Chapter 2

“Let’s go, Tyler.”

Everyone was shocked into silence. Someone said softly, “Ty, are you sure you can win? He’s a sneaky one.”

“Yeah, let’s go,” Tyler said. “Listen up, Henry. If you lose, you’ll have to move out of Levesque Manor.”

“I won’t lose.”

In the end, we each took ten shots, and all of them went in. We were tied.

Tyler’s expression grew darker and darker as he pushed us to make every shot count.

I threw the basketball to him. “I’m out!”

I turned to leave.

All afternoon, I kept feeling eyes on my back. He clearly was not happy with how things turned out.

As I waited at the school gates, Tyler glared at me. “Don’t tattle on me when you get home.”

I smiled. “Everything comes with a price. What’ll you give me in return?”

It was obvious that Tyler had not expected me to fight back. He breathed heavily and gritted his teeth.

“Just name it.”

But I could not be bothered with something so childish.

The night passed uneventfully.

The next day, Tyler did not pull any more pranks. It did not seem like him. He was probably just planning something bigger.

…

After school, I was heading to the bookstore nearby for some stuff when gangsters blocked my way.

“Are you Henry Levesque?”

I retreated to a huge tree and ducked behind it to try to flee.

But it was too late. The gangsters came up and started beating me up.

“Stop!”

Just then, a teacher walked by, and the gangsters ran off.

The teacher called my parents just when we were having dinner.

Natalie looked at my bruised forehead and asked, “Why did you lie to me, Henry? You said you tripped! Why didn’t you tell me that someone was bullying you?”

She turned to Tyler. “Did you know about this, Tyler? Why didn’t you walk home with Henry?”

Tyler put down his spoon and fork with a clatter. His face was cloudy.

“What does that have to do with me? All I know is that you guys don’t like me anymore.”

He stomped upstairs.

After finishing my homework, I went out to the balcony for some air.

“Don’t think even for a second that I’ll thank you for keeping your mouth shut. You ruined my life and took away what belongs to me! I hate you.”

I turned to Tyler and calmly stared at him.

“I won’t be living here for long. I’ll move out after I graduate from high school. I’m not interested in the Levesque family’s assets, so you don’t have to be wary of me.”

It was obvious that he did not believe me.

“I’ve met a lot of people like you. You’re all liars!”

“Believe what you want.”

I went back to my room and closed the door.

…

After the first midterm, I ended up with the highest grade. Tyler looked like he was ready to kill.

When we got home, Natalie asked me to tutor him.

Surprisingly, he agreed to it.

He must clearly be cooking up another scheme to use against me.

I went to his room at the agreed time.

There were lots of model airplanes all over his room. The walls were peppered with posters of sports stars.

Tyler paused his game and shot me a glance.

“I don’t want to be tutored. I know what you think of me. Why would I need a diploma? The Levesque family has enough money for me to waste for a lifetime.”

“Great. I don’t want to look at you either.”

I turned to leave.

Suddenly, he reached the door and blocked my way. He then locked the door.

His gaze was sinister and dark.

He reached out and grabbed me by the chin.

“Don’t go yet. Let’s play a game.”

I grabbed his wrist and met his eyes. I stepped forward.

“Sure. I’m not scared of you.”

He pressed me into a chair. “You won’t be able to leave after this. We’re having a biology class today.”

Tyler turned his laptop on. An adult video was playing on it. The suggestive noise coming from the speaker made my face go red.

Tyler was prepared. He calmly waited to watch me embarrass myself.

I pressed my lips tightly together as I felt strangely aroused.

“You’re going too far, Tyler.”

Tyler snickered. He looked me up and down before resting his gaze somewhere down.

“That’s a pretty huge reaction. We’re both guys here. It’s not like I’m forcing you to do this. We’re just sharing what we like.

“Don’t tell me this is new to you. Tsk, tsk… It’s kind of sad for someone with a face like yours.”

I jumped up, stumbled, and flung the door open. Somehow, I managed to escape to my room.

I leaned back against the door with my heart pounding in my chest.

‘Tyler’s such a nuisance! There’s really no escaping him,’ I thought to myself.

Tyler’s mocking voice sounded through the door. “Hey, Henry, let’s continue with our lessons tomorrow! I’ll be waiting for you! If you don’t show up, it just means you’re not willing to help me out. I’m not the one being stubborn here!”

…

When Natalie asked about the tutoring, I told her I would rather do the lessons in the living room.

Tyler acted like he did not mind.

“Sure! I’ll agree with whatever you want.”

He lay on the couch and put a hand to his forehead. “Ah, my head is killing me!”

I tidied up my things. “You’re overreacting!”

He followed me up the stairs.

“Doesn’t matter as long as it works.”

“You’re so childish.”

“And you’re a phony.”