Chapter 2

I looked Tyler in the eye. "I won't do it."

I'd thought Andrew genuinely wanted to be friends with me. I'd given him the notes I put together, helped him sign up for classes, saved him seats, and let him tag along on various competitions with me.

But from now on, I knew all of that would change. He was the furthest thing from sincere—all he had in him was scheming and trickery.

I wasn't going to be the asphalt on his path to success. No way.

The room went quiet. Tyler suddenly shoved his chair back. The chair legs scraped across the tile with a sharp, grating screech.

His voice was as cold as a knife edged in ice. "If you won't do it, then I will. You're making such a big deal out of something this small and dragging it out forever. I really misjudged you, Luke. You don't deserve to be my friend."

He turned and headed for the door.

"Tyler, don't go!" Andrew immediately lunged forward and grabbed Tyler's sleeve.

He clutched it tightly, his voice anxious yet soft. "You haven't even finished your assignment yet. I just thought… it'd be perfect if someone were already passing by there. I don't want you to have to make a special trip."

When he said he didn't want to trouble Tyler, his gaze slid over to me. It felt like a drop of ice water running from the back of my neck down into my shirt. With that one look, he pinned all the so-called trouble on me.

Tyler, held back by Andrew's grip, stopped walking. Instead of sitting back down, he turned to look at me. He didn't say a word, but I sensed the ice in his gaze.

I started to tremble ever so slightly. I couldn't get a word out. It was like something was lodged in my throat.

Tyler's eyes seemed to say, "See? It's because you're so selfish, so cold, and because it's 'inconvenient for you' that I have to make the trip for you even though I'm not done with my assignment. And Andrew's actually apologizing for you."

The room became deathly silent. Just then, someone opened the door. Another roommate, Ian Lawson, walked in holding his laptop. He had two classmates trailing him.

He came in with a bright grin. "Guys, congratulate me. I finally wrapped up my project—"

His voice cut off abruptly when he realized something was off in the room.

Andrew sat on the edge of his bed, looking upset. Tyler stood by the desk, his face dark. I sat at my own desk, my expression flat.

Ian closed the door. "What happened?"

"Andy asked Luke to grab a tiramisu on his way back, and Luke shot him, saying it was 'inconvenient.' I said I'd go buy it, but Andy stopped me. It's ridiculous," Tyler grumbled.

Ian looked over at me after hearing that. In his eyes, I saw surprise, disapproval, and a hint of judgment that seemed to be asking me how I could act like that.

He set his laptop down on the desk and walked over to Andrew. "It's fine. Let me drop these materials off first. I'll swing by and grab it for you on my way back."

"That's too much trouble…" Andrew hurriedly said, his voice hoarse. "You just finished your project, and you still have to go out again…"

As he spoke, his eyes kept flicking in my direction. Everyone followed his gaze.

The two classmates who'd followed Ian in still hadn't left. One of them, a guy with glasses, muttered, "You all live in the same dorm. It's not like helping to bring something back is gonna kill him."

The other one chimed in, "Every time I come by, Andy's always super welcoming. Luke, on the other hand, just stands there like a statue. No wonder he doesn't fit in. Honestly, Andy's the only one who can put up with him, and he doesn't even appreciate it."

Tyler added his own jab. He didn't look at me. His tone was light and almost casual when he said, "As far as I'm concerned, what's the point of good grades if you've got a rotten personality? That's the real problem.

"Look at Andrew—great grades, good-looking, and liked by everyone. That's the kind of person people naturally gravitate toward. He's not like certain people, who are withdrawn, antisocial, and couldn't care less about the group."

Every word felt like a needle driving into me. In comparison with Andrew, I was clearly the weird one who only cared about grades and not about people.

Tyler had even twisted my refusal into proof that I was jealous, had a bad temper, and had terrible character.

I stared at his profile, clenching my jaw so hard that my molars ached.

Meanwhile, Andrew ducked his head and wiped his face in resignation. Then, he lifted his gaze to me. His eyes were filled with frustration, yet he tried to keep his expression neutral.

"Luke…" His voice came out rough and soft, like someone who'd been pushed too far but was still trying to be considerate. "Could I trouble you to help me get the cake?"

He looked at me, as did Tyler, Ian, and the other two classmates. The whole room had their eyes on me. Their gazes felt like blades, all stabbing in my direction.

It was like the air had been sucked out of the room.

I suddenly smiled. "Sure."

I stood up from my chair. "I'll go get it for you."