Sydney
My dad used to tell me I was a strong child.
He said I endured a lot alongside him when we first moved to Newston when I was a year old.
For most of my life, I believed him.
I tried to see everything through that lens.
And when I arrived at Lakeview, Mom looked me straight in the eye and told me I was different—special.
She said nothing was wrong with me.
That everything that came my way wasn’t meant to pull me down, but to make me stronger.
I really wished I’d asked Mom to explain what she meant by that.
Because what on earth was the reason for the universe to pair me with Dean?
As in Dean, the loudest, most annoying player on Lakeview’s basketball team?!
To make me stronger?
I sighed.
All I could do was bury my face in my palm and swallow a scream as my name left the teacher’s lips, trying to ignore the snickering that followed from kids around.
Now I wished so badly that it was Tyler.
Because the only thing these two guys had in common was that they both seemed to hate me.
Tyler wasn’t wild and loud.
My brain didn’t even register when the bell rang.
All I knew was everyone was on their feet and hurrying out the door.
Wait, not all of them.
I turned.
Tyler was still seated there, his finger tapping rapidly on the table, his eyes glued to the book in front of him like he also didn’t know school was over.
But the longer I stared, the more something felt off about him.
Like something was bothering him.
He turned suddenly.
My heart jumped into my throat.
Heat rushed to my face.
Then he smirked.
“Enjoying the view?”
Instead, I hurriedly slung my bag over my shoulder and rushed out of the classroom.
Only then did I release my breath.
“And I was like slow down, there’s a lot of Dean Monroe to go around.”
My eyes snapped towards the voice, catching Dean leaning against a wall, surrounded by a couple of guys, talking loudly and gesturing with his hands.
Girls passed by, giggling like he’d just said the funniest thing in the world.
How could they like someone so loud?
It’s just one project, Sydney.
It’ll be over in about a week.
‘That’s if you don’t die before then.’ My mind whispered, but I shoved it aside.
If there was one thing I hated more than the entire Lakeview High, it was failing a class.
So I exhaled, pulled off my hoodie cap, and stepped towards him.
“Dean?” I called, my voice straighter than I’d imagined.
He paused mid sentence and shifted his gaze to me.
A smile spread across his face as his blue eyes looked at me over.
The guys with him drifted away.
He stepped closer.
“What’s up, fat ass?”
I instinctively stepped back.
“We have chemistry together,” I said.
“Oh,” he clicked his tongue.
“When you put it like that…”
”It’s a project, Dean.” I cut in, grossed out by the conversation already.
“Oh,” he said dryly, running his fingers through his blonde hair.
Then he smirked, looking back down at me.
“So, what’s the plan?”
”We have to meet up and work on it.”
He grinned.
“Your place or mine?”
”No.
Gross.
I mean…school will be open.” I said quickly.
“And this weekend will be better.
I take my classes very seriously.”
He raised a brow for a second.
Then he shrugged, “Alright.” He ran his hand through his blonde hair.
“I’ll make time.”
”It’s due next week.”
”Baby, do I look like I know anything about chemistry?”
“You can’t be serious.”
He chuckled like I’d said something funny.
“No worries, fat ass.
I’ll be serious for you.” He tapped my nose lightly with a finger.
I blinked a couple of times.
And I swear I’d have screamed if his palm didn’t smell so nice.
Before I could react, an arm flew around my shoulders.
“What are you doing talking to this?”
It took me a second to realize Maeve was talking about Dean.
I forced back a chuckle.
“There’s this chemistry project.” I explained.
Dean gave a lazy wave, his grin still remaining.
“Hi, tiny eyes.”
Maeve glared at him, and I swear she’d have jumped at him if I didn’t pull her towards the exit.
“Of all people to be paired with, Dean?” she complained.
“I thought the same, Maeve.” I said, pulling on my hoodie cap again as we passed by a few people.
“I swear, if he tries anything stupid, I’ll rip his balls off and shove them down his throat.”
I laughed as we walked out into the afternoon sun because I knew she could do it.
“It’s just a few days.” I said, trying to shove aside the thoughts in my head.
“It’s just this once.
And it was either him or Tyler.”
”Oh.” She rolled her eyes hard.
“They’re the same, though.”
No, they’re not.
But I didn’t say it out loud.
Her driver was already waiting when we got to the parking lot.
And as I opened the backseat door, my eyes caught Micheal’s car along the curb.
He was standing by it, Brooklyn’s bag slung over his shoulder as he held the front passenger seat door open.
As if on cue, Brooklyn walked out of the building.
But then she paused in her tracks as her eyes met mine.
For a second, I thought to look away and just get into Maeve’s car so I could go prepare for a painful weekend doing chemistry with Dean.
Brooklyn and I never actually talked anymore, and it felt like there was something I was supposed to know that I didn’t.
I mean, we exchanged a few words at the dining table on days when Mom had time to eat at home.
But that was it.