LOGINShare
Chapter 12
Latest chapter
Your Crown Has Nothing to Do with Me Chapter 13
In early November, Professor Ricci told the graduate workshop about an argument I'd made in the seminar.The workshop emailed me and asked me to give a fifteen-minute talk.I'd always assumed an opportunity like that was far beyond my reach. Now the invitation was right in front of me.On the day of the workshop, I stood before the screen in the vaulted classroom and spoke with ease.Once I focused on a text I knew, my nerves faded, and I stopped noticing the people watching me.When my fifteen minutes were up, he nodded at me.The room applauded.Zoe was in the back row, giving me an enthusiastic thumbs-up.Luca clapped and smiled at me, his eyes serious and bright.It hit me then that being seen isn't reserved for girls like Madison, who are beautiful and at ease in any crowd.I didn't need to become anyone else. I could shine exactly as I was.Afterward, the organizers asked me to turn the talk into a paper for the next issue of the graduate journal.I left the room with my material
Your Crown Has Nothing to Do with Me Chapter 12
That weekend, Madison called me on FaceTime.When the call connected, she was in the living room of the New York apartment. Her makeup was done, and half-unpacked moving boxes stood behind her."Claire." She gave me a careful smile. "You finally picked up.""What do you need?"My answer was so short that she struggled to keep smiling.Madison asked how Italy was, said everyone had been worried about me, and spoke with such warmth that anyone would have thought nothing had ever gone wrong between us.After a few minutes of that, she finally got to the reason she'd called.The yearbook account had reposted the Cutest Couple photos the night before.Someone in the comments had recognized the Greek letters on her chest, found old photos from the pinning ceremony three years earlier, and figured out that I had originally worn the same pin.She sent me screenshots of the comments."People are saying all kinds of things in the comments now."Madison frowned. "It's gotten really ugly. They're
Your Crown Has Nothing to Do with Me Chapter 11
Blake didn't leave Florence right away.Early the next morning, the downstairs buzzer rang.Zoe leaned out the window, looked down, and told me a huge bouquet of red roses was sitting by the door.The card bore Blake's name, which surprised no one.I gave the flowers to the elderly woman who ran the tailor shop on the ground floor and kept only a photo for my records.That afternoon, an oversized coffee with oat milk and caramel syrup was delivered to the department's front desk.That was what I used to drink sophomore year.But since coming to Italy, I'd gotten used to standing at the bar with a small, unsweetened coffee.I poured it down the sink without feeling much of anything.Blake remembered what I used to like. People change.The Claire he remembered was gone for good.For the next three days, he waited for me somewhere along my route to class.The third time I saw him, I deliberately stopped instead of going around him.His eyes lit up when he saw me stop, and he started towar
Your Crown Has Nothing to Do with Me Chapter 10
"Claire!"Blake hurried across the street and nearly ran into a bicycle.He stopped in front of me, breathless, and reached out to pull me into his arms.I stepped aside and put some distance between us."Don't touch me."His arms froze in midair. The dark circles under his eyes made the rest of his face look even worse.Maybe it was how calm I sounded. The delight slowly faded from his face."Claire, I came here to apologize."He lowered his arms and pulled a small velvet box from an inside pocket. "I had the pin repaired. The pearl is the same size as the original, and the stem has been rebuilt. I didn't just grab something to shut you up."The lid popped open, and the Greek letters caught the October light with a cold gleam.Three years earlier, on pinning night, Blake had fastened it over my heart while the fraternity crowded the porch and cheered as he made his promise.Back then, I thought someone had finally chosen me and meant it.Later, that same person took my wrist, removed
Your Crown Has Nothing to Do with Me Chapter 9
The days passed faster than I expected.The workload was heavy, and I liked keeping my days so full.Zoe started waking me every morning with a pillow and taking me out for a run.Luca would be waiting at the corner with three breakfasts in his hands.My life was full, real, and warm.I was needed, and I was seen. I wasn't anyone's background anymore.That afternoon, I had no classes and was revising a translation assignment at the apartment when my phone rang.An unfamiliar number.I answered without speaking. Then a familiar voice came through the line. "Claire."Everything in me stopped.It was Blake.He sounded hoarse and worn out, as if he hadn't slept in days. "Claire, where are you? I've been trying to find you for so long."My grip on the phone tightened, finger by finger."How did you get this number?""I asked around. I went to so many places..." He didn't answer the question, and his words came out fast and panicked. "Why didn't you tell me you'd left the country? Do you kno
Your Crown Has Nothing to Do with Me Chapter 8
Zoe and Luca filled my life in Florence and helped me adjust.Zoe had endless energy and went running every morning.On mornings when I overslept and showed up for class with my hair a mess, she'd hand me a paper bag.Inside was a hazelnut cornetto, still warm from the oven and smelling like the whole bakery."Last time you skipped breakfast, your blood sugar dropped, and you nearly fainted."She mimed passing out and told me to hurry up and eat it.The warm scent sank deep into me.Luca wasn't with us all the time, but he showed up whenever I needed something.He seemed to be that way with everyone. He didn't single me out, and he never forgot me, either.During group meetings, he noticed when I started to say something but stopped, and he'd ask me what I thought.Whenever the three of us went somewhere, he made a point of asking what I wanted."Claire, say it. Where do you actually want to go?"Stop telling us you're fine with anything. What you want matters."His words were gentle b
You May Also Like
Lost Love Never Returns
It's Winter4.8K viewsBig-Name Heiress Stole My Dorm Bed
1st Oct3.7K viewsGoodbye, My Sweetheart
Lychee Latte6.9K viewsIt's My Fault
Caterpillar2.1K viewsNext Time, Don't Bother Showing Up
Adrian3.0K viewsTiramisu for the Postgraduate Offer
Goodtale316 viewsI Swapped Bodies with the 200-Pound Girl and Never Wanted Mine Back
Forest1.3K viewsThe Torn Answer Sheet
A. Yane437 views
