- 7.
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.
