Chapter 3

3 That evening, I told my parents that I wasn't going to college with Ethan after graduation. My mom asked why. Looking at my parents' faces, I felt a sudden lump in my throat. I was their only child, and in my past life, I’d been so obsessed with a man who held no love for me in his heart or eyes that I’d neglected the two people who loved me most in the world. And in the end, I made them bury their own daughter. I sniffed and said, "I want to spend more time with you guys." My dad always spoiled me. If I made up my mind about something, he would support me. After that, my parents found me a tutor. He was a year older than me, from Northwood High. He'd gotten the highest score in the city on the entrance exam. His name was Ashton Hughes. Ashton came to my house every weekend to tutor me. He was incredibly smart. His explanations were often simpler than what the teachers taught in class. This weekend was the high school basketball league championship. Our school was hosting. Ashton was playing too; he was the captain of Northwood's team. He'd told me he'd compiled some notes for me and would bring them over on game day. Since the game was on a Friday, Ashton was coming to my house for our regular tutoring session after the game. But Ethan was playing too, so I wasn't planning on going to the game. I was waiting in the classroom for Ashton to text me. I sent him a message: "Good luck, Mr. Hughes! Stay safe!" I was just putting my phone away when Zach snatched it. "Good luck, Mr. Hughes? Stay safe? Mia, have you moved on?!" Zach's loud voice attracted Ethan's attention. He looked over at me, a strange expression on his face. I thought I saw a flicker of nervousness, even fear, in his eyes. Ethan, the always arrogant Ethan, showing such vulnerability? He walked towards me, took the phone from Zach, and stared at the messages, his face grim. Finally, he looked up at me slowly, his voice laced with suspicion. "Who is he?" I snatched my phone back and shoved it into my pocket. "What's it to you?" Zach gaped at me. It was hard to believe these words were coming from Mia. I turned to leave, heading for the library. As I turned, Ethan grabbed my arm. "I asked you who he is. You're not going anywhere until you tell me." Was he crazy? In my past life, I’d chased after him, and he’d treated me like a nuisance, his disgust clear on his face. This time around, I was giving him what he wanted — distance — and he was suddenly clinging to me. How pathetic. I shook off his hand and frowned at him, my voice calm. "Ethan, I thought you hated me? So please, just keep hating me." Ethan grabbed my arm again. Just then, a clear male voice called out from the doorway. "Mia."