

I looked up from my textbook.

"They make a good match."

Jade blinked, apparently noticing something off in my tone. Before she could say anything, someone called from the classroom door.

"Zoe Shaw, our homeroom teacher wants to see you."

I stood up.

Yale was sitting behind me with his head down, looking at something I couldn't see.

When I reached the teachers' office, our homeroom teacher was grading papers. She smiled when she saw me.

"Zoe, your grades have been very consistent lately. Keep this up and push yourself a little harder, and Capital University should be well within reach."

I nodded. "I'll keep working hard."

She set down her red pen.

"By the way, Yale's grades have improved quite a bit lately too. I heard he's been borrowing your notes?"

I hesitated, thinking of the notebook I'd made specifically for him.

"Yeah."

She sighed.

"It's good that you're willing to help a classmate, but you need to keep your priorities straight. Yale's family is well-off. Even if he doesn't get into a good college, he'll still have plenty of options."

Her voice softened as she looked at me.

"You're different. Anything you want, you're going to have to earn for yourself, one step at a time. Do you understand?"

My fingers tightened around the hem of my uniform.

"I do."

She smiled and handed me a stack of tests.

"Good. Take these back and pass them out."

I carried the papers back toward the classroom. Just as I reached the rear door, I heard a burst of teasing from inside.

"Yale, is Xandra really applying to Southern University?"

"The admissions cutoff there is pretty high. You're gonna have to work for it."

"What's there to worry about? He's got Zoe. Just have the top student in our grade tutor him some more."

Someone laughed.

"I heard Zoe's notes are more detailed than the answer key. Borrow them a few more times and Southern University is practically in the bag."

Yale sat in the back row, his eyes lowered as his fingers tapped against the desk.

As if he sensed me standing there, he looked up and met my eyes.

He didn't laugh or say anything, but he didn't deny it either.

Standing in the doorway, I suddenly wondered why I'd ever bothered.