Chapter 2
Athena worked fast.
Right after physics class, our seats were switched.
But I never thought I'd end up sitting next to Ethan Brooks, the legendary top student, first in our class and the entire grade.
He was always quiet.
Unless he was answering a question, he never said a thing.
When he heard someone was finally taking the empty seat next to him, his pen paused for a moment on his scratch paper.
He just glanced up at me.
His eyes behind the glasses gave nothing away, as lifeless as a stagnant pond.
That day, for the first time, I paid full attention in class.
With neither of them by my side, everything felt so much fresher and lighter.
After school, I was lost in my notes when a shadow suddenly fell across my desk.
It was Ryan.
"Carrie," he said, his voice warm and familiar. "Let's walk home together."
I could hear the excitement in his voice.
He must be thrilled to be sitting next to Freya now.
I didn't even look up. "No, you go ahead. I'll stay a bit longer."
He didn't seem to catch the distance in my voice. He just stood there, not moving.
He leaned on my desk, blocking the light.
"Staying late won't really help your grades. You should head home early. It's safer," he said, his tone still casual and friendly.
"Who's gonna walk you home if I leave first?" he added, half-joking.
He bent down, leaning closer, his warmth so near I could feel it.
I glanced up, meeting his eyes, still smiling at me.
Backpack slung over one shoulder, he looked as chill and self-assured as always.
He looked so sure I'd say yes.
Over his shoulder, I caught a glimpse of Freya, her expression tightening slightly.
She was staring daggers at me, but when I suddenly met her gaze, she froze.
Then she forced a smile that was painfully fake.
I gave a wicked smirk.
"Why do you care? Isn't Freya the one you like? Go walk her home instead. And move. You're blocking my light. You're just in the way," I said, my voice cold and mocking.
Ryan's face went pale.
His knuckles turned red from gripping my desk so hard, his breath quickened, and his lashes quivered.
Poked right where it hurt, he went from shocked to pissed in a heartbeat.
His voice rose, sharp and defensive. "Carrie, is this about the coffee? That doesn't give you the right to spread rumors! Who said I like Freya?"
People were passing by, the classroom buzzing with movement.
Other students were watching us, their eyes lingering on me and Ryan.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, my new desk mate, Ethan, abruptly spoke up.
"Ryan, nobody cares who you like. You're being loud. It's annoying," Ethan said, sounding totally bored and as cold as steel.
Everyone froze for a few seconds.
Someone couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
The room buzzed with whispers.
As the gossip spread, Ryan finally seemed to snap back to reality. He caught Freya just as she nearly stumbled.
Before leaving, Ryan gave me a lingering look.
Then he reached out, took Freya by the wrist, and walked out of the classroom with his head held high, right in front of everyone.
*****
Just like that, our little trio fell apart for good.
Ryan started bringing breakfast, coffee, and snacks just for Freya.
They started going to school together and heading home side by side.
I wasn't the third wheel anymore.
Their relationship got way more intimate, almost overnight.
To avoid running into either of them, I started getting up before dawn and studying late into the night. I buried myself in my books, pushing myself as hard as I could.
By the end of sophomore year, I'd made it back to the top five in my class, and ranked twentieth in the whole grade.
Looking at my report card, I felt the reins of my life finally back in my hands.
My eyes drifted up the rankings list.
They finally locked onto the very first line.
There he was. Ethan, the untouchable top student, never dethroned.
His position was unshakable. He had no weak subjects and rarely, if ever, dropped a point on objective questions.
He ran like a perfectly tuned machine.
All logic, no mistakes.
Staring at my disaster of a physics grade, I figured maybe it was time to suck it up and ask for help.
I glanced over and saw Ethan staring out the window, totally zoned out.
I followed his gaze and caught the orange glow of sunset, clouds drifting past.
He noticed me looking and shot me a look, totally unfazed.
"Need something?" Ethan said, his voice cold.
His tone was so flat, it barely sounded like a question.
"Could you help me with some science problems?" I asked.
His eyes landed on the test paper sitting on my desk.
"You can't even get the easy ones right. Do you really think tutoring will fix that?" he said, his tone completely flat.
Not sarcastic, not mocking. Just laying it out as it was.
Still, he took my test paper, picked up a pencil, and walked me through the formulas step by step.
His explanations were clear and straightforward, easy to follow.
His calm voice was as mellow as the sunset outside the window.
Somehow, it settled my nerves.
After he was done, he handed my test back.
Just as I reached for it, he suddenly locked eyes with me.
His eyes were deep and unreadable.
"You've improved a lot. Now that you're caught up, don't slip back," he said, his voice calm but serious.
Stunned for a second, I nodded, determined.
This time, I wouldn't be the third wheel in Ryan and Freya's twisted love story.
And no way was I getting left behind again.