- My deskmate was a girl. She introduced
- herself.
- “I’m Maddie. Maddie with an ‘ie.‘ Just call me
- Mads.”
- I nodded.
- The teacher walked in, and I quickly took out
- my textbook.
- Northwood’s curriculum was definitely
- different from my old school’s.
- During class, almost everyone did their own
- thing.
- Some slept, some read novels, some even did
- their nails.
- Paper airplanes carrying cheat sheets flew
- over my head.
- The teacher seemed used to it. After taking a
- few sips of tea, she picked up her book
- again.
- “Where were we?”
- <
- I carefully reminded her, “The third problem.”
- She nodded. “Right.
- Then she looked at me in astonishment.
- “Someone’s actually listening to my lecture?”
- Mads later told me that if Northwood was
- considered a failing school, then Class 13,
- where I was now, was the bottom of the
- barrel.
- It was where all the failing seniors were
- gathered.
- When I transferred, my homeroom teacher
- had practically begged the principal in tears
- to get me in his class.
- Looking at Mads eating ice cream during
- class, I felt for the first time that the world
- was so bizarre, yet full of life.
- After that, the teacher seemed more
- enthusiastic about teaching.
- A few students, inspired by her, started to
- pay attention.
- く
- Until school ended.
- Everyone rushed out.
- I noticed the guy in the corner hadn’t woken
- up.
- The school was about to close.
- I walked over and nudged him. “Hey, class is
- over.”
- He lifted his head, his eyelids heavy.
- His narrow eyes looked straight at me.
- His thin lips curved into a slight smile beneath
- a high–bridged nose.
- “Thanks, wifey.”
- Chapter 2
- Me: !!!
- This guy’s not just intimidating, he’s calling
- me “wifey” right off the bat.
- A second later, the boy stood up, and I
- realized he was even taller than Jake, all 6’1”
- of him.
- He offered no explanation.
- <
- Long, slender fingers hooked the collar of his
- jacket, tossing it over his shoulder.
- “Let’s go.”
- “They’re about to lock the gates.”
- I snapped back, mumbled an “Okay,” and
- trailed after him.
