Chapter 2

2 Ethan nudged Zach with his foot, telling him to shut up. Zach obediently went up to erase the board. I opened my textbook and started studying. Because of Ethan, I’d given up a chance to attend the prestigious Northwood High and came to Southwood instead. I could have been in the advanced placement classes here, but because of Ethan, I ended up in the lowest-level class. I’d fought with my mom about it, but she eventually gave in. Our families were close, so it didn't matter where I went to school. The plan was always for me to go to college with Ethan anyway. Perhaps it was because of our families' connection that I’d always seen Ethan as my Prince Charming. Now, all I could think was, what a jerk! He acted like he was some kind of royalty. This time around, I was going to stay far away from Ethan, starting with the next seating chart change. I was determined to get into the top ten in the class on the next monthly exams. I never wanted to sit in front of Ethan again. Zach came back down after erasing the board. Seeing me studying, he snatched my book. "Whoa, Miss Sanders hitting the books? Getting ready to tutor our dear Ethan again? Maybe you can help me out too?" In their eyes, everything I did was ultimately to get Ethan's attention. I grabbed my book back, my voice edged with annoyance. "A dumb brain is a dumb brain, no matter how much tutoring it gets. Maybe you should just go study abroad or something." I turned with my book and met Ethan's eyes. He was angry. Of course. In his mind, Mia would never say anything bad about him. "Did I do something to you?" His tone was sharp, almost hostile. I ignored him, walked past him with my book, and returned to my seat. Knowing Ethan, he wouldn't ask me twice. Sure enough, he kicked the chair next to him and stormed out of the classroom. I shook my head. He really thought he was a king. And it was my fault, for having such terrible taste in guys. I went to the cafeteria for lunch alone. Before, I’d always trailed after Ethan, eagerly fetching his lunch and drinks. Today, I realized how easy it was to just get food for myself. No more getting glared at by the people waiting in line. So many times, I’d been yelled at because I was trying to get Ethan’s favorite sweet and sour pork. And all I ever got in return was, "I didn't ask you to get me lunch. Serves you right." Yeah, serves me right. I carried my tray to my usual window seat. Soon, I saw Ethan and Zach walking towards the cafeteria with their basketball. They habitually walked over to me. But today, I hadn’t gotten their lunch. Zach stared at the single tray in front of me, surprised. "Mia, where's our food?" I chewed my food, gesturing towards the serving counter. "There might still be some left if you hurry." Ethan frowned at me. I'd bruised his ego, and he clearly wasn't happy. "Mia, are you on something? What did I ever do to you?" I kept eating, my head down. Should I tell him that ten years later, while he waited for his first love to give birth to a child that wasn't even his, our own unborn child and I died in a fire? Should I tell him that I'd called him countless times that night, only to get a busy signal? Or that he eventually just hung up on me and texted that he was "in a meeting"? A meeting in a hospital corridor… Ethan, Ethan, did you really think I was that stupid? Did you really think I didn't know anything? In the end, Ethan didn't eat. He stormed out of the cafeteria, fuming. He skipped afternoon classes too.